Seeing a Broadway show is something many people have on their “Must-Do” list when visiting NYC, but tickets to these shows can easily add up and blow your trip budget.
Here is the good news: Broadway doesn’t need to be super pricey!
As someone who works in the theater industry, both as a producer and an actor, I try to see as many shows as possible.
And while I like to make sure I am keeping current with the industry, I do not want to spend all of my money doing that.
There are all kinds of ways to get better deals on tickets.
Knowing your priorities for tickets will help you choose the best option for your trip.
- Get Deals Before You Arrive
- TKTS Booths
- Ticket Lotteries
- Rush Tickets
- Standing Room and Ticket Cancellations
- More Offers
- Best Current Broadway Shows
GET DISCOUNT TICKETS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
You don't need to be in NYC to get good prices on Broadway tickets.
On resale websites like StubHub, you can buy tickets in advance and you have a lot of flexibility to search the prices and seats you want, and they often offer lower than retail prices.
TIP: If you buy through a resale site, go on the the show’s official ticketing site as well, so you can make sure that the price is at least comparable- if not better- than what you would pay buying directly.
The major upside of this option is being able to choose the exact time and date of the show that you would like to see.
If you are looking to show up in NYC with a guarantee that you are seeing the show of your dreams, you are going to want to book it in advance.
In contrast, many of the other options for discounts are the "same day as performance" options. Things like TKTS, lotteries, rush, and standing room only are never a sure thing.
The major downside is that you may have to spend more money than you would if you waited until you are in New York and can take advantage of the different ways to get cheap tickets described below.
NOTE: If you are buying in advance online, I highly recommend checking out A View From My Seat. You can search the specific theater your show is playing in, and get the exact view of the stage from various seats.
This is particularly helpful if you have never been to a Broadway theater. Theaters tend to be smaller than people imagine, and you may be completely fine sitting further back.
Before you read on, consider listening to an episode of our NYC Travel Tips podcast that covers cheaper Broadway tickets.
This podcast offers bite-sized audio clips with tips on how to plan your trip to NYC. You can get our podcast on Apple, Google, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Same Day Discounts
There are multiple ways to get steep discounts for tickets the day of the performance. It is important to keep in mind that none of these options are a sure thing.
However, I can say that every time I have set out with the plan to get a ticket for that night, I have seen a show. It’s all about knowing the best practices!
You can buy tickets for same-night performances at the well-known TKTS booths located in Manhattan.
The most popular (and most crowded) is the Times Square location. The other location is at Lincoln Center.
Expect long lines at the TKTS booths, especially at the Times Square location, and plan your day accordingly.
Personally, I only ever go to the location at Lincoln Center. I have never waited longer than 20-30 minutes there, while lines in Times Square can be hours.
The Lincoln Center location also opens earlier in the day (11am), so you can get your tickets and still have some time to do other things before your show.
TKTS offers you the “best available” seats for that show. This means seats with the best view, rather than the least expensive.
This is really important to keep in mind, especially if budget is your highest priority.
The best available ticket may be a premium orchestra seat. 50% off of that ticket may still be much higher than you are wanting to pay.
Tickets purchased at TKTS booths are priced from 20% to 50% off normal ticket prices if purchased through Ticketmaster or the box office directly.
Outside the ticket booths, there will be a billboard with available shows.
Shows that are available are also listed on the TKTS website. It is a great idea to look at this in advance of your trip.
While you can only buy these tickets day-of, the shows offered don’t vary that much.
If it is on TKTS a week or two before you arrive, it will likely be available when you are here.
You also can download the TKTS app here.
The best possible thing you can do when visiting TKTS is to show up with a list of shows you are interested in.
The best available ticket to your first-choice show might be more than you want to pay.
Or the line might be long and that show may not be available by the time you get to the window.
I usually show up with a list of 3 or 4 shows, just to be on the safe side. One of them will probably work out!
Have a maximum amount you are willing to pay in mind before you get up to the window- the person working the window will appreciate it! It helps things move along faster.
