The Evolution of New York City's Broadway: A Tour with Context

Behind the glitz and glam of Broadway‘s theaters is a story of resilience and the enduring magic of live performances. On this walking tour with Sean Hartley, a musical theater writer, historian, and Context Travel expert, you‘ll explore the dynamic changes in this vibrant New York City district from the early 1900s to the present day.

Starting in front of the historical Nederlander Theater, you‘ll see some of the area‘s 40 playhouses. As you wind your way through Manhattan‘s midtown, you‘ll hear about the history of several theaters, how they‘ve transformed over time, and why they‘ve changed names relatively often.

On this tour, you‘ll learn about Broadway and Times Square’s theatrical evolution, starting from the early 1900s when live performances were people’s primary source of entertainment and theaters began popping up everywhere. Soon, theater-going had become an exclusive event requiring tuxedos and ball gowns. Sean will give you a sense of the impact television had in the 1950s, and how theater eventually became a far more casual jeans-wearing affair.

As you make your way to Studio 54 where our tour ends, you‘ll see the Belasco Theater, one of the few playhouses where you can still see the separate upstairs and downstairs entrances from the country’s days of racial segregation. You’ll also pass the Majestic Theater, which has had a record-breaking run of Phantom of the Opera for over 35 years.

On this Broadway tour, you‘ll have a chance to:

• See the Stephen Sondheim Theater, known for its smaller size and focus on non-musical plays and comedies, with notable productions like Born Yesterday and Witness for the Prosecution
• Take in Father Duffy Square’s ticket booth, initially resisted by producers but now a vital hub for Broadway shows
• Find out about some of the longest-running theater shows in history including Cats, which ran at the Winter Garden Theater for 18 years
• Hear about how Studio 54 was a symbol of the era‘s lively nightlife during the 1980s
• Discover secret venues that mainly locals know about, including the 49th Street Theater, which hosted legendary performances before it was knocked down in 1940
• Gain an understanding of New Amsterdam Theater, built in 1903 with the most elaborate lobby, murals, and elevator doors ever seen in a Broadway theater
• Spot David Belasco, the man who built the Belasco Theater and, to this day, is said to haunt the building dressed like a priest
• Explore the elegant Palace Theater, once the world‘s premier vaudeville venue
• Pop into Sardi‘s, a famous hangout for Broadway actors, writers and producers
• Pass by the Hudson Theater, once a playhouse, then a porn theater, and a dinner club

By the end of this hour-long tour, you‘ll have a deeper appreciation for the ups and downs that Broadway has lived through, from segregation in the 1920s to a theater revival decades later.