Obodo New York na-anabata oge Broadway ọhụrụ na-esote "afọ kacha aga nke ọma"

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, The Broadway League executive director Charlotte St. Martin, Times Square Alliance president Tim Tompkins, NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta and a host of Broadway stars, including John Stamos and Michael McKean, today kicked off the 2009-2010 Broadway season at “Broadway on Broadway 2009,” an annual free, public concert in Times Square. Over twenty new shows are expected to open by the end of the year, following Broadway’s most successful season ever last year, with record ticket sales and the highest number of show openings in more than 25 years. Last year, the City intensified its promotion of Broadway, highlighting it in campaigns at international travel trade shows and through NYC & Company’s 18 offices around the world, establishing discounts as part of the NYC: The Real Deal program, and creating new local ads in taxicabs, on street pole banners and at bus stop shelters. Broadway on Broadway, produced by The Broadway League and Times Square Alliance, is part of Back2Broadway Month, which highlights the new season with free events, special ticket offers, great dining deals, interactive activities and more.

“New York City is recognized as one of the great cultural capitals of the world, and there’s no bigger reason than the brilliance and vibrancy of Broadway,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Broadway is an enormous driver of our tourism industry, and last year – when the conventional wisdom was that it would suffer due to the national economic downturn – we took a number of new steps to promote it to and keep that from happening. Not only did Broadway avoid losses, it had its best year every, and this season looks to be another success. That’s a testament to the tremendous advocacy of The Broadway League, the Times Square Alliance and NYC & Company, but most of all, to the vitality of New York City and the enduring creativity of New Yorkers.”

“Experiencing live theatre is always magical. When the background is as spectacular as the iconic setting of Times Square, Broadway on Broadway is a singular sensation that fans look forward to enjoying every year,” said The Broadway League Executive Director Charlotte St. Martin. “It’s always a perfect time to see a Broadway show. Great seats are easy to buy and available at every price point – it’s never been a better time to see the many new shows and exciting long-running plays and musicals. With special deals for shows and restaurants, Broadway is accessible for all New Yorkers, and the compelling events planned throughout September during the new Back2Broadway Month provide even more reasons to come to Broadway.”

“Broadway and Times Square are experiencing a year worth a standing ovation,” said Times Square Alliance President Tim Tompkins. “Record ticket sales, the highest number of new show openings in 25 years and the opening of the popular pedestrian plaza. These are definitely reasons for celebration. We are delighted to bring tens of thousands of fans the Broadway experience for free in the heart of Times Square. Broadway on Broadway will kick off the 2009-2010 theater season in grand form.”

“A visit to New York City is not complete without seeing a Broadway show—as the new season gets under way, there’s never been a better time to see and experience a new show or take in one of the new Back2Broadway activities planned this month,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company.

To date, the following shows are scheduled to open during the 2009-2010 season, with more expected to announce. A Steady Rain, The Addams Family, After Miss Julie, A Behanding in Spokane, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Broadway Bound, Burn the Floor, Bye Bye Birdie, Collected Stories, Fela, Finian’s Rainbow, Hamlet, In the Next Room, La Cage Aux Folles, Memphis, Oleanna, Present Laughter, Race, Ragtime, The Royal Family, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Superior Donuts, Time Stands Still, and Wishful Drinking.

Broadway on Broadway 2009 is hosted by Michael McKean, star of the upcoming Broadway play Superior Donuts, and presented by the 2010 Buick LaCrosse and Continental Airlines. The event will showcase hundreds of performers from Broadway shows. Information and event listings of Back2Broadway Month can be accessed at www.ilovenytheater.com .

Broadway contributes $5.1 billion to New York City’s economy and supports 44,000 local jobs. The 2008-09 season was the biggest Broadway season in history with 43 show openings, 12.15 million tickets sold and more than $943 million in revenues generated. More than six million tickets were sold to visitors who came to New York City or extended their trip specifically to attend a Broadway show.