TKTS TIP: Even though TKTS is technically “day-of”, you can buy tickets for the next day’s matinee performance at both locations. I absolutely recommend this if you are planning on a matinee.
In general, TKTS is never going to be the cheapest discount option, but it is the “surest thing.” While you may not get your first choice, you will be able to get a ticket to a show.
For more information, see our detailed post about using TKTS to get discount Broadway tickets.
TICKET LOTTERIES
There are two types of ticket lotteries in NYC, a digital online lottery system and an in-person lottery system.
As the name suggests, these lotteries let you enter your name in a contest to win the chance to buy deeply discounted tickets for that night’s performance.
These are pretty last minute tickets. If the lottery is your plan, I recommend having flexible plans that day.
Have an option for your evening if the lottery doesn’t work out, but nothing that you would be upset to cancel if you do get that ticket.
This is not the night to schedule that hard-to-get dinner reservation, or have date-specific tickets for an observation deck.
In-Person Lotteries
To enter an in-person lottery you must go to the box office about 2 to 2.5 hours before curtain time.
At the theater, you will fill out a slip of paper with your name and the number of tickets you want (you can typically get up to 2 tickets per person), and hand it to the theater staff taking the slips.
About 30 minutes later winners are announced. If your name gets picked, you get to buy tickets priced between $25 and $35 and are usually in the front half of the orchestra.
It is one of the best deals you will find on tickets.
Now that digital lotteries run, fewer and fewer shows hold in-person lotteries.
But I LOVE in person lotteries! It is generally a pretty fun atmosphere- everyone is excited to be there.
I once had evening plans fall through as I happened to be walking in Midtown with a friend.
We were right by a theater doing a lottery, and the crowd looked light (better chances for winning).
I threw my name in, and that night I saw Robin Williams perform from the third row of the theater. I paid less than 30 bucks.
If you are traveling with someone else, make sure you both go to the lottery drawing.
Because you can usually request two tickets per entry, you will double your chances of winning.
See our post, Broadway Show Ticket Lotteries, for more details on playing the in-person lotteries.
Digital Lotteries
Tickets for many shows are available through ticket lotteries accessed online via a website or app.
As the name implies, it is a lottery system, so there is no guarantee you will get tickets for that night’s show.
If you do win the lottery, tickets usually cost between $30 and $49 depending on the show. Hamilton is currently offering $10 lottery tickets.
The digital lotteries have certainly made it easier to enter, compared with needing to show up at the theater for an in-person drawing.
The downside of this is that it has made it easier for everyone, so there are way more entries than the in-person lotteries, and your chances of winning are much lower.
I have entered the Hamilton lottery over 200 times and haven’t won.
To increase your odds of seeing some shows that evening, you can easily enter several lotteries for different shows.
Also, some individual Broadway shows have their own ticket lottery on their website.
Currently, there are 4 websites that run lotteries: Broadway Direct, Lucky Seat, Telecharge, and TodayTix.
Here are just a few of the shows that participate in digital lotteries:
- The Lion King
- Wicked
- Hamilton
- Hadestown
- Aladdin
- The Book of Mormon
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (if you don’t win, you might find concessionary tickets here)
TIP: If you're interested in seeing The Lion King, you may also want to consider taking a Disney on Broadway tour which includes an opportunity to try on actual costumes and props from the musical!
While the digital lottery is probably the most long-shot option, it is incredibly easy to do, so why not throw your name in for all of them?
RUSH TICKETS
Rush tickets are last-minute tickets that you can purchase at the box office on the day of the performance.
Rush tickets can cost as low as $27- $45 for some shows.
There are a few different types of ticket rushes, (including student Rush tickets) but in general, Rush tickets go on sale when the box office opens, generally, 10 am, but check that theater’s website or call the box office to double-check.
Here is a sampling of shows with Rush tickets:
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- Chicago
- Some Like It Hot
- & Juliet
- Pictures From Home
- Hadestown
- See the full list of shows offering RUSH tickets here.
