Tickets to Broadway Plays?

Question

I will be going to NYC in April for my birthday with my mom, and we are wanting to see maybe one or two plays while we are there on Broadway. I was wondering if there was an honest website (besides ticketmaster) where I could buy play tickets for cheap, and still have good seats? Thanks so much!!

We are only going to be in NYC for 3 nights, so not sure if the TKTS Stand is the best option for us...any other ideas??? Help!

Answer 1

Also, check theatermania.com and there's a TKTS booth at South Street Seaport where the wait and line are much shorter then the one on Time Square.

Answer 2

We always go to TKTS, always. The tickets are 50% of face value. You can only buy what is available for right now, that means, for a matinee you need to be on line mid-morning. For evening, I think mid-afternoon, but check as soon as you get to your hotel. Walk over to Time Square and ask the security guard. This is not a secret - you will find plenty of people from all over.

For show information, try: www.playbill.com

If you need to buy in advance, you cannot find a discount. It doesn't work that way. Broadway is not selling tickets like an airline.

Answer 3

Ticketmaster has ridiculous fees that practically double a ticket's price. Forget them! My friend and I got second row seats to "Chicago" for half off face value from TKTS. It's a booth located in Times Square. You wait there the day of the performance and they release unsold tickets to Broadway shows at discounted prices. If you're flexible about what you want to see and when, this is great! Check out this site:

http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56

Answer 4

In response to the "rush/lottery" don't count on it. With some it is on a first come first serve basis so be prepared to stand in line for a couple of hours. The musical RENT has a lottery 3 hours before each show time. The only problem is that about 100 people show and put their names in. I have seen the show 10 times and have won 0 out of 10 times. The best way to get BDWY show tickets is to head to South Street Seaport. At the corner of Front and John Streets, near the rear of the Resnick/ Prudential Building at 199 Water Street. I used to wait in the lines in TS but then found the one at SSSP and there is hardly anyone there. Thats about the only cheap ticket option. If you are going to be in NYC on a friday or saturday night head to 23rd and 8th at the chelsea cinemas. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is still playing on the big screen with a live floor show. starts at midnight. The website for that is www.nycrhps.org

Answer 5

If you want cheap tickets, it is very hard to get them ahead of time.

Most Broadway shows have a "lottery" or "rush" policy in place that offers tickets (usally first row) for about $20/$25. However, you will have to go that day to be selected.

Here is a list:

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/boards/index.php?category=&rush=show&order=

Other theaters offer student pricing, which you can get ahead of time, but I don't know if that applies to you.

If this helps - I see almost all the shows and I can tell you that seats in the orchestra are over-rated! If you are in the mezz or balcony, sometimes you get a better view and those tickets will cost less.

You can also check craigslist.org closer to the time you will be here and see if anyone is selling their tickets for less than face value.

Answer 6

Just go the day of the play and the ticketbooth at the theater offers 50% off tickets for that day. You cannot buy them in advance. Its definetley worth it. Also theres a ticketbooth for broadway shows in times square that offers the same discount.

Answer 7

To buy the tickets in advance and get a discount you can check the following sites online:

www.broadwaybox.com
www.playbill.com
http://www.seasonofsavings.com/