I go to the theater a lot, and I don’t tend to spend more than $45 on a ticket to a Broadway show. People frequently ask me how I make that happen, so here are some of my best tips and tricks.
- Rush Tickets
- Several Broadway shows offer a limited number of $30-40 dollar Rush tickets starting at box office opening time (usually 10 am Saturday – Friday, 12 pm Sunday)
- These tickets are sometimes partial view, but that usually only affects a small sliver of the stage
- Depending on which show you’re interesting in rushing, you may need to show up considerably before the box office opens in order to line up to buy rush tickets.
- Some shows have a digital rush through the TodayTix app.
- Digital Lotteries
- Several shows have digital lotteries that you can enter for $30-$50 dollar tickets
- Shows playing in Jujamcyn theaters use Lucky Seat. This system allows you to enter for a week’s worth of lotteries at a time which is AWESOME.
- Nederlander Theaters use Broadway Direct for their lotteries
- Shubert Organization shows use Telecharge Digital Lottery.
- Roundabout Theater uses TodayTix for their lotteries.
- HipTix, LincTix, MTC’s 30 under 35
- Some organizations including Roundabout, Lincoln Center, and MTC have policies geared towards cheap tickets for young theater patrons.
- Roundabout’s HipTix program gives two $30 tickets to patrons 18-40 for each Roundabout production.
- LincTix gives members 21-35 the opportunity to buy a $32 ticket to shows at Lincoln Center Theater. If you want to buy tickets with someone else, they need to put in their LincTix number as well when you buy tickets.
- MTC’s 30 under 35 program allows patrons under 35 to buy two $30 tickets to any MTC production.
- TDF
- If you are under 26 years old or if you meet certain other qualifications, you might be able to join the Theater Development Fund. Annual membership is $40.
- Through TDF, you can purchase tickets to all kinds of theater productions in NYC including Broadway musicals and plays.
- Broadway musical tickets tend to be around $48 dollars each and plays are around $42 each.
- See if you’re eligible here.
- TodayTix
- TodayTix is an app that provides discounted tickets to Broadway shows.
- TodayTix agents will stand outside theaters starting 30 minutes before show time, and you pick up your purchased tickets from them. They are easily identifiable in their red jackets/shirts.
- BroadwayBox
- BroadwayBox is a website that includes discount codes for many Broadway shows.
- You can use these codes while buying tickets online or at the box office.
- Their website also has fun videos and articles if you are interested in checking those out as well.
- TKTS
- There are a few TKTS booths throughout NYC where you can get Broadway and off-Broadway show tickets for 20%-50% off.
- The Times Square booth only does same day matinee or evening tickets depending on the time of day you go.
- The Seaport and Lincoln Center Booths will do next day matinee tickets in addition to same day tickets.
- They have an app that will tell you what is being sold at TKTS and the prices of the tickets. You can also get that information here.
Other resources:
- Here are a few websites that go through some of the above information show by show if you have a particular show you want to see:
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