In the early 20th century, Manhattan’s Times Square was a gritty neighborhood full of horse stables. Today, it’s the vibrant center of Broadway’s Theater District and one of the world’s busiest tourist destinations. This dramatic transformation has its roots in a fierce battle between a group of theatrical moguls and three scrappy Lithuanian-born brothers: Lee, J.J., and Sam Shubert. Their vision and determination revolutionized Broadway more than a century ago. Despite limited resources, they managed to dominate the theater scene, building an empire that evolved into today’s Shubert Organization, which continues to shape Broadway—and American theater.
Actor Tim Dolan, owner of Broadway Up Close tours, delves into the fascinating rise to power of the Shubert brothers, shedding light on the challenges they overcame and their longstanding partnership with an architect behind many of the gems in the Shubert theater network. He also explores how their rich history intersects with the development of New York’s most renowned theaters and the pivotal role the Shubert Organization played in the creation of the Tony Awards in 1947. And using rare photographs and videos, Dolan brings to life the heart of the Shuberts’ Broadway, the Theater District from 44th to 46th Streets, and offers some behind-the-scenes tales of musicals that made history there.
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