The Museum of Broadway – Review – Shows I've Seen

@showsiveseen The #Museum of #Broadway in New York City's #Manhattan #Theatre District. Offered a surprising amount to see, with plenty of photo-worthy spots perfect for selfies! Review: showsiveseen.com/11337 Executive Producers, Creative Directors, Conceived By: Julie Boardman & Diane Nicoletti General Manager: Elie Landau Curators: Ben West, Jennifer Ashley Tepper, John Kenrick, Michael McDonald, & Lisa Zinni #nyc #newYorkCity #newYork #musicals #plays @The Museum of Broadway ♬ #BrooklynBloodPop! – SyKo

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): The Museum of Broadway in New York City’s Manhattan Theatre District. Offered a surprising amount to see, with plenty of photo-worthy spots perfect for selfies and Instagram!

Recommendation:
See it, especially if you enjoy plays and musicals. Bonus points if you also like reading the dramaturgical articles in playbill programs.

Was This the First Time I Visited this Museum? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Yes, if their exhibits changed by more than 50%, so I could see something new.

Mainstream Appeal: Medium to high

My Synopsis: The experience begins with Broadway’s theatrical roots and the Ziegfeld Follies. It continues through each era, highlighting iconic musicals such as Oklahoma!, Company, West Side Story, Hair, and Rent. Special exhibits also delve into the creation of a musical, exploring behind-the-scenes roles like stage management, and a focus on Disney musicals.

Synopsis from Company: Walk through Broadway’s history, starting in 1732 with the first documented performance in NYC, and go backstage with your favorite Broadway stars to learn how a show is made. As you walk the timeline, you’ll come upon exhibits dedicated to groundbreaking moments in Broadway’s history – those that pushed creative boundaries, challenged social norms, and paved the way for those who would follow. The Museum of Broadway was designed by internationally renowned artists, designers, and theatre historians.

Type: Museum

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’ll obviously appreciate this experience more if you know a little about musical theatre.

Length: It’s whatever length you make it. I spent around 1.5 hours there.

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Photo Opportunities: The museum did a great job in ensuring there were plenty of Instagram-able moments. For example, the museum allows you to sit in the letter “C” (from the musical Company) and take a selfie. I’ve always wondered where the below iconic picture came from that I see everywhere on Instagram.
Lockers: Complimentary lockers were available to store belongings so you wouldn’t need to haul them around the museum.
Content Quantity: For a venue with such a tiny footprint, there was unexpectedly an almost overwhelmingly number of exhibits to see! I was originally anticipating much less at the Museum of Broadway since I visited the Museum of Sex earlier (a 25-minute walk away), which was surprisingly sparse.
Unsung Heros: Some exhibits towards the end focused on roles in live theatre that don’t get much spotlight like stage management, stagehands, and sound board operators.