Best Places for Discounted Broadway Tickets in New York
A Broadway show is a great way to spend a night out on the town in New York. The music, the dancing, the drama; who could ask for more? While the theatre offers some exciting entertainment, the ticket prices can be steep. Here are a few ways to get cheap or free Broadway tickets:
TKTS
Times Square
Under the red steps in Father Duffy Square
Intersection: 47th St. and Broadway
New York, NY 10036
tkts.com
South Street Seaport
In front of 199 Water St.
Intersection: Front St. and John St.
New York, NY 10038
Downtown Brooklyn
1 MetroTech Center
Intersection: Jay St. and Myrtle Ave. Promenade
Brooklyn, NY 11201
There are three TKTS booths in New York, but the main one is in Times Square. Stop by to snag tickets that are up to half off the original price. The catch: tickets at the Times Square booth are for day-of performances only. Make sure you have a few performances in mind, just in case your top choice is sold out. And set aside at least an hour to stand in line. The other booths are located at South Street Seaport and in Downtown Brooklyn. These booths offer both day-of performance tickets and day-before matinee tickets and are less crowded than the Times Square booth,
Theatre Box Office
Sometimes, the actual theatre box office is the best place to find cheap tickets, without all those pesky handling fees. Students and people who don't mind standing should go here first. Last-minute student rush and standing tickets are often offered for only $20 to $30 apiece; options and prices differ by show and performance. Stop by the theater a few hours ahead of time to make your purchase.
Volunteer for Free Tickets
227 W. 39th St.
New York, NY 10036
(212) 719-1300
roundabouttheatre.org
While quite a few off-Broadway theatres offer volunteer usher positions, only one Broadway theatre does: The Roundabout Theatre Company at the American Airlines Theater. Show ticket holders to their seats and then enjoy the show yourself for free. Stop by the theatre during regular hours to sign up for a slot.
HIPTIX
227 W. 39th St.
New York, NY 10036
(212) 719-1300
roundabouttheatre.org
Roundabout Theatre Company also offers cheap tickets for young adults through a program called HIPTIX. The program is completely free to join and lets you purchase up to two tickets per person for only $20 each. Members and ticket holders must be between the ages of 18 and 35. The Theatre reserves at least 10 HIPTIX tickets for each Roundabout performance, with most seats in the mezzanine level. This is one offer you'll definitely want to make use of.
Related: NYC's 5 Best Off-Broadway Shows
Online
There are a few websites that offer Broadway tickets. Broadway.com, with critic and audience reviews, up-to-date theater news and preview videos, may be one of the best. Plot points, cast notes, run time and photos are all available for each show. Every Broadway or Off-Broadway show is listed on the site. And once you've made the impossible decision of choosing your show, simply click and make your purchase with an approved credit card.
BroadwayBox.com is another great site for discounted tickets. This one gives you coupon codes for buy-one, get-one offers and other discounts for most of the shows on Broadway. Save up to half off original ticket prices with this website.
Jennifer Eberhart is currently an art history/museum studies graduate student at The City College in New York. She is an avid art enthusiast, and visits as many museums and galleries as she can in her free time. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
