Comparing Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway Theatres

LtCol Jennifer Grieves served the nation as a military officer, flying helicopters and assuming operational responsibilities while a member of the US Marine Corps. In her leisure time, one of Jennifer Grieves’ favorite pastimes is to attend Broadway theatre shows.

Broadway Street in New York City featured productions performed in theatre houses from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The theatre district was also known as The Great White Way, a name which alluded to the bright lights that framed titles and posters on theatre marquees.

Over time, things have changed. Today, more than 40 establishments in the theatre district are considered Broadway theatres although only a few have actual Broadway addresses. The three different types of Broadway venues are Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway.

A Broadway theatre has at least 500 seats and may or may not reside along Broadway Street. It will, however, be located in the Theatre District. Productions in these theaters must also contract with union labor for the show, including actors, musicians, and choreographers. Broadway theatre tickets are expensive because the cost to stage a production is high.

An Off-Broadway theatre located in New York City holds an audience of 99 to 499. Off-Broadway theatres became the alternative to pricier Broadway productions starting in the 1950s. An Off-Off-Broadway theatre has fewer than 99 seats. Any space can become an Off-Off-Broadway venue, such as bars, restaurants, and coffee shops.

How Reading Improves Memory

A lieutenant colonel with the United States Marine Corps, Jennifer Grieves served as a pilot for the Marines for over two decades. In her free time, LtCol Jennifer Grieves enjoys exercising both her body and mind by riding her Peloton bike and reading.

Reading is associated with plenty of benefits, including improved memory. This partially has to do with the neurobiological process of reading. When a person reads, separate parts of their brain must work together. These parts are associated with language, vision, and associative learning. No other activity, including processing speech or images, forces these sections of the brain to work together in such a complex way.

In addition, reading forces the mind to produce narrative, imagine the plot, and consider comprehension. These activities further benefit the brain by exercising it. As with any muscle, the more the brain is exercised by reading instead of listening or watching, the stronger it becomes.

This increased mental strength plays an important role in brain capacity as a person ages. According to a study from UC Berkeley, reading reduces levels of beta-amyloid in the brain, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s. Another study showed that reading protects memory and thinking skills. And Hong Kong’s Elderly Health Centres found that risk of dementia was lower in people who read books or engaged in other intellectual activities every day.