If you have done any searching about getting cheaper tickets to Broadway musicals, you have definitely come across the name TKTS!
This booth has been in operation in Times Square for over 50 years, and getting your tickets here can be a great way to save money.
I’ve been going to TKTS for tickets for 20 years now, and I have gotten some great deals there!
While it is not the cheapest option when it comes to discounted Broadway tickets, it is a much safer option than things like rush or lottery, as far as chances that you will get a ticket.
This post explains how to get same-day, half-priced Broadway show tickets through the TKTS Booth system.
We also include the pros and cons of using TKTS to get tickets as well as other ways to get cheaper Broadway tickets.
- What is TKTS
- How to Use TKTS
- Pros and Cons
- Other Ways to Get Cheaper Tickets
- Tips
- TKTS Booth Locations
WHAT IS TKTS?
TKTS is sponsored by the non-profit organization TDF, which makes it possible for people to buy tickets to same-day performances at prices ranging between 20% and 50% off regular prices.
TKTS booths sell same-day tickets, as well as tickets for the next day’s matinee.
For example, on a Tuesday you can buy tickets for either a Tuesday night or a Wednesday matinee.
There are two booths located in Manhattan: Times Square and Lincoln Center (see below for hours and locations).
The Times Square booth sells only same-day tickets, but the Lincoln Center TKTS Booth sells next-day matinee performances.
TIP: The Times Square location has a “Play Tickets Only” express line. Skip the musicals and you will have a much shorter wait in line.
HOW THE BOOTHS WORK
A little time spent preparing can make your TKTS experience much easier!
The first thing to know is that not every Broadway show sells tickets through TKTS.
Some super-popular musicals (like Hamilton and Wicked) are never available there.
Since not all shows sell tickets via TKTS, look at the TKTS website or the app to see in real-time what shows are available at the TKTS booths.
Before heading out to one of the booths, I highly recommend you check the website or app.
You can even start looking several days in advance.
Even though these are day-of tickets, the shows available through TKTS don’t tend to vary that much within a week or so.
So while nothing is guaranteed from day to day, this should give you a good idea of what shows you might expect to see on the board when you arrive!
The website lists the shows available that day, the discount, and the price with the discount applied.
Also, take a look at the website right before you head out to TKTS. That way you can make sure you want to try for tickets that day.
NOTE: The same shows are generally available at both locations, though the Lincoln Center location opens earlier, and therefore has first access.
Tickets are released to both locations from the time they open, right up until curtain time.
So how many shows will be listed at TKTS?
It can vary. But as an example: on a Tuesday at 2:15 pm at the Times Square booth, there were about 15 popular Broadway shows available.
Most were priced at 50% off the original price, but discounts at TKTS can be 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% off. (30% and 50% are the most common.)
The reduced rate available at TKTS is set by the individual shows, not by TKTS. Don’t try to bargain a different rate from the staff- they have no say in the discount.
Here are just 2 recently listed shows, to give you a sense of prices:
- Aladdin 30% off = $86-94
- Chicago 50% off = $58-83
The Lincoln Center booth had these same shows at the same prices.
Of the two, the Times Square booth is by far the most popular and you will wait in line longer.
I personally only ever go to the Lincoln Center location for this reason. I think the longest I have spent in line there was about 20 minutes.
Both locations offer tickets for Same-Day Matinee and Evening Performances and Next-Day Matinee Performances.
TIP: Getting next-day matinee tickets is a great option for those who want a discount, but hate the last-minute feeling of day-of tickets. You can get a great price and be able to plan your day fully.
When You Arrive at a TKTS Booth
Once you have arrived at the booth (either location), get on the line and check the board to see what is available, what discount is being offered, and if it is in your price range.
The trick with TKTS is to make some decisions in advance and stay flexible.
Here is what I do to before I get up to the front of the line:
1) Set the absolute maximum amount you want to pay for a ticket that day. You don’t want to hold up the line making that decision at the counter.
2) Choose 3 or 4 shows from the board that you would be happy to see. I do this in case my first choice isn’t available by the time I get to the counter or is not in my price range.
This way, I can run through my next options quickly. The staff working will appreciate this too!
3) Decide if you are open to buying a partial or obstructed view ticket if that is what is offered. Read below to see what this means.
Once you are at the counter, the booth agent will ask you which show you want to see and how many tickets you want.
(There is a limit of six tickets per person).
TKTS uses a computer-automated system to pull up tickets that are available for that show at that moment.
You will be offered the "best available" seats.
This is one of the most important things to understand about TKTS.
Their system is set up to find the “best available” seat. This is the seat with the best view, not the least expensive seat.
That might mean that, even at a discount, it is a pretty expensive ticket.
For example: a center orchestra ticket that is normally $200 might be available at TKTS. But if the show is discounted at 30%, your TKTS price will be $140.
That’s a great price for that seat if your budget allows. But it is by no means a cheap ticket.
Importantly, you will not be able to ask for specific seats or a cheaper seat for that same show.
What the agent offers you at that time is what they have, and their computer system doesn’t allow them to search through all available tickets for any one show.
