All about the Great White Way
Why is Broadway called the Great White Way?
Image: Jordhan Madec
You say Broadway, and all the marquees and red curtains come to mind. But behind them, you’ll also find history, facts, and interesting records you probably didn’t know about. Drama happens both onstage and offstage in this particular place of our beloved country. So, here are some gems for you!
1
From trail to theater capital
Image: Christian Lendl
Before Broadway was packed with theaters, it was a Native American trail cutting across Manhattan. The Dutch later called it "the Gentlemen’s Street," and eventually the name "Broadway" stuck because of its unusual width. Did you know that?
2
Theater superstitions
Image: Gwen King
Broadway has its own share of taboos. For example, whistling backstage was once a no-no, since stagehands used whistles as signals. Saying the word "Macbeth" inside a theater is also believed to bring bad luck , so actors usually call it "the Scottish Play." Even in modern times, performers still keep these superstitions alive—just in case.
3
Why it’s called the Great White Way
Image: Martin Sanchez
All those glowing signs around Times Square gave Broadway its sparkling nickname. Starting in the early 1900s, electric lights lit up the blocks between 41st and 53rd Streets, dazzling visitors and creating the famous "Great White Way." Today, it’s still one of the brightest spots in New York City.
4
The first Broadway musical
Image: Kyle Head
In 1866, a play called The Black Crook made history. After a fire destroyed another theater, producers combined a ballet and a melodrama , creating a six-hour spectacle of music, dancing, and over-the-top staging. It became a runaway success and is often called the very first Broadway musical.
5
What counts as "on Broadway"
Image: Andreas M
People often think "on Broadway" just means any theater on that street, but it’s actually trickier than that . A show is considered Broadway if the theater has 500 or more seats and meets certain contract rules. Only a handful of actual Broadway theaters are physically on Broadway itself, which can be confusing for first-time visitors.
6
Phantom holds the record
Image: Rodrigo dos Santos
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera holds the crown as Broadway’s longest-running show. With more than 13,000 performances , it kept audiences hooked for decades. Some orchestra members even played the same music eight times a week for years, perfecting their own unique coping routines. Can you imagine doing that?
7
Cats and its mountain of yak hair
Image: Roman Suslov
During its long run, Cats became famous for something other than the catchy songs. The costume crew went through over 3,200 pounds of yak hair for wigs alone . It certainly paid off, as the play also became one of the biggest shows in Broadway’s history. Talk about commitment to authenticity.
8
The Lion King roars the loudest at the box office
Image: Iván Díaz
Since its 1997 debut, The Lion King has been Broadway’s biggest earner , pulling in over a billion dollars in ticket sales. With its breathtaking puppetry and Elton John’s music, it managed to win over both theatergoers and families who grew up with the movie.
9
Carrie, the musical failure
Image: Samuel Regan-Asante
Even if we’ve mentioned the greatest on Broadway, we must say not every show becomes a hit . In 1988, Broadway tried to turn Stephen King’s horror novel Carrie into a musical. Let’s just say it didn’t land, and if you’ve read the book, you can imagine why. Critics compared it to disasters of epic scale, and it closed after only five performances. One thing is for sure: Even the flops are big on Broadway.
10
Chicago’s real inspirations
Image: Sawyer Bengtson
The hit musical Chicago may feel like pure entertainment, but its leading ladies were inspired by real 1920s women accused of murder. Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner were both acquitted after trials that captured the public’s imagination. Their stories of crime, fame, and scandal became the backbone of the show.
11
Why theaters skip row I
Image: Vlah Dumitru
Maybe you’ve never noticed, but many theaters go from row H to J, and that’s not because of superstition. The reason is that the letter I looks too much like the number 1 , which can make ticketing confusing in dimly lit theaters. Some places also skip O or Q for similar reasons. It’s all about keeping the seating simple for audiences. Do you agree with this policy?
