Off Broadway Plays in New York

There are Broadway plays, Off-Broadway Plays and Off-Off-Broadway plays. What a play on words. Presently there are some 130 Off-Broadway Plays showing in New York: musical reviews, dramatic plays, one-man presentations and experimental drama. During the late 1950s it became fashionable to venture out to view the non-fashionable, non-commercial and smaller theaters featuring experimental plays. The Provincetown Playhouse in Greenwich Village, where Eugene O'Neil was the resident playwright, is said to be the birthplace of Off-Broadway theater. Most of the Off-Broadway theaters are located in the Village. The Off-Broadway theater usually has a seating capacity of 100-400, offers ticket prices of under $75 and consists of productions with little or unknown performers. On the other hand - the Off-Broadway play can be very professional with established artists and consists of a replay of a very successful On-Broadway production from the past.

From Off Broadway to Broadway Plays

Among the most Famous of New York's Off-Broadway theaters are the Cherry Lane and the Sullivan Street Playhouses. In 1959, Edward Albee's first play, "The Zoo Story" was first performed Off-Broadway in the same playhouse where Eugene O'Neil's earliest works were performed. Albee's best-known play "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf" was first staged in an Off-Broadway theater and later become one of the best known productions in the history of Broadway. The Public Theatre at 425 Lafayette Street, one of a six-theatre complex, featured Robert de Niro in "Cuba and His Teddy Bear" - which later went on to a long successful run on Broadway.

Many big name plays that gained fame on Broadway, go on to tour the country and then return to New York at a later time as Off-Broadway productions. "The Phantom of the Opera", "Cats", "Les Miserables" and the list goes on - have all returned as Off-Broadway plays. Whether the production is a musical or a drama telling a dramatic tale of life's experiences - Off-Broadway plays have become a main-stay on the New York scene.

Off-Off-Broadway Plays

Off-Off-Broadway is today what Off-Broadway was in the 1960s. Off-Off-Broadway is much less expensive and has already surpassed what Off-Broadway used to be. This is where hopeful unknown performers, many whom are working for no monetary reward, may be seen performing on stage by a perspective agent. Off-Off-Broadway theaters are located all over New York and they are expanding their playing seasons to year-round. This is the new market place for unknown authors to experiment, fledgling producers to prove themselves and an opportunity for the theater loving patrons to find inexpensive, fresh and challenging entertainment. Presently, there are over 300 Off-Off-Broadway plays listed as productions being shown and/or about to open. The average ticket price ranges from free to under twenty-dollars and the audience seating is 100 or less. As the Off-Off-Broadway Theater becomes more and more organized and professional - their audiences continue to grow.