How to Buy Tickets
WHAT'S HERE: This page provides information intended to make theatre ticket buying easier. Note that nytheatre.com does not endorse, recommend, approve and/or guarantee any events, facts, views, advice and/or information contained herein. These pages are for informational use only. Questions about specific ticket purchases should be taken up with the ticket agent.
The Basics
- The Box Office: Every Broadway and large off-Broadway theatre has a box office where you can buy tickets in person either for advance sale or for day of performance, if available. When you purchase tickets by phone or on the Internet, you will probably be told to pick them up at "will call"—at the box office. Box office hours vary but are typically 12 - 8 p.m. The box office for smaller venues and all nonprofit theatre companies, usually opens an hour before the start of the show. The phone numbers posted on nytheatre.com are typically for phone ticket sales and go directly to the authorized ticket agent for the particular show. For smaller productions, the phone line goes directly to the producing company and you may reach a recorded message which will instruct you on how to reserve tickets.
- Telecharge and TicketMaster are two separate companies that sell tickets via telephone and the Internet. Between them, they handle virtually all Broadway shows and most of the more prominent off-Broadway attractions. No shows are handled by both agencies. Each charges fees for its services, so you will pay several dollars more than the face price of the ticket when you purchase through them. SmartTix, Theatermania, Ticket Central, and Ticket Web sell tickets to productions off- and off-off Broadway that are not handled by Telecharge or TicketMaster. nytheatre.com provides a convenient direct link from each show listing page to the authorized ticket agent for ease of ticket purchase.
- TKTS booths, operated by the nonprofit Theatre Development Fund, sell discounted tickets for current performances only. The booths are at two locations in Manhattan. Note: you must buy the tickets in person.
- Discount Offers: Many shows offer specially priced tickets to specific groups (students, children, etc.) or for certain locations in the theatre. Virtual Coupons allow producers to offer special discounts to nytheatre.com readers. Several companies (e.g., Theatermania, and the Theatre Development Fund) offer subscription-type programs where, for a single annual fee, you can take advantage of inexpensive or free tickets to a variety of shows. A new program provides reduced rate tickets for college students to many of Ticket Central's shows during the productions' preview periods.
- Ticket brokers sell tickets for almost everything on and off Broadway, but they will charge you a much higher fee than Telecharge or TicketMaster. Brokers are commonly located in major hotels and online. Prices are often much higher than the face ticket price. Before purchasing, check that the company is accredited by a valid ticket broker organization and the Better Business Bureau.
- Group Sales: Almost all Broadway and off-Broadway shows will sell blocks of tickets to a group of 20 or more at a discount.
- Other Options: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids sells tickets to special benefit performances and other events to raise money for its nonprofit cause. The Actors' Fund has two programs that benefit its cause; it offers Broadway tickets, too.
Telecharge, TicketMaster, and More
Telecharge and TicketMaster are two separate companies that sell tickets via telephone and the Internet. Between them, they handle virtually all Broadway shows and most of the more prominent off-Broadway attractions. No shows are handled by both agencies. Telecharge is operated by the Shubert Organization, and its website (www.telecharge.com) lists just about all Broadway and off-Broadway shows currently selling tickets. If you click on a show and it is handled by TicketMaster, you will be immediately taken to the TicketMaster site.
Both Telecharge and TicketMaster charge fees for their services, so you will pay several dollars more than the face price of the ticket when you purchase through them. Both websites offer secure credit card purchasing plus other useful information (e.g., wheelchair seating, hearing-assisted devices, purchasing policies, and seating charts). Additionally, you can buy tickets through Telecharge or TicketMaster by telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For Telecharge, call 212-239-6200 or 800-432-7250; for TicketMaster, call 212-307-4100. You will need to know the name of the show you want to see, and your preferred date(s) and locations. You will need to pay for your tickets using a major credit card. When you order tickets over the phone, the operator should provide you with exact seat locations. If the operator fails to do so, be sure to ask for the seat numbers. Always get a confirmation number for a purchase.
SmartTix specializes in shows produced in smaller, intimate venues in and around New York City. You can order tickets online 24 hours a day from the website, www.smarttix.com, or by calling 212-868-4444 (daily from 12–8 p.m.). All major credit cards are accepted. A small service fee may be added to the ticket price.
TheaterMania is the ticketing agent for many off- and off-off-Broadway theatrical events. Tickets may be purchased by phone or on the website, www.theatermania.com. All major credit cards are accepted, and a nominal service fee is added to the price of the ticket.
Ticket Central has been the box office for Off-Broadway for over 20 years.with a mission to provide a low-cost, customer friendly ticketing alternative for some of the most exciting Theater, Dance, Opera and Performance Arts groups in New York City. Ticket Central sells tickets online, www.ticketcentral.com, over the phone and at their box office, located at 416 West 42nd Street.
Ticket Web was established in 1995. It lists many theatre-related events as well as providing ticketing for specific theatrical productions. All major credit cards are accepted, and a nominal service fee is charged. The website www.TicketWeb.com allows for easy ticket browsing by date and genre.
