off-off-broadway
UK[ˌɒf ɒf ˈbrɔːdweɪ]US[ˌɔːf ɔːf ˈbrɔːdweɪ]
adj
Relating to or characteristic of small, experimental, and often avant-garde theatres in New York City that are even less commercial and more informal than off-Broadway theatres.
n
The theatrical movement or community associated with such theatres.
Morpheme Breakdown
off
off
broadway
off
off
broadway
Etymology
The term is a compound formation built entirely from English elements. It originates in the mid-20th century New York theatre scene as a descriptive label. The first "off" signifies separation from the commercial hub of "Broadway." The second, repeated "off" creates a further degree of removal, logically indicating a sphere of theatrical activity that is even more distant from the commercial mainstream than the established "Off-Broadway" category. Thus, the term's literal construction perfectly mirrors its conceptual meaning: a theatre movement defined by its layered, emphatic distance from the Broadway establishment.
Analysis
Structure: off + off + broadway
off (English, preposition/adverb): A word of Germanic origin, used here to denote a position away from or not part of the main or central area.
off (English, preposition/adverb): A repetition of the first element, used for emphatic distinction.
broadway (English, proper noun): The name of a major thoroughfare in New York City, synonymous with the mainstream commercial theatre district.
Examples
She started her acting career in an off-off-broadway production with a budget of just a few thousand dollars.
The festival showcases the most innovative plays from the off-off-broadway scene.
Their work is too experimental for even off-Broadway; it's purely off-off-broadway.