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: NOW PLAYING :: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL :: Broadway Bound The Great White Way brought in the green during the 2003-2004 season with $771 million in gross ticket sales, a 6.9% increase from the year before, according to the League of American Theatres and Producers. More than 11 million attendees hit the 40 theaters that make up Broadway -- more than half of them from outside the New York City area, the association notes. Whether you're a veteran theatergoer, new to the territory, or just looking to soak up some showbiz tidbits, these free Web sites will help you find the latest show information, discounts on theater tickets and deals on meals at Broadway bistros. (This compilation excludes paid sites, such as WSJ.com where subscribers can access ratings from The Wall Street Journal/Zagat Theater Survey.) SITE: BroadwayStars.com DESCRIPTION: Digest of theater news, with links to Broadway-related media, chat rooms, databases and awards shows. EASE OF USE: Frugally formatted for simple scrolling. Click on links above the news listing to read (or add) star biographies, find ticket discounts, and submit gossip. COMMENT: Users should link to performers' home-page where provided, as fan-submitted information is only spottily updated. SITE: Playbill.com DESCRIPTION: Leading news resource for Broadway, updated around-the-clock. EASE OF USE: Provides news and features, show schedules and statistics (just 600 or so performances to go until "Phantom of the Opera" overtakes "Cats" as Broadway's longest-running show. COMMENT: "Playbill on Opening Night" feature, amply illustrated with on-the-spot snapshots, takes you behind the scenes of Broadway premieres with commentary from a veteran theater critic. SITE: TheaterMania.com DESCRIPTION: Comprehensive site covering New York and regional theater. EASE OF USE: Find detailed reviews at the bottom right of the homepage. On the left, the TheaterMania Restaurant Guide tells which Broadway bistros offer deals. COMMENT: "Ticket Discounts" tab atop the page helps users save as much as 50% on some shows, including those on Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway. SITE: TalkinBroadway.com DESCRIPTION: Chat site for Broadway gossip and information. EASE OF USE: Click on "All That Chat" and get ready to dish. Or just lurk. Members comment on daily performances, critiquing the fine points of the show seemingly minutes after the curtain falls. COMMENT: "Broadway 101" gives the origins and history of Broadway in text and pictures. The nickname "The Great White Way" came from the illumination of electric signage along Broadway and Times Square. SITE: BroadwayBox.com DESCRIPTION: A collection of discount codes for Broadway bargain-hunters. EASE OF USE: Look for discount information posted by readers and follow the instructions for each show, or sign up for "discount alerts." COMMENT: No points for pizzazz but the ticket prices are showstoppers, from 25% to 50% off