When you think “New York theatre” the image that comes to mind is undoubtedly the flashing lights of Broadway. But The Theatre Museum set out to change that with a two-part exhibit which documented the vibrant theatre history of Brooklyn from the early days of Dutch settlement to the modern era. From the great majestic theatre palaces to the story of Brooklynites who became legendary stars like Arthur Miller, Lauren Bacall, Barbra Streisand, and Mel Brooks, the story of Brooklyn theatre is inextricably intertwined with the history of the performing arts in America.

Brooklyn theatres once comprised a storied past, but the grand dames like The Park, the Bijou, Montauk and Orpheum were eventually torn down leaving only photographs to chronicle their reign as world-class stages. Only a few still play to enthusiastic theatre-goers, like the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and the Majestic and remain as living monuments to a glorious past when theatres were built on a grand scale.

The Brooklyn theatre scene changed with the times, through wars and a Great Depression and, by the 1950s, competition a new source of entertainment: television.
More recently, however, Brooklyn theatre has seen a renaissance in popularity. The Brooklyn Cultural District continues to expand, BAM continues to produce world-acclaimed performances as Brooklyn’s star power continues to shine at a megawatt glow and The Theatre Museum is ready to document every chapter in Brooklyn’s theatre history!