The Broadway Theater District gets its name from the street, Broadway, which runs diagonally through Midtown Manhattan in New York City.

There are currently 41 official Broadway theaters located in the Broadway Theater District.

The largest Broadway theater is the George Gershwin Theatre located at 222 West 51st Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue. It has the largest seating capacity of any Broadway theatre with 1,933 seats.  The Gershwin has been home to the blockbuster musical Wicked since 2003.

The orchestra is level with the stage and usually has the most seats in the theater. The mezzanine is typically lower and closer to the stage than the balcony.

The Lyceum Theatre is one of the three oldest surviving Broadway venues along with the Hudson and New Amsterdam Theatres which all opened in 1903. The Lyceum is the oldest continuously operating legitimate theater in New York City, and the first Broadway theater ever to be granted landmark status, in 1974.

The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show in Broadway history. It officially opened on January 26, 1988 and is still playing at the Majestic Theatre. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical won 7 Tony Awards in 1988, including Best Musical.

Broadway Shows are eligible for Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards, Drama League Awards, Lucille Lortel Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, and other awards. 

For the latest news about Broadway, visit BroadwayNews.com.

The Shubert Organization owns 17 Broadway theaters: the Ambassador, the Ethel Barrymore, the Belasco, the Booth, the Broadhurst, the Broadway, the Cort, the John Golden, the Imperial, the Bernard B. Jacobs, the Longacre, the Lyceum, the Majestic, the Music Box, the Gerald Schoenfeld, the Shubert, and the Winter Garden.

The Nederlander Organization owns 9 Broadway theaters: the Brooks Atkinson, the Gershwin, the Lunt-Fontanne, the Marquis, the Minskoff, the Nederlander, the Palace, the Richard Rodgers, and the Neil Simon.

Jujamcyn Theaters owns 5 Broadway theaters: the Al Hirschfeld, the August Wilson, the Eugene O’Neill, the Walter Kerr, and the St. James.

The Ambassador Theatre Group owns 2 Broadway theaters: the Hudson and the Lyric.

Disney Theatrical Group owns 1 Broadway theater: the New Amsterdam.

Four non profit theater companies also own Broadway theaters. Roundabout Theatre Company owns 3 Broadway theaters: the American Airlines, the Stephen Sondheim, and Studio 54. Second Stage Theater owns 1 Broadway theater: the Helen Hayes. Manhattan Theatre Club owns 1 Broadway theater: the Samuel J. Friedman. Lincoln Center Theatre also owns 1 Broadway theater: the Vivian Beaumont.

One Broadway theater, the Circle in the Square, operates as an independent commercial theater.

Select Broadway shows have announced plans to resume performances beginning as soon as September 14. For the status of all Broadway shows, check the Shows page.

While COVID-19 Safety Measures and Protocols may be specific to each theater and production, Broadway shows will follow New York State and CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of all actors, production staff, theater employees, and audience members. As public health conditions and the State’s guidance for performing arts and live entertainment changes, the theaters will remain flexible and adapt to applicable health protocols, such as face coverings, health screening, enhanced air filtration and ventilation, and rigorous cleaning and disinfection.

Check the COVID-19 Status Update page for more details as performance dates approach.

Currently, you may purchase tickets to Broadway shows online. Visit our Shows page for more details and links to the official ticket site for each show.

When performances resume, check back for more information on ticket lotteries.

On average, regular price tickets can range from about $20 to $175.

For performance schedules, visit the Shows page for more information, and links to shows’ official sites, or download the Broadway App to see when Broadway shows are playing.

We encourage audience members to purchase tickets in advance to ensure the best seating locations, however in most cases seats remain on sale until performance time, based on availability.

Shows may be offering expanded exchange and refund policies at this time. Contact your point of purchase for more information.

Broadway theaters do not allow infants. Generally, children under the age of four are not allowed in Broadway theaters. Each show will have an age recommendation on its website. It might be helpful to test out your child’s readiness through community events to see if they are able to sit still and stay quiet during a Broadway performance.

Most ticketing platforms (Telecharge, Ticketmaster, etc.) have group sales policies posted on their websites.

Broadway shows typically run 90 minutes to 2 hours long if there’s an intermission.

There is no dress code for Broadway shows. Some people like to dress up and make a night of it, and some people will go in jeans. Patrons are highly encouraged to dress up but you will be admitted to your show as long as you have a ticket. Keep in mind that Broadway shows can be very highly air conditioned in the summer, so bring a sweater.

Getting around in any city can be challenging. Luckily, New York’s grid system makes it a little less intimidating. Once you’re in the Theater District, it’s possible to walk to any Broadway theaters, although some are more a hike than others. Additionally, most Broadway theaters are within walking distance of Times Square-42nd Street subway stop, which uses the A, C, E, N, Q, R, W, S, 1, 2, 3, and 7 trains. However, some theaters, like the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, are not within walking distance of Times Square. For these, a cab, Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare systems are good options.

The theater will not open its doors until 30 minutes before the show. If you are picking up tickets at the box office, want to get a cocktail, or need to use the restroom before showtime, about 20-25 minutes prior to curtain is best. Otherwise, 10-15 minutes should be fine.

For guests with their own wheelchair, most Broadway theaters offer two types of accessible seating: wheelchair seats, where you stay in your chair to watch the show, and transfer arm seating, where you transfer to the theater’s seat and your wheelchair is stored safely elsewhere. Ushers will also be able to help wheelchair users navigate any ramps and tight corners. When buying your tickets, be sure to ask for wheelchair-accessible seating. However, keep in mind that Broadway theaters are typically older buildings, and while the seating is accessible, the bathroom situation can be more difficult to maneuver. Something else to remember is that even hit Broadway shows reserve accessible seating for wheelchair users, so it may be possible for wheelchair users to get a ticket to a seemingly sold-out show.

For guests who are deaf or hard of hearing,  TDF (the Theatre Development Fund) organizes captioned and sign-language-interpreted performances of Broadway shows through their Theatre Access Project. Check the TDF website for upcoming dates. In addition, many Broadway theatres offer assistive listening devices, closed captions, an audio description system, and hearing loops (which transmits the sound onstage directly to a hearing aid).

Most Broadway theaters do allow snacks at your seat and usually sell concessions. However, they do not allow you to bring in outside food.

Unfortunately, usually not. Currently, only three Broadway shows offer a translation service. The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, and Come From Away use the GalaPro app, which allows patrons to select a language and follow the show on their phones, while the devices are in airplane mode. 

Yes! Most shows have a merchandise stand or stands in their lobby. You can also usually purchase merchandise through the show’s website.

It depends. Each Broadway show sets its own late seating policy. Some shows will wait until intermission to seat late patrons, while others will wait for a break in the action for reseating.

Sometimes, some of the actors in the show will sign autographs or take photos by the stage door after the show!

The orchestra is level with the stage and usually has the most seats in the theater. The mezzanine is lower and closer to the stage than the balcony (and front mezzanine seats are generally the same price as orchestra seats, while balcony seats are usually the least expensive).