Discovering Broadway: Where Broadway Starts INDIANAPOLIS — Broadway is one of the many staples of New York City, but before all the glitz and glamour you see on stage, have you ever wondered where those shows start? Some of those scenes and songs were written right here in Central Indiana. New musicals and plays take years to develop, says Joel Kirk, founder of Discovering Broadway, a non-profit working with Broadway creators to create a bridge between the Central Indiana community and the Broadway community. So, why not make Indiana a place where those musicals and plays can incubate? “While in town I realized most of the gorgeous venues over the summer are empty,” he said. “As a director of new work, and as a producer by necessity, I always look for opportunities.”