Broadway Show Tickets

[JerseyBoy4]

Hi,

I have been a regular visitor to this site and this is my first time posting.

I am going to Broadway in May to see a couple of shows and was just wondering what was the best way to get tickets? I was maybe thinking about booking one before I go but how are the ticket booths over there? How expensive are they? And do they have a wide selection of shows?

I have seen nearly all the shows on the west end now so would want to go over and see shows which I won't be able to see over here! Does anyone have any suggestions? I know it's a while away but I am so excited, I just thought I would ask :)

Thanks

[Phantom of London]

If you were more pacific about the shows you want to see, I can advise accordingly.

Virtually all shows go to the TKTs booth with some sort of discounts, also good internet offers can be had in advance.

[philitalia]

You'll probably get the biggest discounts on TKTS on the day of performance (don't know if you are eligible for student tickets).

Personally, queueing is out of the question for me since I have a backproblem and as there is so much to see and do in NY it is a waste of time IMO.
I also prefer to choose my own seat so I usually get my tickets from Playbill.com. Check out the website and if you subscribe for free you can buy discounted tickets.

Other great websites for discounts are Broadwaybox and Givenik (part of the money goes to a charity of your choice).

[SoonerOrLater]

Another tip if you do decide to got to TKTS is to go to the Southstreet Seaport branch-the line is usually shorter and you can combine a bit of sightseeing in lower Manhattan too.

Broadwaybox and Playbill offers (you need to sign up with just an email address) usually have the best advance offers.

[Phantom of London]

You will not be able to get discounts for Wicked, The Lion King and The Book if Mormom, everything elso is fine for discounts, the link below tells you what was available this week from TKT's.


Link

[supersam1026]

For the "official" website for buying tickets, almost all shows use either Telecharge.com or Ticketmaster.com. The only shows that are currently NOT using either of these sites are Cyrano De Bergerac and Edwin Drood. Telecharge and Ticketmaster are definitely worth taking a look at. broadwaybox.com has the discount offers, but these will redirect you to these sites for you to put in the discount code. Hope this helps!

[JerseyBoy4]

Thanks for the replies, they have all been really helpful!

I was thinking Spider-Man and Mary Poppins probably! I may try and catch a couple more whilst there too! I missed Mary Poppins when it was on here so think that may be one i have to see! Are the seats you get on tkts good and how much do they usually cost? Also how long do you have to que?

[Phantom of London]

You shouldn't have problems get discounts for both

Hint: Avoid trying to get discount tickets for Mary Poppins for a matinee performance, these sell well.

[supersam1026]

Both of those are on ticketmaster.com, the biggest difference there is you can see exactly what seats are available. TKTS is a crap shoot, you can get great seats or terrible seats, you never really know.

[saisai]

I think both of these shows will have 50% off discounts at TKTS, but you don't get to choose which seats you want, so if there are orchestra seats, it will be 50% of $120 or so.

Right now there are discounts at www.BroadwayBox.com

Also, Spiderman has rush tickets (day tickets) at $39 each. You do not have to be a student. I heard the seats are in the rear orchestra (stalls). I would recommend getting to the box office an hour before it opens if you want to try and get one of these tickets.

[grumpyoptimist]

JerseyBoy4, as stated earlier I highly recommend free registration for playbill.com and use the discounts available there. While the discount is not as steep as you'll get day of at TKTS, you have your tickets ahead of time, usually can get better seats at 20-40% off face value. And you don't end up having to waste an hour of your day (or more) in the TKTS line. Both shows you mentioned (and many more) are availble.

[Phantom of London]

I have used the both TKTs and internet discount sites, such as Playbill frequently, both have there pros and cons.

Internet Discount Sites Pros:

- You can get your tickets in advance and know you have got you tickets for your show well in advance.

- You can choose your seat.

- A reasonable discount.

Internet Discount Site Cons:

- Even though you can choose your seat, these can be very limited and normally limited to side/back of orchestra.

- The discount isn't always as much as TKTs

- You still have to pay quite a hefty booking fee.

TKT's Pros

- Normally best discount.

- Better seats (once premium) often released to TKT's.

- Smaller booking fee charged.

- Profits go to good theatre related causes.

TKT's Cons

- Tickets only available on day of the show.

- Your choosen show might not be on sale or sold out for that day.

- Your choosen show might only be offering a limited discount, such as 20%/30%/40% off.

- Valuable sightseeing time taken up to queue and get tickets.

- Often a big queue, sometimes over an hour to get tickets.

- Limited operation hours; after 3pm for thge evening or 11am for the matinee.

[grumpyoptimist]

Phantom, the TKTS folk announced this week that they will sell both matinee and evening tickets for same day performances (note booth hours vary depending on whether there will be matinee performances so make sure you check the operating hours on the day you want to go)
TDF Press Release

[Phantom of London]

Thanks for that I didn't know TKTs were starting trials of selling both tickets together and certainly bare that in mind when I go over.

When I go over, I do a lot of due-dilgence to a very high standard before I go. I start preparing well in advance looking at rushes, grosses and what has been at the booth previously.

I normally shell out about a �1000 on shows alone, if I go over for 9 nights, which means seeing 14/15 shows, so I try and make some great saving on being tactical. If I have to pay full price I make sure these performances are for peak shows, typically a Saturday night, If I see a play I try and do this on a weekend as they don't generally sell as well as musicals do, I have saved hundreds of dollars every time I go by being tactical and this is driven by research.

However I still like to see a show well from a reasonable good seats and have knocked back internet discounts and payed full ticket price for a better seat.

[ArtMan]

The Southstreet Seaport location also sells tickets for the following day (for the next day's matinee). I will go down on Friday, visit the 911 Memorial, then buy my tickets for Saturday. As was already mentioned, the lines are shorter.

[Princeton Returns]

I saw a saturday matinee of mary poppins on a discount via broadwaybox, great seats too so it isnt impossible, just maybe not during holidays