Broadway in Boston

Broadway is a street in Boston recognized for its theaters and cultural landmarks. This area houses some of Boston’s theaters, such as the Boston Opera House, Emerson Colonial Theatre, and the Cutler Majestic Theatre. Broadway’s vibrant atmosphere attracts theater enthusiasts, visitors, and locals alike. Whether you enjoy timeless musicals, modern plays, or innovative experimental theater, Broadway in Boston promises a range of entertainment for all.

The Spotlight on Boston’s Broadway Shows

• Introduction: Boston’s Theater District – A Historical Overview!
  The Theater District, one of Boston’s cultural hubs, sits next to London-born Ben Franklin Park and across from some historic churches. Here, in the streets of Washington, Tremont, and Boylston, the city’s good old Puritanical roots – in those early days, you could go to jail for performing theatre – have been supplanted by an eclectic theatre scene that hosts touring Broadway shows and theatrical productions by locals.
• A Puritanical Past and Theatrical Renaissance.
  Boston’s first colonists—the Puritans—also banned theatre, and the prohibition lasted until 1792. It is fun to note that Boston’s first playhouse opened just one more year later, but Boston’s live theatre culture now includes Broadway attractions—and the launching point for several Broadway productions destined for New York.

Boston Opera House

• The Boston Opera House (the Citizens Bank Opera House) is a valuable sign of the city’s investment in the arts. Built in 1929 as a venue for vaudeville and motion pictures, it closed for many years but was strikingly restored and reopened in 2004. Now hosting the first six-month run of ‘The Lion King,’ the Opera House is also home to the Boston Ballet and Broadway. The Opera House is also known for its classic holiday presentation of the Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, which audiences from all over New England flock to see.

The Historic Charles Playhouse

• A Building with Many Lives.
  But the story of the Charles Playhouse is also one of genre-bending and survival. Constructed in 1839, it was a church, Boston’s first synagogue, and a speakeasy. It wasn’t until 1957, with the arrival of The Actors Company of Boston, that it became a flagship theatre space.
• A Cradle for Long-Running Shows.
  It is here that Shear Madness, a non-musical comedy that is America’s longest-running show (more than 13,000 performances since it premiered in 1980), and the Blue Man Group, which has been a part of the local theatre landscape since 1995, are produced.

Experiencing Boston’s Theater District

• Where to Watch a Show? The Theatre District, with its many venues, offers plenty of choice. Shear Madness at the Charles Playhouse, a large interactive comedy whodunit about nine barbershop characters whose identities change from performance to performance, is an audience favorite whenever I am there.

Planning Your Visit

• Timing and Transportation Tips. Because Boston is a bustling place, you might want to ensure that you arrive at least 15 minutes before the show starts to avoid being late, especially when concurrent events (e.g., sports games, festivals, etc.) are happening. Since Boston is a very compact city and you can walk almost everywhere, going on foot is the best option, but if you are staying downtown or do not wish to walk too much, consider using the T (subway). In this last case, your best option is to drive into the city and then park in the gigantic underground parking full of spaces at the Boston Common garage, which is highly convenient and easy to reach.

Upcoming Shows: Boston’s Weekend Theater Guide

• “All Shows in Boston” – Your Go-To Resource. Theatre lovers can also look forward to the ‘All Shows in Boston’ listings, which broadly survey weekend offerings from baby entertainers to Broadway musicals.

You can trace Boston’s development from Puritanical bastion to cosmopolitan maelstrom through the prism of its diminutive Theater District – a range of venues that reflects the city’s diversity, from the grand Boston Opera House to the quirky Charles Playhouse. Whether you were raised in Boston or visiting the city for the first time, experiencing any of its theatres is a guaranteed treat and a look into the beating heart of the city’s culture scene.