How to Get Cheap Broadway Tickets
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Best way to get Cheap Broadway Tickets
Why are Broadway tickets so expensive?
As a native New Yorker, I want to go to Broadway shows all the time, but the cost of the shows adds up. It gets worse when family comes to town and they also want to see a Broadway show.
So, if you are heading to New York City and want to see a Broadway show, keep reading to find tips that will cut the cost of a show so that you can see all the Broadway shows that you have dreamed about. In this guide, I will highlight various ways to get discounted Broadway tickets including letters, rush tickets and getting cheaper tickets based on age! Oh, and many of these tips will get great seats without spending hundreds on a ticket.
1. Cheap Broadway Tickets at the Box Office
There are two ways you can get cheap Broadway tickets at the box office.
- Rush Tickets
Rush tickets are sold online and at the box office for some Broadway shows. If they are sold at the box office, it will tell you on the site how much the tickets are. Head to the box office the morning of the show you want to attend. Most box offices open at 10 am but get there before 10 am as they will sell out and there will be a line.
There was already a line when I showed up to get tickets to The Wiz around 9:50 am, and as I was leaving a lady said she had rushed over to get tickets, as the show she had tried to purchase Rush tickets for was sold out.
For Rush Tickets at the Box Office, you can get up to 2 tickets, and they do not charge any fees.
- Regular Tickets without ALL the fees
If there is a show you want to see that has no discounted tickets like Rush Tickets or you did not win a lottery, you can also head to the Box Office and purchase the tickets without the processing fees, saving you money! I went to the box office for my Alladin tickets and saved over $50 a ticket and got better seats. The seats were in the front row of the mezzanine whereas the tickets online were towards the back and were more expensive.
2. Cheap Broadway Tickets using Today Tix
Today Tix is an app that sells cheaper tickets to all Broadway shows. Using Today Tix, there are a few ways to get discounted tickets.
- Rush Tickets
Today Tix has a feature that shows rush tickets for specific shows. Once you click on a show that has rush tickets, You will need to unlock them, and it will tell you what time the ticket sales start.
I would log into the app a few minutes before it starts so that once the lotteries open, you can purchase your seats. To get your tickets, you will head to the box office a little before the show, and they will hand you the tickets you purchased. I tend to use this method when the rush tickets are about $50 and under. The great thing about this is you typically get pretty good seats. I got floor seats to see Death of a Salesman and was about 10 rows from the front!
Note: You do not have to share that you unlocked rush tickets for a show on social media. I never have and have always scored tickets.
- Discounted Tickets
The other options on Today Tix are for discounted tickets. You are able to pick your own seats this way. If you want to see the view from your seat, check out sites such as A View from My Seat.
3. Cheap Broadway Ticket using Purchase via TKTS
There are booths located in Lincoln Center and Times Square. You can log onto the website to see the prices that they are selling tickets for and/or use the app to see the prices as well. There is a $7 fee for tickets purchased through TKTS, which is included in the price, and there are some off-Broadway shows that are cash only. You are able to purchase matinee and evening purchases for the day of and matinee tickets for the following day however, they do have a six-ticket limit.
If you want to see more than one show and purchase your first ticket through TKTS, they have a program called 7-Day Fast Pass that allows you to skip the line to purchase tickets to another show as long as you show your ticket stub or receipt!
The TKTS booth is open 11 am to 6 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
I have not tried this method yet, as I relay mainly on going to the Box office and Rush Tickets.
4. Cheap Broadway tickets using Lotteries
For some of the shows, they have their Rush tickets in a lottery. For example, Harry Potter has $40 tickets, but you have to enter a lottery the previous week, and they let you know on Friday if you were chosen. If you go to the Broadway site, you are able to select a show, and it gives you information about getting the rush tickets via a lottery.
I have done this a few times for Harry Potter and scored tickets! I love that I am able to select the day and time of the show I want to see when entering the lottery.
Here are some of the shows I hear most people want to see and links to their lottery information!
Lion King has a lottery that is $35.00
Aladdin has a lottery that is $35.00.
Hamilton has a lottery that is $10.00
If a show is a must-see for you, I would look into Today Tix to purchase in advance, visit the TKTS booth, or head to the box office the day of!
5. Cheap Broadway Ticket by Becoming a Member
TDF has a yearly membership program that you can join to get discounted tickets; at the time of writing, the program costs $35 for the year. The membership is only available to select groups, which can be found here. The tickets in this program cost $11 to $59.50, and you can purchase up to 9 tickets days to weeks in advance for many shows. The list of shows available through TDF can be found on the website.
I have not used TDF for a ticket yet but may consider it in the future.
6. Cheap Broadway tickets based on Age
There are several ways to get Broadway tickets for cheap, depending on your age.
- Manhattan Theatre Club: This free program is for individuals under 35. The tickets cost $30 for any of the shows they have, keep in mind that if you purchase the tickets online you will be subject to fees. You can purchase up to 2 tickets, your guest can be any age. They allow you to continue in the program until your 36th Birthday. Signing up is easy and they send you emails with information for purchasing tickets to their shows. I have used this to see JaJa’s African Hair Braiding and got great seats. I was even able to change my seats after purchasing due to needing to change the date!
- HipTix: This program is for Roundabout theatre and allows people between the ages of 18 – 40, to purchase up to 2, $30 tickets for shows. You can join by downloading the app. If you want better seats or more access to tickets you can upgrade to HipTix Gold. If you have kids in high school, they can enroll in HipTixHigh, where they can get access to shows for $10. When joining they do ask for proof of age, via passport or state ID.
Bonus: Broadway Week
Broadway Week occurs twice per year, and tickets are 2 for 1. Traditionally, it is in late January to early February and then again early to mid-September. You can purchase tickets online for these shows using a code for that week. This is a great way to get cheap Broadway tickets for the more popular shows where it can be really hard to win the lottery!
Conclusion: How to get Broadway show tickets for Cheap
Heading to a Broadway show is such a fun and amazing experience. If you are coming to New York, make sure to add this to your list and get your Broadway tickets for a discount! My last show was The Wiz, where I headed to the Box Office to get my tickets the morning of. I absolutely loved the show and cannot wait to choose my next show. I want to see Othello but those prices!!
I even waited outside to get the actors and actresses to sign my playbill and take pictures! If you want to know where they will be coming out, ask security, and they will tell you where to wait!
Let me know what shows you have seen or are planning to see in the comments!
Keep in mind as you are purchasing, to use the credit card that gives you the most points so that you can pay for more trips to see plays! I used my Capital One venture for my purchase because it gave 2x the points.
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You gotta love it when you score a great deal!
I missed out on Broadway tickets when I was in New York. Broadway week, 2 for 1 special sounds great. Will keep that in mind for next time.
Some great tips here, I never heard of hiptix but will be sure to use them next time I’m in NYC.
I’ve actually never been to a broadway show, but a Disney one would be my kind of show!! Great tips here!!
Hello! Thanks for sharing such helpful tips! Broadway is my dream! Dream big, they say!
I hadn’t heard of the lotteries, sounds like a great way to get cheap tickets if you can be flexible.
I have spend far too much money on Broadway tickets and never regretted a penny, but I would be able to go so much more often if I could do so cheaper. I am very excited to try out these tricks and tips, thank you!