Danielle Bazinet1 Some Landmark Points in Broadway’s History Danielle Bazinet

2 Broadway in the Beginning… Broadway has always been a reflection of its times. As the city and the theatre have changed through the decades, so too has Broadway. Here are some of the milestones in Broadway history.

Danielle Bazinet3 It all started… January 25, 1893 Charles Frohman opens the Empire Theatre, 1430 Broadway at West 40th Street. The operation of this theatre and Frohman's producing activities are major factors in the northward shift of the theatre district from the Herald Square area to Longacre Square (now called Times Square).

Danielle Bazinet4 Broadway 1900’s & The Empire Theater

Danielle Bazinet5 Did You Know? 1901 The phrase "Great White Way" is coined by O.J. Gude, a designer of advertising displays, to describe the glow of white lights that illuminate the thoroughfare along Broadway in the theatre district.

Danielle Bazinet6 The Great White Way

Danielle Bazinet7 The Name Times Square April 19, 1904 New York City Mayor George B. McClellan officially renames Longacre Square Times Square as a result of the successful lobbying effort of subway tycoon August Belmont, and in honor of The New York Times' new headquarters.

Danielle Bazinet8 The New York Times Building

Danielle Bazinet9 The First Musical December 27, 1927 Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein's landmark musical, Show Boat, opens at the Ziegfeld Theatre with an integrated book and score, as well as character development, thus becoming the precursor of the modern book musical.

Danielle Bazinet10 Oklahoma! March 31, 1943 Oklahoma! by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II opens at the St. James Theatre, featuring a cast that includes Alfred Drake and Celeste Holm, as well as choreography by the legendary Agnes DeMille. The production marks the beginning of the Golden Age of Musical Theatre.

Danielle Bazinet11 Tony Tony Tony! April 16, 1947 The first Tony Awards dinner is held in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria. Jose Ferrer, Helen Hayes, Ingrid Bergman, Patricia Neal, Elia Kazan, Agnes DeMille, and Michael Kidd are among the honorees.

Danielle Bazinet12 West Side Story September 26, 1957 Jerome Robbins' electrifying staging of West Side Story, with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents, and featuring Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence, and Chita Rivera, opens at the Winter Garden Theatre.

Danielle Bazinet13 Tony’s on TV March 26, 1967 Under the leadership of Isabelle Stevenson, the American Theatre Wing authorizes the League of New York Theatres and Producers to present the annual Antoinette Perry (Tony) Awards. For the first time, the ceremony is produced as a national television special by Alexander H. Cohen and aired on CBS-TV.

Danielle Bazinet14 A Chorus Line heads to Broadway July 25, 1975 Michael Bennett's brilliant saga of Broadway gypsies, A Chorus Line, moves to Broadway from the Public Theatre, wins the Pulitzer Prize and nine Tony Awards, including Best Score for composer Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Ed Kleban. It propels Donna McKechnie to stardom, and begins a 15-year run at the Shubert Theatre.

Danielle Bazinet15 British Invasion! October 7, 1982 Producer Cameron Mackintosh starts the "British Invasion" when he imports director Trevor Nunn's production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega-musical sensation, Cats, to Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre, where it will eventually become the longest-running show on Broadway.

Danielle Bazinet16 Did you know? March 12, 1987 Cameron Mackintosh opens Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's musical version of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables at the newly renovated Broadway Theatre. This show will play around the world and be seen by over 24 million people.

Danielle Bazinet17 Historic Broadway March 10, 1988 The New York Landmarks Preservation Commission designates most of Broadway's theatres as historic sites.

Danielle Bazinet18 Broadway fights AIDS June 2, 1991 Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS introduce the red "AIDS ribbon" at the Tony Awards telecast as a symbol of support for artists who have AIDS and to honor those who have died.

Danielle Bazinet19 Broadway on Broadway July 15, 1992 The League of American Theatres and Producers and the Times Square Business Improvement District present Broadway on Broadway, the theatre industry's first free public concert in Times Square.

Danielle Bazinet20 Broadway Early 1900’s and 1940

Danielle Bazinet21 Today Today Information was taken from: middle.capemayschools.com