great white way
Proper noun A nickname for the Broadway theatre district in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, specifically the section brightly illuminated by numerous theater marquees and advertising signs. It is synonymous with the commercial American theater industry.
The term is used as a proper name to refer specifically to the theater district centered on Broadway in Manhattan. * The aspiring actor moved to New York with dreams of performing on the Great White Way. * The lights of the Great White Way are a famous symbol of New York City.
- The term is often used in a figurative or metaphorical sense to represent the pinnacle of commercial theatrical success in the United States.
- After years in regional theater, she finally got her break on the Great White Way.
- Broadway: The more common and literal name for the street and the associated theater district. "Great White Way" is a colorful nickname for Broadway's theater section.
- Theatre District: A more generic term for the area.
- Broadway (when referring to the theater district and industry)
- The Rialto (an older, less common synonym)
This term refers exclusively to the physical and cultural district in New York City. It does not describe a type of theater, a style of performance, or any other concept. Its meaning is inherently tied to its location.
- a street in Manhattan that passes through Times Square; famous for its theaters