While shows release tickets to TKTS to sell when they open, sometimes shows release more tickets later in the day, even up to minutes before curtain time.
So you can sometimes get better seats or better deals later in the day, or see a show pop up that wasn’t available at opening time.
If the show you want is sold out at the TKTS line, check the website or app until the very last minute.
What are obstructed view or partial view tickets?
If the agent offers you partial/obstructed view seats, that means you won't have a 100% perfect view of the stage.
I think a lot of people balk at the idea of an obstructed view- and I get that! It sounds like you won’t be able to see much.
But a seat in a Broadway theater that doesn’t have a 100% view of the stage must be labeled ‘partial view’.
It may just mean that the bottom of the mezzanine is dipping down right at the top of your view of the stage.
The good news? With very few exceptions, almost nothing in the show is happening up there, so it wouldn’t alter your experience.
Partial view can also come from being all the way to one side of the orchestra so your view of the edge of that side of the stage will be cut off a bit.
You are the only one who can decide if this is something you are fine with or not.
I can say from my personal experience that I have sat in many partial view seats and never felt like I missed a lot.
The upside of seats with a partially obstructed view is that they will be cheaper than others. The downside, of course, is that you will not have a perfect view of the show.
If you are curious to see what a partial view may look like, check out A View From My Seat.
Payment
You can pay with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards, as well as cash, and TKTS Gift Certificates.
Up until 2003, TKTS only accepted cash.
While they do accept credit cards these days, there are a few shows (mostly off-Broadway shows) that are still cash-only. It isn’t a bad idea to have some cash with you, just in case.
TIP: I always pay cash at TKTS. It helps me stick within whatever price limit I set for myself. I bring my top amount in cash with me. If I can get a ticket with that, great! If not, I move on to my next choice.
All tickets are subject to a $7 per ticket service charge which goes to the non-profit organization Theatre Development Fund which sponsors the TKTS system.
Improving Your Chances Using TKTS
If you keep the below tips in mind, you will stand a better chance of getting tickets for a show of your choice.
- The best availability is usually for Tuesday evenings and any matinee performance.
- If you are buying for a matinee performance, consider going the day before the show.
- Lines are shorter on bad weather days. If you don't mind rain or snow, go for it!
- The Lincoln Center location is indoors. If the weather is truly awful and you do not want to be outdoors, consider this location.
- Don’t restrict yourself to Broadway musicals! Plays and Off-Broadway shows are also available at TKTS. They often have better availability and, in the case of Off-Broadway, are cheaper.
TIP: If you are in Midtown right before curtain time and don’t have plans for the evening, head over to the Times Square TKTS booth.
There is often no line that close to the show's beginning, and sometimes shows will send over very last-minute tickets that aren’t sold.
You can snatch up some great tickets and the TKTS Booth Times Square location is just a few blocks from most theaters.
I love doing this! It is usually the only time I will go to the Times Square location.
7-Day Fast Pass
TKTS has an amazing offering for those who want to see more than one show within the same week.
If you buy a ticket at the Times Square TKTS booth for a show, you get to use the Fast Pass Line to buy tickets to another show!
(You must go to the Times Square TKTS only).
To use Fast Pass, bring your TKTS ticket stub or physical receipt with you and show it to one of our Patron Services Representatives who will put you in our priority line.
You can use your Fast Pass for up to 7 days from your original purchase.
PROS AND CONS OF USING THE TKTS BOOTH SYSTEM
The downside:
Broadway shows are expensive, so even a ticket that is 50% off may be more than you are hoping to pay.
TKTS isn’t going to be the cheapest deal on a ticket. Lotteries and rush tickets are generally much cheaper.
For example, full-priced Frozen tickets cost from $58 (way up in the balcony) to $199 (orchestra seats). At the TKTS booth, Frozen tickets are 20% original prices.
But since shows usually send over their most expensive seats, TKTS tickets to Frozen will cost you between $99-110.
In contrast, other options explained in this post, like Rush or Lottery tickets can cost as low as $27! But there is no guarantee you will get tickets.
With that price difference, you may be wondering, “Why would I do TKTS at all then? What is the upside?”
The upside:
The answer is that TKTS is the only “sure thing” (or close to it) if you want discount tickets.
Rush and lotteries may be much cheaper, but are far from guaranteed.
While you may not get tickets to your first choice at TKTS, you can walk away with tickets to some show.
Any time I have ever walked up to a TKTS with a list of shows I wanted to see, I got tickets to one of them.
If you are flexible and open to several different shows, especially those with 50% off tickets, TKTS is totally worth the time to wait in line.
I will say it again: make a list of 3 or 4 shows you might like to see. That is the best way to guarantee a good outcome.
Another benefit of TKTS can be the last-minute nature of it.
If you are someone who likes to keep travel plans flexible, or a local who finds yourself with a free evening, the day-of or day-before aspect of this is perfect!
Lastly, if you want to see more than one show during your visit, the TKTS 7-Day Fast Pass explained above will save you a lot of time when you go to get tickets for that second (or third!) show, and will save you quite a bit of money.
