How to become your own in New York and hunt for tickets to Broadway shows

What is Broadway? Broadway is a vibrant show, live stars, great productions and unforgettable stories. Musicals that audiences from all over the world come to see, and legendary titles that are familiar even to those who are not into musical theater. Many people want to visit New York to see a Broadway show with their own eyes. And although theaters (and musical theaters) exist in many other cities and countries, it is Broadway that has become a household name, a dream for millions.

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My colleague Yvonne has a secret passion. From 2012 onwards, from the moment she first got on her first Broadway show, her heart has been conquered. Now Yvonne is the main hunter for the most profitable tickets to Broadway theaters. She knows from a dozen sites where you can save almost half the cost of a ticket, while hitting the very best seats.

Want to know the best season, day of the week or hour of the day when you need to buy tickets for the show? Ask Yvonne. And so I asked. And I received dozens of recommendations for my questions on how to search, buy and even win tickets to the most famous Broadway shows in the lottery.

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"What are we standing for?"

Queues. There is practically no hiding from them in New York. And it’s not always even clear - “what are we standing for”? But if you want to see a Broadway show, and even save on tickets, you still have to spend at least an hour of your time waiting. The classic way to buy a ticket to a Broadway show, which is preferred by many visitors and tourists, is to buy a ticket offline on the day of the performance. On Times Square, at the intersection of 47 and Broadway, are located the TKTS ticket office. It is easy to find them, the boxes are perched right under the famous red stairs. In the days of the show there is always a big line. Even experienced "Broadway" know that in this place you can buy tickets to often good places and half the price. Almost all shows, except perhaps the newest and most popular, take part in such sales.

Of course, all tickets are sold on the day of the show, which is why there is such a rush. I came first and bought a ticket for a good seat. Those who arrive late will not get the best seats. “My experience is that standing in line is not the best way to buy a ticket to a show,” says Yvonne. “Arriving early and spending a lot of time in the heart of bustling Times Square is not exactly my ideal shopping experience.” And what we will ultimately be able to buy is also another question.” However, good purchases do happen here.

So if you decide to go on the “hunt”, it is useful to begin to clarify what kind of “mining” you expect. Download the TKTS application on your phone or look at the official web site to familiarize yourself with the menu.

And if for you, like Yvonne, getting out into the center of Manhattan once again is a dubious pleasure, you can visit the TKTS ticket office in the lower part (South Street Seaport at the corner of the streets Front and John - auth.) Or TKTS in the center of Brooklyn (1 MetroTech Center, on the corner Jay Street and Myrtle Avenue) where you can buy tickets the day before the show. By the way, if your goal is not a musical, there is a separate ticket office in Times Square Play onlyin which there are almost no queues, which will significantly save your time.

If you are not looking to see a musical, the Times Square booth has a “Play Only” window that may cut down your wait time.

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Win-win lottery

For those who want to save a lot on the cost of a ticket, Yvonne recommends playing the lottery. Not all Broadway shows are involved in such promotions, and it is unlikely to win a ticket to the top-rated show. However, for those who are just starting their acquaintance with Broadway art, this is a great chance to save up to half the cost of a ticket and at the same time get on good seats.

“Broadway is a live show, where a lot depends on where the audience sits. Consider all the details, while covering the entire scene; to hear everything and see everything means to be close enough to the scene of action, but still not close to the stage. These are the places – in the golden mean – where you can win the lottery with a discount of up to 50%,” says Yvonne.

The girl advises several websites where you can try your luck: Today Tix, Broadway lottery, Broadway Direct, Lucky Seat. At each one you can choose the show for which you want to win a ticket. According to Yvonne, you can win on average in one out of five draws. “If you play every day or even several times a day, then you can go to shows every week, or even several times a week. I often give my winnings to friends,” she says. Nobody forbids you to create several accounts, which greatly increases your chances of winning!

There is one significant minus in such lotteries - you can not choose the day and time of the show. But since most of the productions are in the late afternoon and in the second half of the week, adjusting your schedule will not be a big problem.

