Big Broadway Fan

[Lauren2]

Posted: 5/24/18 at 11:54pm

I am coming up July 10th to the 19th. I am a big broadway fan and want to see as many shows as possible. I am going to splurge and pay for harry potter and want to see mean girls as well but my cousin does not want to pay 150 for rear mez. I am also interested in hamilton, dear evan hansen, anatasia, come from away and spongebob. I was wondering the best ways to get tickets at not crazy prices and if there is a big chance of winning lotteries because I am only here for so long and want to see some shows. If any of you see discounted prices or people selling tickets within my window please let me know! Thanks. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 12:08am

Anastasia and Spongebob are frequently listed at TKTS. I do believe it’s also relatively easy to win the Spongebob lottery/Rush. All the other shows you mentioned are super popular and you’re probably better off pre-purchasing tickets. I’m also guessing that since they’re popular, they’re not offering discount codes. I highly recommend Hamilton and DEH if you can get tickets. I’m one of the few who was underwhelmed by Come From Away. I have others shows I’d recommend over it, but since that is not the kind of advice you solicited, I’ll refrain. I do have tickets to see Spongebob for the first time next month.

Updated On: 5/25/18 at 12:08 AM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 12:17am

Also, I’m re-reading your post you stated you don’t want to pay crazy prices. That’s totally understandable. However, if $150 and over is considered crazy (I agree it is) and you want decent seats then the super popular shows may need to wait until another trip unless you want to try the lottery/rush for those shows with understanding that you probably won’t get tix that way.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 12:34am

Yanny2 said: "want to see mean girls as well but my cousin does not want to pay 150 for rear mez."

Supposedly the in-person lottery is easier to win than the digital lottery, plus you get front row, so that may be a good option. That said, who knows if it will become a lot harder once school is out...

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 12:36am

I like your show picks.

I often buy the row furthest from the stage before traveling to NYC. I just like knowing ahead of time that a few evenings are planned before arrival. This helps manage my costs.

Many theatres offer low, affordable prices for the top row.

Be positive. It's not the last row. It's the top row.

[Lauren2]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 1:14am

Ok good because Spongebob is one of that is at the front of my list. I will definitely do tkts or lottery. Will you tell me how it is and where your sit was? I am interested in hamilton and dear evan hansen but know it is a small chance to win those lotteries and such so I am just praying because there is no way I am spending 400-800 dollars for one ticket. Well 150 is not crazy but it is a little pricy for the top row. I would pay that for a front mez or ok orchestra seat. Plus my cousin just doesnt want to pay a ton since she works on broadway and can see shows whenever she wants. 

[Lauren2]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 1:17am

Yea I am going to try to do as many in person lotteries as I can but just don't know which ones I should prioritize. Front row would be awesome. Won the Wicked lottery years ago and it was amazing. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 1:30am

I haven’t seen Spongebob yet. I see it next month. I was going to get my ticket via TKTS or through the in-person lottery/rush, but a friend bought me a $25 gift e-certificate from Broadway.com for my birthday as he knew my NYC trip was rapidity approaching. I couldn’t tell him that they are one of the most expensive ways to buy Broadway tickets. As I had already bought tickets for my other 6 (of 8) shows and I wasn’t about to buy my Angels in America tix via Broadway.com, I opted to buy my Spongebob ticket. His $25 certificate didn’t even cover the services fees. Ended up costing me $125 total after the gift certificate was applied. I’m sitting house left Row L Orchestra aisle seat off center aisle. I think I’ll have a great view. Now I’m just hoping Angels tickets don’t become hard to get after the Tony Awards. I want to sit close to the stage and currently that will cost me about $500 ($250 for each part),but it’s currently frequently listed at TKTS. Sorry for the ramble. I ramble when I’m tired and I post. Time to get some shuteye.

[theatered100]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 8:11am

I am a big broadway fan too, and I got a lot of help from some people here when I travel to NYC, so let's see if I can be of any use.

Anastasia: I see this show often listed at TKTS, mostly around 40% off, which I think is a good deal. Alternatively, if there are good mezzanine seats that are reasonably priced at Telecharge or at the box office, that might also be a good option too for this show. Broadhurst Theatre is a relatively small theater with a very nice mezzanine. I saw the show about a year ago from mezzanine Row H center, which cost me about $100 at that time, and the projection looked beautiful - for a couple of scenes, they use walls of the entire theater including boxes and mezzanine. I would actually avoid sitting in front side orchestra or rear orchestra for this show. (It depends on your preference though.)

Come From Away: I checked the rush line a few weeks ago when I rushed anther show across the street. I didn't see anybody show up until 7:30-8am on that day. The line seemed to form a lot faster on weekends when I walked by the theater the other day. I don't know where current rush seats are located, but SRO would actually give you a pretty good view for this show, actually a lot better than some of the far side front orchestra seats.

Spongebob: I won the lotto and I've heard many wins, although school-off with Tony nominations and possible wins could change the situation. My seat was orchestra Row H far side. It wasn't marked partial view, and I thought it was a really good, generous view for the price. By the way, the show was amazing!