TKTS
The most popular and well-known resource for discount theatre tickets is TKTS, which operates three kiosks in NYC. It is a program of the Theatre Development Fund. The largest kiosk is in Duffy Square (Broadway & 47th Street). Another booth is located further downtown at the South Street Seaport, at the corner of Front and John Streets; there is also a booth in Brooklyn at 1 MetroTech Center. TKTS sells tickets to Broadway and off-Broadway shows at a 25–50% discount. These tickets are only available on the same day as the performance, and cannot be reserved in advance. At the downtown & Brooklyn locations, Wednesday matinee tickets are available on Tuesday ONLY, Saturday matinee tickets are available on Friday, and Sunday matinee and evening tickets are sold on Saturday. TKTS now accepts credit cards at all locations. All available shows are posted each day on boards in front of the booths. Since the tickets are supplied by each show’s producers, changes in availability can occur frequently during a given day based on box office demand.
Discount Theatre Tickets
Virtual Coupons on nytheatre.com: This free service provides our readers with special ticket discounts as offered by the producers. Discount tickets are available for a great variety of shows, from Broadway to small nonprofit productions. New coupons are continually added. To check the current listing, follow this link: www.nytheatre.com/nytheatre/discounts.php
New York TV Show Tickets Inc.:This sponsor of nytheatre.com offers a comprehensive guide to Broadway ticket discounts; per ticket savings of up to 60% off normal price are available. The website (www.nytix.com) also has a thoroughly researched guide on how to attend free tapings of New York TV shows and discount parking offers.
TheaterMania offers special select discounts to some Broadway shows through their Insiders Club; you can also join their Gold Club, a special members-only audience development club. Check for regular sales and discounts on their website www.theatermania.com.
The Theatre Development Fund (TDF) is a not-for-profit performing arts service organization that runs a variety of discount ticket programs, including TKTS. For a $25 annual fee, students, teachers, union members, senior citizens (62 and over), civil servants, staff members of not-for-profit organizations, performing arts professionals, and members of the armed forces and clergy may become members of TDF and receive regular opportunities to purchase tickets for Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway shows at a fraction of box office prices.
The Student No Rush Program is administered by Ticket Central. They have created a new student (geared toward college students) ticketing discount initiative - the Student No Rush Program. The program provides reduced rate tickets for students to many of Ticket Central's shows during the productions' preview periods. Information as to participating companies and current information can be found on their website www.ticketcentral.com/student
Rush/lottery tickets are sold at the theatre box office a couple of hours before curtain on the day of the performance. They can either be discounted seats that the producers are eager to sell, or a block of tickets set aside specifically for that purpose every day. Either way, they can often be radically discounted—often in the $20–25 range—and the seats are usually good. But not every show offers rush/lottery tickets, so you’ll have to check either in person at the box office or on the show’s website. Rush/lottery tickets are cash only.
Standing Room Only (SRO): Many (not all) shows reserve space in the back of the theatre where patrons can stand to watch the show. The shows that do offer SRO tickets—which cost in the $20–25 range—will only sell them if the performance is otherwise completely sold out. The best way to check which shows offer SRO tickets is to visit the box office in person, or see the show’s website. Like rush/lottery tickets, SRO tickets are cash only.
Student/Senior Discounts: Many shows offer student/senior citizen discounts. You may be required to show ID when picking them up. These discounts are listed on the show listing pages and also on a special, new page which lists the productions offering these discounts.
High 5 is a not-for-profit organization that provides teenagers within the five boroughs, ages 13–18 (or any student enrolled in a middle or high school program), with $5 tickets to dance, music, theatre, film, museum, and spoken word events throughout the city. A valid student ID is all that’s needed. Each teenager can bring an adult with him or her, also for $5. Museum tickets are two for $5 every day. The organization also sponsors the Take 5 Program: for every group of five teens who attend the same event together, a sixth can join them for free. Tickets are available by phone, or pay by cash at High 5’s Midtown office. A list of participating shows and venues can be found on the High 5 website.
Group Sales
Many Broadway and off-Broadway shows offer discounts for groups of people who come see the show together. The definition of a “group” varies from show to show, but the minimum number of people needed to obtain a group rate generally falls between 10 and 20 people. Group discount information can usually be obtained on the show’s website (if they have one) or through either TicketMaster or Telecharge.
There are also many independent ticket agencies dedicated solely to group ticket sales (these are also known as theatre parties). Blocks of seats can be bought through these agents; many have websites. A quick search of the internet can reveal them in no time. A very well-established agency that you might want to contact is Caryl Goldsmith Group Sales.
Other Options
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is the nation's leading industry-based, not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. As part of its fundraising efforts, it regularly sells tickets to special benefit performances of select Broadway shows and other special events produced specifically for BC/EFA; it also offers house seats to many shows as a fundraiser. For more information about BC/EFA and its ticket programs, go to www.broadwaycares.org/.
The Actors' Fund offers a limited number of excellent tickets to every show on Broadway. The price is twice the face value of the ticket; the money beyond the ticket price goes to The Actors’ Fund to support its programs. Tickets go on sale about a month before the performance date. You must order no later than 48 hours before the performance. Call 212-221-7301, ext. 111, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Once a year, every Broadway show, in New York and on the road, adds a performance to its regular schedule to benefit The Actors' Fund. Information about these programs can be found at www.actorsfund.org.
