Inside Broadway's History
For over 40 years, Inside Broadway has been bringing the magic of live theatre to schools all around New York City (and sometimes beyond). From Cats to the Soviet Union to our programs today, we're proud of our rich history.
Ticket Program
1982 - 2000
In 1982, Bernard Jacobs, president of The Shubert Organization, asked Inside Broadway's founder, Michael Presser, to create a student ticket program with the musical Cats. Through this program, 50 tickets to the Wednesday matinee performance of Cats were to be distributed each week to New York City public high schools. Eventually, the program expanded to other Broadway shows, such as Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, and Miss Saigon. The ticket program ran for 18 and a half years, ending when Cats closed in 2000.
Broadway
Backstage
1985
Broadway Backstage was created as a way for students in the ticket program to learn about how a Broadway show operates before going to see the performance. The short documentary showcases the backstage crew during a performance of Cats, from makeup and costumes to lighting and sound. Broadway Backstage premiered in 1985 at the Winter Garden Theatre before an audience of excited students, government officials, media representatives, and theatre industry guests. Subsequently, the video was shown in hundreds of school and across the United States.
Soviet Union
Tour
1988
After facing several international hurdles, Inside Broadway brought Broadway Backstage to what was still the Soviet Union in 1988. Students in Moscow and St. Petersburg were brought to their respective American embassies to watch the documentary. Afterward, receptions were held where the students were able to ask questions and look at other pieces of media from the United States.