The pros and cons of trying for Rush tickets are straightforward.
The prices (between $27 to $45) cannot be beaten. But the downside is that it requires some time and effort on your part to get Rush tickets.
Theaters have a very limited number of Rush tickets each day and they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you show up and there are already 100 people in line, you are not getting a rush ticket that day.
Like lotteries, most rushes will allow each person to get 2 tickets, so when you are sizing up the line, assume most people are doing that.
If you show up and the line is crazy, you can always see if any other rush lines in the area are shorter.
I once tried to rush a production of The Heidi Chronicles. A box office employee came out and told the line that they only had 22 rush tickets that day.
A quick head count told me that it was mathematically impossible for me to walk away with a ticket.
I ran right across the street to a less crowded box office, and that night I saw Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience in the very first row.
I was almost close enough to pet the real corgis that were onstage!
Some people actually line up at the box office for popular shows as early as 5 or 6 am!
Here are some tips to make your rush experience better:
- Dress for the weather. You will be outside for a while.
- I always grab a breakfast sandwich and coffee from a deli, and bring my Kindle with me for the wait.
- This is a fun way to meet some new people. You already have something in common- you want to see the same show! I have had great conversations in rush lines
- If you have a theatre buddy, wait in different rush lines. (This obviously requires having the ability to call/text each other for updates, but it a great way to increase the odds of success!
- Weekdays are always better for rush than weekends. Days with matinees are also great, especially if your schedule would allow you to do either performance.
- Sometimes after they run out of rush tickets, they will offer those in line the option of standing room or partial view. Decide in advance if this is something you are interested in so that you don't hold up the line.
- January and February are great times to do rush. There are fewer people in town, so chances of getting a ticket are better. Just bundle up!
- While rush lines for super popular shows can form at 5 or 6am, most of them don't. I typically get into a rush line between 8 and 9am. If the weather is awful, you can sometimes roll up right at 10 and get a ticket. After a snowed-out tour one January, I was able to get a rush ticket at 10: 45am. (I’m not suggesting that is normal, but it can happen!)
If you don't mind a little time in line and budget is your primary concern, this is a great option.
NOTE: While most rush tickets are GREAT seats, you may be offered a partial view seat. Don't be scared off by this.
If any portion of the view of the stage is cut off (like if you are in the back of the orchestra and the mezzanine cuts off the very top of the view), it is called partial view.
I have seen many shows this way. Honestly, if I hadn't been told it was a partial view I probably wouldn't have even noticed.
TIP: TodayTix allows you to try for Rush tickets via their app so you don’t need to go to the theater first thing in the morning. Be aware though that Rush tickets, whether in person or via an app, go fast.
STANDING ROOM AND TICKET CANCELLATIONS
Some shows offer day-of-show standing-room tickets.
This is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of a seat, you are buying a numbered spot to stand just behind the last row in the orchestra section.
Standing room tickets are often as inexpensive as $27, but are limited in number and sell very quickly.
For very popular shows, a line will form for SRO tickets as early as 5 or 6 am the day of the show- same as rush tickets!
Standing room tickets are typically released when the box office opens, but some aren’t released until a couple of hours before the show.
The best thing to do is call or stop by the box office of the show you would like to see and ask what their procedures are.
NOTE: Standing room tickets are not made available unless the show is otherwise sold-out. The shows that offer this option are shows that tend to sell out most performances, but just know that this is the policy.
The biggest upside of trying for SRO tickets is that if you manage to get one, you will save a lot of money to see a show with a pretty good view.
The downside is that you will have a spot - not a seat. You will need to be fine standing for the entire show.
Some Broadway shows are well over two and a half hours with intermission.
Wear comfortable shoes! I wore heels for a standing room ticket to Dear Evan Hansen. It is a mistake I have only made once.
Another con is that waiting in line for an SRO ticket does not guarantee you will get a ticket. In terms of cost and chances of a ticket, it is pretty similar to rush tickets.
