It’s that time of year when people are thinking about visiting New York for the holidays – and maybe seeing a show on Broadway. It’s an exciting season to do this, since celebrities are all over Broadway this year (Robert Downey Jr. is on stage until after Thanksgiving; George Clooney is coming this spring. But there’s also Jim Parsons, Mia Farrow, Daniel Dae Kim, Kit Connor..).
Then again, you might be scared off by stories about $800 tickets.
As a former theater critic and longtime arts journalist, the question I get asked most often is: How can I get tickets at an affordable price? I have steered friends, family, and co-workers to cheaper (if ever cheap) seats. Here is my best advice:
Be flexible, if you can.
Do you want to see a particular show (you’re a Sondheim fanatic, there’s a celebrity you love) or is just a Broadway show on your bucket list? Are you flexible on dates and times? Do you care where you sit? If you’re flexible, you’ll be more likely to find cheaper tickets. Not all tickets cost hundreds of dollars. There are plenty of options under $100 each, especially if you’re willing to see almost anything, or at least a wide variety of shows.
Ticket prices change depending on the day, theater capacity and seat. Prices can be fluid and depend on the weekly popularity of a show. If you can, check prices over a few days and compare. The difference could be significant.
And then there are the dead periods of the year: January, February and September. Now is the perfect time to buy a ticket to Broadway. During these months, you will be able to monitor Broadway Weekwhich offers 2 for 1 tickets, and Children’s Night on Broadwaywhen a child is free with an adult, usually in February.
And then there is seat location. Seats with obstructed or partial views (you may not be able to see the whole scene) and seats behind the highest balcony will cost you less.
Where to look
Shows that are in previews – that is, before their opening date, while they are still working out kinks and have not been reviewed by major media outlets – are often less expensive. Struggling issues are often sold for less. Long-lasting shows (Chicago), perhaps at a much lower price than a show that just won Best Musical at the Tony Awards (The strangers). Plays often cost less than musicals (but not when they feature very famous people).
If you want to know the evolution of ticket prices, you can consult the weekly broadway recipespublished by the Broadway League, which details how full a theater was the previous week. A show that is at 70% capacity will have cheaper tickets than a show that is regularly at 100% capacity. And yes, that means it’s not as popular Right nowt — but that doesn’t mean you’ll love it any less!
But what if your daughter really wants to see Kit Connor?
Are Broadway tickets ever sold at a discount? Yes. (However, that might not happen for this show!)
Discount codes: Discount codes are often available from Tickets for the New York show, TheaterMania, BroadwayBox And Poster. Some employers offer benefits like Work advantagewhich also offers discounts. Some credit cards offer special orchestra rates. If you have a large family of 15 or more who are visiting and can book well in advance, you may be able to take advantage of group ticket prices.
Lotteries: You can enter your name for tickets in advance and hope you’re the lucky winner — they usually run for one to four tickets and cost between $30 and $40 per ticket. Bad news: you won’t be able to choose your tickets. Good news: most lotteries are now held online instead of waiting In double. Different productions use different lotteries, which may include TodayTix Or Lucky seat. Some lotteries are scheduled for the next day, others for the following week, so you’ll need to visit the show’s website for details. You will have a very limited time to respond if you have won, often around an hour, so be sure to check your email/text messages regularly.
Urgent tickets: Rush tickets are significantly discounted, tickets of the day. To purchase them, go to the box office as soon as it opens on the day of the show (you may also be able to get standing tickets). These tickets are often drawn from remaining seats available, meaning you may not be able to sit with other members of your party. Pro Tip: Buying tickets at the box office allows you to save on ticketing fees, even if you buy full price tickets.
You can also purchase discounted tickets on the day via TodayTix or by appearing in person at one of the The two TDF locations: Duffy Square on Broadway, on 47th Street in Times Square (look for the big red steps) or at Lincoln Center (this one is inside the David Rubenstein Atrium, which makes it better on a rainy day ). Arrive early, be prepared to wait in line, and (again!) be flexible.
Resale Applications: Many resale sites jack up ticket prices – although you can sometimes find cheap seats at the very last minute – if you’re willing to wait. My colleague (and theater regular) Janet W. Lee recommends the ticket resale app Theater, which sells at face value or less and often has last-minute deals.
See something Off Broadway – or wait for the road show
Many Broadway shows tour, probably in a location not far from your hometown. The sets may be scaled back depending on the production, but the casts are great and tickets cost considerably less. Or visit London! Even though ticket prices have increased, great seats to the West End’s most popular shows cost around $150.
But also think about Off Broadway! And off Broadway! Some of New York’s best theaters aren’t actually on Broadway, and the farther you go from the Main Stem, the smaller and more intimate the experience and the cheaper the ticket. Productions that debut at non-profit Off Broadway houses like the Public Theater and Second Stage often transfer to Broadway later, so you can tell all your friends that you “saw it when “. And Off Broadway commercial houses often have very popular, long-running shows that are worth seeing, like the current production of Little Shop of Horrors.
If you’re keen to see Off Off Broadway shows, tickets can cost as little as $11 with “TDF.Go there and beyond» membership, which has a one-time fee of $5.
For young theater lovers
There are many, many programs offering cheaper tickets for students or spectators under 35 or 40, including tickets in the $30-$35 range at Roundabout, 2nd step, Lincoln Center, Manhattan Theater ClubAnd Horizons of playwrights. Some shows, like The strangersoffer special rates for rush tickets for people under a certain age.
Tips for premises
If you live in the area, you have many more options. You can register for several lotteries per week and monitor Broadway Week And Children’s Night on Broadway. If you work for a nonprofit, are a student, union member, retiree, veteran, public servant, or many other categories, you can sign up for the excellent TDF Membership Program for $35 per year. Membership gives you the opportunity to purchase deeply discounted tickets to Broadway, Off Broadway, and Off Off Broadway, with prices ranging from $11 to $60 each. Sold-out productions won’t appear on TDF, but it’s a great way to see preview shows, shows that draw fewer crowds, or smaller (but often wonderful) productions.
If you are not eligible for TDF, a good option is a “ticketing service”, which discreetly fills theater seats (and often also classical music or jazz concerts) to make them more popular. It’s simple: You sign up with a membership fee (usually around $100), pay a small fee (around $5) per ticket, and you go to the show on your best behavior. To find them, Google “ticketing services” because they can come and go, but they include services like Play by play, Theater extras, Stage lighting And I will call the club. Check social media sites like Reddit to see if a particular service typically offers the type of tickets you’re interested in.
What if you just want to see good theater and don’t care if it’s on Broadway? Consider becoming a member of one of the city’s excellent nonprofit theaters, such as the Public Theater, New York Theater Workshop, Ars Nova, or Atlantic Theater Company.
Story edited by Meghan Sullivan.