Museum of Broadway Review

Oct 17

Oct 17 REVIEW of The Museum of Broadway

October 3, 2023

The Museum of Ice Cream, the House of Cannabis, the Museum of Illusions, "Chagall, Paris-New York," at Hall des Lumières, the Sloomoo Institute’s, um, Slime Museum?

Meanwhile, the city surprisingly lacked an institution dedicated to the rich history of the Broadway theatre until late last year. The Museum of Broadway finally opened on the main stem in the guise of an “an experiential, interactive museum,” nestled in the heart of Times Square, neighboring the Lyceum Theatre, one of Broadway’s oldest gems.

Tickets are pricey, up to $41 for general admission ($32/seniors and $29/students), and early reports gave the impression the museum was designed to be ‘Instagram-mable.’ So, I initially dismissed it as missable. Curiosity won out, however, when I discovered that on the first Tuesday of each month, timed tickets are only $25.

The Museum of Broadway documents the history of New York theatre.

At the discounted $25, the museum gives you your money’s worth, whether you’re a teenager making a WICKED-inspired pilgrimage to Oz, or a seasoned subscriber who remembers “when they saw the original production of ___.” The experience begins with an upbeat introductory documentary about the history of the theatre district itself, after which you are deposited to a series of densely curated historical notes and images. This narrative display is cramped and crowded, feeling like the ‘fine print.’ But, it’s worth taking time to study the fascinating relics, such as original programs from THE BLACK CROOK (a contender for the first Broadway musical) at Niblo’s Garden, and manuscript paper from Tin Pan Alley.

Restored original costumes from the Ziegfeld Follies on display at the Museum of Broadway.

Then, voila! You are transported to a showgirl’s pink dressing room at the New Amsterdam Theatre where charming artifacts, including spectacular costume pieces, are preserved from the ZIEGLELD FOLLIES. Moving through the museum, you progress through a series of rooms (over three floors) plopping you directly into the world of one memorable show after another.

Suddenly, you’re in a field of corn — as high as an elephant’s eye — and privy to Oscar Hammerstein II’s rhyming sketches for the lyrics to OKLAHOMA!, the show’s original Playbill from the St. James Theatre, and other souvenirs. Next, you’re transported like Marty McFly to Doc’s Drug Store from WEST SIDE STORY complete with a jukebox, payphone, and an original Jets jacket. Some exhibits are whimsical works of art about a show or subject. Others immerse you in the set-design itself of a particular show.

No opportunity for whimsy has been spared at the Museum of Broadway.

Highlights of the collection include golden top hat, tails, and well-worn tap shoes from the original production of A CHORUS LINE; ANNIE’s little red dress; EVITA’s blond “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” wig; THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’s Red Death mask; and THE LION KING’s Tony-winning puppetry.

The journey does not shy from drama, especially in remembering how events such as the Great Depression, World War II, and 9/11 affected the Great White Way. The museum honors the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the community, beautifully displaying the Broadway AIDS Quilt.

Julie Taymor’s LION KING designs ready for their close-up.

A detailed to-scale model of the Gershwin Theatre, home of WICKED, provides a voyeuristic window into the usually hidden world behind the “room where it happens.” Finally, your experience takes a turn, fully immersing you backstage, allowing the general public to ‘show up to work’ at a Broadway show: stage door, call board, stage manager’s desk, wigs, make-up, lighting. Set designer David Rockwell’s exhibit about the making of a Broadway show is a veritable time capsule, documenting the experience of working in the theatre (for example, there’s video feed of actual stage managers “calling” show cues), and recreating, through clever lighting and sound effects, the ambiance backstage during the production of a Broadway show.

The admission price is steep, but the Museum of Broadway is not just a series of photo-ops. Educational and entertaining, this long overdue showcase and tribute to Broadway is a memorable, resonant addition to the NYC theatre-going visitor’s agenda.