Additional information on shows with SRO tickets can be found at these websites: Broadway on a Budget, Broadway for Broke People and Broadway World.
Also, it is also advisable to check with the box office for individual shows.
TICKET CANCELLATIONS
Though the odds are low, some people can't make it to the show and call the theater to let them know they can't make it.
These tickets will then become available for purchase. Again, another last-minute ticket option.
Any ticket cancellations are released shortly before the show's start time. If you line up at the theater, you may be able to get one of these canceled tickets.
Bear in mind that there won't be a whole lot of cancellations, but that there will be other people hoping to get a canceled ticket.
Your odds of success are better if you can arrive at the theater several hours before showtime. So, like many of these options, this involves using up some of your day waiting in line.
The odds of getting a cancellation ticket aren't great, but if it is a show you are dying to see it may be worth a try!
NYC Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
Several tourist concession passes have in the past offered savings on select Broadway shows.
It's worth checking to see what they have on offer. Here are a few examples of deals they offered previously:
- The New York Pass can save you up to 10% off the full price on specific Broadway shows.
- The Sightseeing Pass and The Sightseeing Flex Pass get you $20 off tickets.
There are, of course, many other benefits of getting a tourist pass.
The biggest benefit is saving a great deal of money. Some passes can save you up to 55% on your itinerary of attractions to see.
To find out if getting a tourist pass is right for you, our post, New York City Attraction Passes: Which One Is the Best to Buy, will help you make that decision.
Buy Tickets through a Discount Website or App
TodayTix is an easy-to-use website that sells concessionary tickets to shows.
It also has a very useful app where you can enter some of the digital lotteries, which we will talk about below.
I love TodayTix and use it all the time. It is also a good way to check out in advance what might be available while you are there.
Like TKTS, it doesn't vary a ton from day to day, so you can scope out options before you arrive here.
Also, check out Broadwaybox and Theatermania where you can find reduced-price tickets to some of the most popular shows on Broadway.
You can also find deals on Groupon, Living Social, and Goldstar, sometimes as much as 50% off.
These might not be for the top shows, though. Still, it is always worth a look.
On resale websites like StubHub, you can buy tickets in advance and you have a lot of flexibility to search for the prices and seats you want, and they often offer lower than retail prices.
See a Show on a Weekday
As a general rule, weekend tickets (starting with Friday night performances) are more expensive.
The cheapest day and time to see a Broadway show is typically weeknights (Tues. - Thurs.).
If you go to a weekday matinee you may find even better prices.
But, there is no guarantee that any specific day will have cheaper tickets than others.
NOTE: A very important thing to keep in mind is that some shows will have understudies perform for lead actors for matinees. I’m not saying this to suggest that you shouldn’t go.
Understudies are some of the hardest-working people on Broadway and are always incredible!
But if you have bought a ticket to a show specifically to see a certain lead actor, know that this is a possibility.
Personally, I usually opt for a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday night to see shows.
There is usually better seat availability, and the prices tend to be lower.
See a Show in the Off-season
If you don’t have specific dates for your NYC visit but know you really want to see a show, consider coming to NYC during the tourist off-peak season.
Tickets tend to be less expensive in spring or fall whereas they are more expensive during the summer and even higher during the Christmas holiday season.
My favorite theatre-going season is winter. I often see 5-10 shows in January/February/early March.
You have a better chance with all of these discount options then. If you visit then, you will probably run into me waiting in a rush line!
BONUS: Everything else is usually cheaper at this time as well, and major tourist attractions are way less crowded!
Read our post, When is the Cheapest Time to Visit NYC.
Attend During Broadway Week
This biannual event happens in late January-early February and again in early September and allows guests to purchase two tickets for the price of one.
Though it's called Broadway Week, it's actually a two-week-long period!
Read our post on Broadway Week for details.
Attend Off-Broadway Week
Similar to Broadway Week, this is a biannual event and occurs twice a year, during February and late September to early October.
