Bingeing on Broadway without Breaking the Bank
Steve loves live theater - especially Broadway shows - as much as I do. Lucky me! We have been subscribers to the Broadway Series at the Straz Center in Tampa for decades, so we’ve seen just about every national tour. Our first “Broadway Binge” - attending 3 or 4 shows during a long weekend in NYC - was in 2005, and it became an annual tradition in 2015. Now that we’re spending two months living near the Great White Way, there are ample opportunities to see Broadway shows and other live theater.
During our first month here, we managed to see twelve live performances, most of them Broadway (or Off-Broadway) shows. Here are the Playbills for ten of the shows. (The first photo shows the special 140th Anniversary legacy covers; the second shows the traditional covers.)
But we need to watch our spending - Broadway shows are expensive nowadays! - so I’ve learned a great deal about discounts. Fortunately, our long stay in New York City has given me more options. Here are the different ways I have bought tickets at great prices:
Online with Discount Code - Best when you want to see a specific show on a specific future date, and choose your own seats. Also good for when you need more than two tickets. I used this method a lot for our short visits to NYC over the years. What I have used: NYTix ($5 per month), TodayTix, BroadwayBox, and BroadwayDirect.
Online via Digital Rush - Best when you want 1 or 2 same-day tickets at a super low price without waiting in line, and you want to know where the seats are before you buy. Rush tickets are typically $35-50 and sold in the morning for a performance that evening. With digital rush, you don’t have to wait in line at the box office, and you can see exactly what seats are available before you buy. What I have used: Telecharge Lottery+Rush (requires connecting to a social media account), TodayTix (mobile app only).
Online via Digital Lottery - Best when you want 1 or 2 next-day tickets at a super low price without waiting in line, you don’t care where you sit, and you have a Plan B for if you don’t get the tickets. Lottery tickets are typically $35-50, and you enter the drawing the day (or up to a week) before the performance. What I have used: Lucky Seat, BroadwayDirect Lottery, Telecharge Lottery+Rush (requires connecting to a social media account), and TodayTix (mobile app only). Also, the show Hamilton has their own mobile app for a digital lottery for $10 tickets (“Ham4Ham”).
Online or via Telephone through Audience Rewards - Best when you want to see a specific show on a specific future date and choose your own seats, but can’t find any discount codes. Audience Rewards is like a frequent flyer program for theater-goers. Every purchase you make through authorized ticket channels earns points. You can use points only, or points+cash, to get tickets. Most point redemptions can be done online, but occasionally it must be done via telephone.
In Person at Box Office - Best when you want to see a specific show on a specific future date, have some flexibility with seats, and you are able to visit the theater box office in the middle of the day. Online ticketing purchases have booking fees, which can be hefty. There are no booking fees if you buy tickets in person at the theater box office. However, there is a small risk that the seats you saw online are no longer available by the time you get to the box office. My approach is to find the best online discount for the desired show, choose my preferred section and row(s), and then walk over to the theater and provide the discount code at the box office. It’s best to go after the morning rush ticket rush and before people start arriving for a matinee or evening performance. I have saved $15-30 in booking fees per ticket this way.
Online via Theater Membership or Subscription - Best when you want to see multiple shows presented by the same theater or group, and don’t mind paying for them all up front. Also good for securing good seats for high-demand shows. Obviously, this makes more sense for residents of or frequent visitors to New York City. Subscriptions offer hefty discounts and guaranteed tickets for shows likely to sell out quickly. Memberships offer bonuses like advance ticket sales and access to studio or dress rehearsals. What I have used: Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City Center.
Options that don’t work for me but may work for others
TKTS - Best for those who don’t have their heart set on a particular show and who don’t mind spending a big chunk of their day waiting in line. TKTS is in a booth under the distinctive red steps in Times Square. They sell same-day (and next-day matinee) tickets for “up to 50% off.” But the line is often VERY long, and ticket prices are surprisingly steep, even with the discount. (When regular seats are priced at $300 or more, a half-price ticket is still expensive for me.)
Theater Development Fund - Best for students, educators, and seniors. TDF operates TKTS, and it also has a membership program offering deeply discounted tickets for eligible people. I suppose I’m glad I’m too young to be eligible. Check with me again in a few years.
Postscript
We also love jazz, and we try to catch a live show or two every time we’re in New York City. Jazz at Lincoln Center has “hot seats” for just $10 each. You have to call to confirm they are available for your desired show, and then buy them at the box office.
