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Broadway's Stars Profiled In New Website Celebrating City's Theater District

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Just call it the Great White Web.

As CBS 2's Dana Tyler reported, the city has tipped its hat to the Great White Way with a new interactive website, SpotlightOnBroadway.com, launched Monday, featuring 40 videos that chart the evolution of Broadway's 40 official theaters.

In his own swansong, Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveiled the information-packed site on "CBS This Morning" Monday, citing the jobs and entertainment that Broadway brings.

"For New York, this is what we're known for," Bloomberg said. "Even if you don't come to Broadway, you know Broadway is there. You know it's exciting. You know things are happening in New York."

Bloomberg said the theater industry supports about 86,000 jobs at every level of income, education and ability, and entertainment both for New York City residents and the 52 million people who visit the city every year. A total of 12 million people visit Broadway theater productions every single year.

Performers such as Matthew Broderick, Harvey Fierstein, Kristen Chenoweth, Nathan Lane and Glenn Close are featured in the multimedia project.

Web Extra: Top 5 Broadway Schools For Kids In New York

"Broadway is an important part of our city, contributing $11 billion to the local economy and attracting visitors from around the world," said Commissioner Katherine Oliver of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment.

Photos: The 67th Annual Tony Awards At Radio City Music Hall

Over 100 storytellers share their experiences of Broadway—from renovating and designing the theaters, to constructing sets and choreographing legendary numbers or unlocking the key to a successful performance.

"Spotlight on Broadway is a veritable who's who of Broadway legends, and we're grateful to everyone who took the time to share their experiences. Spotlight also pays tribute to those individuals whose names may never have appeared on a marquee, but whose contributions to Broadway are just as significant," Oliver said.

The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment said the website will have an encore later this year. The city will install a permanent in-ground maps in the heart of Times Square showing the locations of the 40 Broadway theaters.

"It will show where all 40 Broadway theaters are. It will give you a little bit of history of each of the theaters, and it will tell you what's going where," Mayor Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg said "Kinky Boots" was the last Broadway production he saw, "and I loved it." As to the first he ever saw, he admitted he couldn't remember.

"For most people the first show they see is a really magical one," he said. "The reason I can't remember my first show is that it was so many years ago."

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