Using hyphens
Between acts the theater was completely dark, but the orchestra continued to play any-way.
Between acts, the theater was completely dark, but the orchestra continued to play anyway.
I see no need for any hyphens in that sentence.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/hyphen.htm
The use of hyphens is important for maintaining the clarity and proper structure of sentences. In the given sentence, there are two instances where hyphens can be used correctly:
1. Between acts: Hyphenating the phrase "between acts" creates a compound adjective, clarifying that the darkness occurred during the intervals between the acts. The corrected form would be: "Between-acts, the theater was completely dark..."
2. Any-way: In this case, the hyphen is used to connect the two words "any" and "way" to form a compound adverb. By adding the hyphen, you create a clearer meaning, emphasizing that the orchestra continued to play regardless of the darkness. The corrected form would be: "...but the orchestra continued to play any-way."
Additionally, it's important to note that "anyway" is commonly written as a single word without a hyphen when used as an adverb in most contexts. However, in certain cases where clarity is desired for emphasis or to avoid ambiguity, the hyphenated form "any-way" can be used to clearly convey the intended meaning.