OTHER WAYS TO GET CHEAPER TICKETS
In addition to trying at the TKTS booth, here are other ways you can try for cheaper Broadway tickets.
Each of these methods has different time frames and instructions, so read each section closely to see which is best for you and your schedule.
For an overview of all the ways to get reduced-price theater tickets, see our post How to Get Cheap Broadway Tickets.
Promo Ticket Websites
First, you can sometimes find great deals (as much as 50% off) on Groupon and Living Social.
Two popular promo sites that offer reduced-price tickets. Broadwaybox or Theatermania.
You should also look at StubHub and TicketsNow.
Ticket Lotteries
As the name suggests, ticket lotteries allow you to enter a lottery for specific shows and if your name is picked you can get deeply discounted tickets for that night’s performance.
There are two kinds of lotteries: in-person or digital.
In-person lotteries require that you go to the theater of the show you want to see, hand in a slip with your name on it and return later to see if your name gets picked.
While these are fun, they have become less and less common.
It is much more likely that a show will offer a digital lottery.
Digital lotteries are entered through an app or website.
Some shows, like The Lion King, have their own lotteries, but most shows that participate in lotteries do so through these websites: Broadway Direct, Lucky Seat, Telecharge, and TodayTix.
You do not have to pay anything to enter these lotteries. You only pay if your name is drawn and you decide to accept the tickets.
For an in-depth guide on using the digital and in-person lottery systems, see our post, Broadway Show Ticket Lotteries.
Rush Tickets
Rush tickets are another inexpensive way to see a show, though it can involve a bit of time spent in line.
Like TKTS, you can only get these tickets on the day of the show.
Unlike TKTS, they have a set price, and you get them directly from the box office of a particular show.
There are a few different types of ticket rushes, but general rush tickets are available for purchase as soon as the box office opens (usually 10 am.)
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.
To find out which shows offer rush tickets, check out these websites: Broadway on a Budget, Broadway for Broke People, and Broadway World.
I love getting rush tickets, and they are one of the best deals out there, but there are some things you should know about trying for these tickets.
Check out our post about rush tickets.
Our post, How to Get Cheap Broadway Tickets, has more information and a video about using the rush method to get tickets.
Standing Room Only
Some shows will offer day-of-show standing-room-only tickets. This is exactly what it sounds like.
You stand behind the last row of the orchestra. These spots are numbered just like a regular seat would be.
This can be a great way to see a show at a deep discount, and one that I have opted for many, many times.
But please keep this in mind: Broadway shows can be 2.5 hours or more. Make sure you're really going to be comfortable standing that whole time.
This isn’t a “stand for 20 minutes and then you’ll be able to grab an open seat.”
These are only available when the show is sold out, so you really will be standing the whole time.
For obvious reasons, wear super comfortable footwear when you do this.
Additional information on shows with SRO tickets can be found on the Broadway for Broke People website and the Broadway World website.
Also, it is advisable to check with the box office for individual shows.
OTHER TIPS ON GETTING GREAT DEALS ON TICKETS
New York Tourist Pass savings
If you are considering purchasing a tourist attraction pass, the New York Pass entitles you to up to 10% off Broadway shows.
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.
Attend mid-week shows
Prices are highest on Friday and Saturday evenings, so change things up by visiting on a weekday night.
Attend in the off-season
Show tickets tend to be less expensive in spring or fall to avoid the peak prices of the summer and winter holidays.
Attend during “Broadway Week”
This is a biannual event that happens in January and September and allows guests to purchase two tickets for the price of one.
Check the official New York City website for Broadway Week information.
For additional information, see our detailed post on how to find great prices on Broadway Tickets.
WHERE ARE THE TKTS BOOTH LOCATIONS?
TKTS at Times Square
Located under the famous red steps in Father Duffy Square at Broadway and 47th Street. Here are directions and a map.
Offers tickets for Same-Day Matinee and Evening Performances and Next-Day Matinee Performances:
- Monday/Tuesday/Friday 3 pm - 8 pm
- Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday 11 am - 8 pm
- Sunday: 11 am - 7 pm
If there is a matinee performance for sale on Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday, the booth will open at 11 am.
Check the electronic boards or the TKTS app for show schedules.
As I have already noted, this location is much busier than the booth at Lincoln Center.
The main reason I would choose this location over Lincoln Center is if I am trying to get a ticket right before curtain time since it is much closer to the theaters!
Of course, if you are visiting and want to see Times Square anyway, this location might be better for you!
TKTS at Lincoln Center
Located in the David Rubenstein Atrium at 61 West 62nd Street. Here are directions and a map.
Offers tickets for Same-Day Matinee and Evening Performances and Next-Day Matinee Performances:
- Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday 11 am - 8 pm
I almost always use this location. The lines are much shorter than at the Times Square booth.
I also prefer the earlier opening time. If I can have tickets in hand a little after 11 am, then I still have quite a bit of my day before the show that evening.
With the later opening time and long lines in Times Square, you may not have time to do much after getting tickets before your show.
