NYC Broadway Tickets on a Budget
Purchasing Tickets from the TKTS Booths in the Big Apple
By purchasing Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets at the TKTS Booths, theatre-goers can save as much as 50 per cent off of ticket prices.
Being one of the most defining trademarks of New York City, most travelers to the Big Apple would like to attend at least one Broadway show while they are in town. Unfortunately, most tickets to shows come with a very high price tag and, since New York is already an expensive vacation destination, spending as much as $150 on play tickets is not something that travelers on a budget look all that forward to. Have no fear theatre-goers, there is a way to get to see the best shows on Broadway (and often in the best seats) for about half the regular price of tickets.
TKTS Booths
With two locations in Manhattan, the TKTS booth sells day-of Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets for up to 50 per cent off. The TKTS booths are run by the Theatre Development Fund, which, according to their website, is a “not-for-profit organization, [which] was created with the conviction that the theatrical arts afford a unique expression of the human condition that must be sustained and nurtured.” The Fund aids by financially supporting the performing arts and, to theatre-goers benefit, allowing tickets to be more easily accessible by selling off leftover tickets at a discounted rate for seats that would otherwise sit empty.
Locations and Hours
The two locations are both in popular tourist areas, so they are never far out of the way for those visiting the city. The first, and most well known, location is in Times Square, temporarily next to the Marriott Marquis hotel until renovations are finished. The second location is located at the South Street Seaport downtown. Both locations are easily accessible by subway.
The tickets are only sold the day of the performance (except for matinee tickets at the South Street Seaport location which are sold the day before) and are available at two times. Matinee tickets (at the Times Square location) are sold at 10 a.m. and evening tickets are sold beginning at 2 p.m. Be sure to arrive as early as possible (as much as an hour is recommended) because the line ups tend to be very long and limited seats are available for each show.
How to Make Your Purchase Easier
The downside to purchasing tickets here is that it is not known until about a half hour before the tickets go on sale exactly which tickets and for which shows are going to be available each day and, chances are, you will be waiting in line before they post which tickets are available that day. However, they do post on their website which shows were available in the past week, which gives ticket buyers an idea of which shows to expect to be available.
One tip is to have a couple shows in mind that you want to see, just in case there are no seats available for the first show of your choice. Another tip is to try and bring a copy of a seating chart of each theatre that the shows of your choice are being performed at. This way, you can see exactly where the seats that are available are located in the theatre. Since the ticket agents move very quickly and everything is rushed, the more time you stand at the booth choosing seats, the higher the chance of someone else purchasing the best tickets. Keep the charts available to enable the quickest transaction possible.