You can get 2-for-1 tickets to over 20+ Off-Broadway shows which are often every bit as good, if not better, than some Broadway productions.
See our post on the difference between a Broadway and an Off-Broadway Show.
Seasonal Theater Performances
Throughout the year there are various theater performances that you can see, many for free.
In July and August, you can attend Broadway in Bryant Park, and see free, short performances by the cast of some of the top shows.
In June, July, and August, you can see free, star-studded cast performances of Shakespeare in the Park which happens every summer in Central Park.
In the holiday season, from late November through the New Year, you can see holiday-themed shows, besides Broadway shows. Some are even free!
Websites Where You Can Find Discounts
If you are flexible, you can often find cheaper Broadway tickets at the last minute, even for the best Broadway shows and musicals.
Look at Playbill, Broadway’s official magazine. Their website has an up-to-date listing of rush, lottery, standing room, and student/young professional offers below.
Take a look at the Broadway for Broke People website.
It offers information about particular shows such as their performance schedules and which method will get you the cheapest ticket.
Check some social media websites. For example, look for suggestions on how to get cheap Broadway tickets on Reddit.
You may find people posting information on how you can get half-price Broadway tickets.
School Discounts
- Discount Broadway tickets for teachers and school librarians are sometimes available. Look at the benefits offered by your union, such as the UFT.
- Middle and high school students can buy $5 tickets (sometimes $10) to some dance, music, theater, and visual arts events all year round through the High 5 program.
Discounts Based On Age
People who are 35 or under should check out this special program called 35 for $30.
Seniors may have access to special offers for Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.
Call the theater for the show you would like to see and ask them. Also, check AARP if you are a member.
If Buying Through Ticketmaster, Don't Wait Until the Very Last Minute
If you are not able to take advantage of any of the cheap ticket options above and need to buy through Ticketmaster, do not wait until the last minute.
You may think that Broadway tickets get cheaper as it gets closer to the date of the performance.
That is not the case, however. Ticket prices through Ticketmaster may rise in fact as it gets closer to the date.
TIP: You can save on Ticketmaster service fees if you purchase tickets at the box office instead!
Speaking of the box office…if you are wanting to see a show that is not one of the most popular and doesn’t sell out every show, you may be best off going directly to the box office whenever you arrive in NYC.
There are a few reasons this can be a great idea.
The main one is that online ticketing fees can be high.
The service fee for buying directly at the box office is usually two dollars, so this can save quite a bit of money.
Box office employees are generally very nice and want to help you have the best experience possible.
They will usually be very candid if you ask them a question like “Is it really worth the extra money to sit in this section vs. this section?”
No one will know the layout of the theater and how best to watch the show as well as the people who work there.
Some shows are designed in a way that you want to be as close as possible.
Some (like musicals with big dance numbers) are better if you are further back and get a wider view of the stage, so the best seat may be in the mezzanine. +
Rather than guessing what is best, I like to go and check in with the experts.
Even if I think I know what ticket I want, I will always ask for their opinion.
I once went to the box office to get tickets for my parents (who were in town visiting).
After a chat with the woman at the box office, I ended up getting seats in a totally different part of the theater than I planned AND spent way less money. They were fantastic seats!
If you are going to visit the box office directly, go at a time when the staff will actually have some time to talk with you.
Best to not go right when they open at 10- they will be dealing with rush/standing room/etc.
Also avoid any time within an hour of a performance, as they will be very busy.
Of course, if the show you want to see is extremely popular, you likely won’t be able to wait until you are in town to visit the box office.
Best thing you can do is continuously check in on how many tickets are available for the performance you want to see. When the availability starts to look low, you will want to go ahead and buy your tickets!
This is especially true if the show is one that regularly sells out. If that is the case, you will want to buy months in advance of your trip.
Check for Additional Deals On Our Website
Be sure to check our posts on things to do in NYC by month Broadway-related events and to see what shows are playing during your visit.
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