Expert: Cezar Del Valle - 7/6/2004

Question
I found that 'Broadway' shows are in the 39 designated broadway
theaters.  How were those theaters chosen?  What criteria are used to  
define 'off-broadway' and 'off off broadway?  Thank you

Answer
The Broadway theatres are the larger houses, around Times Square, that appeal to a mass audience. Off-Broadway are  smaller houses (100 -400 seats)offering less commercial productions--often experimental. Off-Off Broadway refers to even smaller houses (often 100 seats or less) presenting informal small scale productions.  The classification of theaters is governed by language in Actors' Equity contracts. The Actors' Equity Association (commonly known simply "Equity") is the trade union of American theatrical performers and stage managers.
To be eligible for a Tony, Broadway's highest theatre award, a production must be in a house with 500 seats or more (which also pretty much defines the Broadway Theatre).