Off-Broadway

Off-Broadway refers to stage plays or musicals performed in New York City in smaller theatres than Broadway, but larger than Off-Off-Broadway, productions.

Off-Broadway theatres are those with 100 to 400 seats, offering less commercial productions than Broadway--often experimental. Generally the shows are less expensive, less publicized, less well-known and feature less-famous performers. The smaller scale also often allows more experimental, challenging work to be presented.

The classification of theatres is governed by language in Actors' Equity contracts, rather than by whether the theatre has a Broadway address.

It is not unknown for successful Off-Broadway shows to later have a Broadway--for instance, the musicals Rent and Hair were both initially shown Off-Broadway.

Notable Off-Broadway Theatres: Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theatre, Manhattanan Theatre Club