In many cases, even the most popular shows hold their own jokes. For example, "The Book of Marmon" (org. The book of mormon - auth.) Or “Wicked” (org. Wicked - auth.) Sometimes draw tickets directly at the box office of their theaters. As a rule, this happens just a few hours before the show. The same popular "Hamilton" (org. Hamilton - auth.) Somehow arranged a whole show with the participation of his actors from a similar live lottery. This is the show, as well as "The Lion King" (org. The lion king - author.) Play tickets online on their own websites or in the application for smartphones Today Tix.

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No step without coupon

Buying something online without initially checking for a coupon with a discount on this product or brand is an unforgivable mistake. After all, from 15% to 50% of the amount could stay with you, you spend five minutes on additional searches. Broadway tickets are no exception. Yvonne has two official Broadway sites bookmarked on her computer: Ticketmaster and Telecharge. “I always check these sites before I buy a ticket. The best deals can be found during Broadway Week, which occurs twice a year in January and September. Even the top shows participate in such promotions! Up to 50% discounts and the best seats are just a dream,” Yvonne shares her knowledge.

According to her, at the time of the Broadway week you can buy two tickets for the price of one on the ground. The rest of the time, finding a coupon for almost any show with a minimum 10% discount is also very easy.

Convenient TodayTix helps you find tickets at a discount a week before the show date. It is very convenient to use their app for phones. But the discount will not exceed 10-20% of the cost of the ticket, if the purchase was not made during the Broadway week.

Good discount codes can also be found in BroadwayBox, Broadway Insider and Entertainment-Link.

“The weekend rule also applies,” says Yvonne. “It’s much more difficult to buy a ticket at a discount during the weekend than on weekdays. If a day of going to the theater is not very important for you, this is worth remembering.”

For members only

Of course, for those who came to New York with a short visit, the following option is hardly suitable. But for permanent residents who attend Broadway shows more or less regularly, subscription option - or, in other words, membership - can be a pleasant way to save money at your leisure.

The easiest way is to use your NYC ID card, which is very easy to get to any resident of New York. With this card you can register on the official Online and get access to an infinite number of discounts and special offers for card holders.

Another way is to become a member of the program. The Audience Rewards. Making your first purchase on sites Ticketmaster or Telecharge, you will receive an offer to join the program, and, by agreeing, you will regularly receive coupons to the specified postal address. True, most coupons come with a small discount - only about 10%.

Reliable online source cheap tickets where membership costs only $ 4 per month.

For credit card holders Chase bank or any card American Express There is also an exclusive club with great deals for fans of Broadway shows.

If you have such a card, carefully look at the notes when you buy tickets online. You will see a note that, as a bank customer, you can take advantage of the additional discount.

If you are a student, retired or veteran, you can use the advantages of the club TDF. In fact, the list of those who can become a member of the club is much wider. You can see if you fall under any of the categories. here.

For $ 30 per month, you can take advantage of the best deals a few days, or even weeks, before the show. Also, for just $ 9, you can watch off-Broadway productions. And believe me, despite the absence of glamorous lights and the crowd of Times Square, such presentations are not much worse than grandiose shows, and contact with the actors is closer and deeper.

Most of the city’s leading theater companies offer a club subscription. By paying a one-time fee (on average, $ 65), you get offers with discounts all year round, as well as the exclusive right to book tickets before they are available for sale.

If the show is very popular, or the anticipation is very large (and in the USA they know how to advertise the product properly), this opportunity may turn out to be really golden! As a compliment, you will also have a discount in certain cafes, pubs and restaurants.

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Road to the young

Are you from 18 to 35? Then only this fact will help you save on tickets. All the largest non-profit theaters in the city have programs aimed at encouraging young viewers. Theaters in the specified age range can buy tickets to Roundabout Theater Company for only $ 20-25 per show, becoming a member of the program Hiptix. If you are between 21 and 35 years old, you can join the program. Lincoln Center Theater LincTix, which offers tickets to all shows for $ 32.

Program Manhattan Theater Club 30 Under 30, as the name suggests, allows viewers of 30 years or younger to buy tickets for $ 30. Other large companies such as Playwrights horizons, also offer programs for young theatergoers.

Students have access to many special offers on Broadway and in out-of-Broadway theaters. Some of the best resources to find special offers for young viewers are Tix4Students and StudentRush. Librarians, teachers, and students can purchase 30-50% tickets for less than the original cost using the program Schooltix. Students aged 13 to 18 have the opportunity to buy a ticket for just $ 5 tickets to many off-Broadway productions.

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