How to Get Broadway Rush Tickets

This post covers Rush tickets for Broadway shows in NYC.

We define what they are, which shows offer them and offer tips on improving your chances to secure them.

• What are Rush Tickets
• Tips to Improve Your Chances
• Participating Shows
• Other Broadway Discounts
• New York on a Budget
• Things to Do in NYC

WHAT IS A RUSH TICKET?

If you don’t mind standing in line at the box office on the day of the show, RUSH tickets are a great way to score inexpensive tickets. 

RUSH tickets cost anywhere from $25-40 depending on the show.

There are different types of RUSH tickets including General RUSH anyone can take advantage of and Student RUSH which requires a student ID.

Some shows also offer Senior RUSH and Under 35 RUSH which has an age requirement usually over 62 or 65 for Senior RUSH or 35 or under for Under 35 RUSH.

RUSH tickets are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis when the theater box offices open (usually 10:00 am), so arrive early and be prepared to wait!

Don’t forget your photo ID as most shows require this to purchase the tickets. 

Many box offices will allow one person to buy 2 tickets, but some only allow one per person, so be sure to check with the box office of your preferred show.  

The pros and cons of trying for Rush tickets are straight forward. 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.

A limited number of shows now also offer Digital RUSH, where you enter online the day of the show.

TodayTix is a great place to start to find out which shows offer digital RUSH tickets.

Other websites include Playbill, NYTIX, and Broadway for Broke People.

Before you read on, consider listening to an episode of our NYC Travel Tips podcast that covers discounted Broadway tickets.

 
This podcast offers bite-sized audio clips with tips on how to plan your trip to NYC. You can get our podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

TIPS FOR GETTING RUSH TICKETS

• Even though the box office opens at 10 am, people will start lining up as early as 6 or 7 am for very popular shows. There are only a limited number of tickets available as they are first-come, first-serve.

• If there are two of you, it might be a good idea to go to different box offices as one show may be sold out of RUSH tickets. This doubles your chances of getting into a show that night. Make sure you check at the box offices that one person can purchase two tickets before you use this tactic.

• When it is your turn at the window just ask if they still have rush tickets available.  If they say yes, tell them how many you would like, and you are all set.  If they are out, they may offer you another option, like Standing Room Only, where you are assigned an area in the theater where you can stand.

• If you don’t get rush tickets, it will still be early enough in the day to hop down to the South Street Seaport TKTS booth for their 11 am opening. See our post on how to get discount Broadway tickets through TKTS.

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BROADWAY SHOWS THAT OFFER RUSH TICKETS

Here’s a sampling of which shows are offering General Rish and Student Rush tickets as of July 2019.

We update this list every 6 months, so you might want to confirm that the show you want to see still offers these tickets.

Tip: You can click on any shows that are in bold blue text to get more information on getting discount tickets to those shows.

For additional information on how you can enjoy New York City on a budget visit our website. Enjoy your trip!

About the author

Courtney

Courtney is a lifelong New Yorker fascinated with the city’s history, culture and cuisine. She loves exploring the world, as well as sharing her travel expertise with others.

She joined the Free Tours by Foot team in 2011, first as a guide and then as a writer. She has a law degree, a teaching degree and a worn-out passport. Her motto is “Have backpack, will travel”.