Updated On: 5/25/18 at 08:11 AM

[theatered100]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 8:16am

A few things to add.

Playbill seems to have discount codes for Anastasia and Spongebob valid thru July 5 and 6 respectively. Your dates don't seem to fall in these periods, but they might extend the offer, so I recommend keeping an eye on them.

When I entered the Spongebob lotto, my backup plan was to go to the box office to buy regular tickets with the discount code, so I was literally carrying the code with me while I was in town.

Have a good trip!

[Lauren2]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 8:28am

For Spongebob do you know how many people were in line for lottery and how many tickets they gave out? Like how good of a chance is there to win? And what codes do you mean? I have never heard of Playbill having discount codes. Have you seen any other shows recently?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 8:33am

Also to consider, if your cousin doesn't want to pay a high price for a show but you are -- simply go alone.  I learned this many, many years ago when I use to visit NYC with friends (I live here now).  On one visit there were 4 shows I wanted to see but no one else did.  I refused to leave without seeing these shows so I went alone and boy... did it change my life.  I didn't have to deal with their questions, or hearing them ask "oh my God, where have I see that actress before?" and other nonsense during a show.  It took me a few years before I was willing to see a show again with someone else as I preferred going alone and enjoying a show fully without interruptions from my friends.  This seeing a show alone tradition continues today and I just meet with friends after a show.  I see Broadway shows on my time.  

[theatered100]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 9:16am

Lauren2 said: "For Spongebob do you know how many people were in line for lottery and how many tickets they gave out? Like how good of a chance is there to win? And what codes do you mean? I have never heard of Playbill having discount codes."

Spongebob lotto is digital, not in-person, so I have no idea how many lotto tickets they give out for each performance. (Sorry, I should have clarified, but I just know some people who also won the lottery on other days, but I would say the chance seemed to be better than lottos for many other shows back in April.)

As for the playbill discount codes, here is the link: http://www.playbill.com/discount

The codes can be used when you purchase them online, if you want to secure your seat earlier, or they can also be used at the box office, if you want to avoid the online handling charge.

Updated On: 5/25/18 at 09:16 AM

[Lauren2]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 9:27am

You are right and I am doing that for Harry Potter, I am fine with going alone to Harry Potter since it is so popular. I just don’t want to go to every show by myself. I am coming up to visit my cousin so I want to see here but also see some shows. She technically worked for spongebob so really doesn’t want to see it again unless we win lotto or something. I would be ok with going alone to Spongebob if everything works out and it’s afforable but I just really wanted to see Mean Girls with her and not break my band so I am splurging already on Harry Potter.

[(Insert Clever Name)]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 9:42am

With harry potter, reasonably priced tix are often available, though you missed the large release of $40 tix that fell on your dates. As long as you are flexible with times, it shouldn't be a huge problem, just consistently check the HPCC seating/pricing thread, better yet, turn on email notifications.

[theatered100]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 10:28am

Lauren2 said: "Have you seen any other shows recently?"

This season, I saw The Band's Visit, Spongebob, My Fair Lady, Mean Girls, Carousel, Once on This Island, Frozen (which I personally liked in this order) plus a play Harry Potter.

Among the shows you mentioned, I would say Harry Potter is one of the possible shows you might be able to get tickets at affordable price points if you are lucky and don't mind keep checking their website and updates here, as (Insert Clever Name) says, for newly released or returned seats. Many of the balcony seats are priced affordable.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 11:16am

Lauren2 said: "For Spongebob do you know how many people were in line for lottery and how many tickets they gave out? Like how good of a chance is there to win? And what codes do you mean? I have never heard of Playbill having discount codes. Have you seen any other shows recently? "

In November, I saw Hello, Dolly!, The Band’s Visit, Sweeney Todd (off-Broadway), Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress, and Come From Away. I also saw Hello, Dolly! again in February. I recommend them all with exception of CFA. I didn’t hate it, but think there is other more enjoyable stuff out there. If you can grab even a cheaper balcony seat for Hello, Dolly!, do it!!! 

in June, I’m seeing mostly non-musicals: Skintight (off-Broadway), Angels in America, Three Tall Women, The Boys in the Band, and The Iceman Cometh. However, I am seeing My Fair Lady, Once on This Island, and Spongebob. 

You might also need to be prepared with backup plans. Soongebob has suffered from low box office numbers. It’s likely Nickelodeon will keep Spongebob running at least through the summer, but it is always good to consider what you would want to see instead if it closes. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/25/18 at 11:34am

Sometimes, your best bet is to just not have plans locked down. I'm going to NYC tomorrow and have no clue what I'm seeing for the matinee (although an email has just informed me, it will not be Hamilton). Three Jujamcyn emails will let me know about other show lotteries in about an hour.

The most important thing to do is only enter for shows you actually want and would pay to see. Going to a show because it has an easy lottery or rush, that you otherwise wouldn't want to see, is a waste of time. Between digital lotteries, in-person lotteries, lottery loser seats, rush tickets discount codes, and TKTS, you should be able to see something worthwhile.

[smidge]

Posted: 5/26/18 at 10:20am

Re: Lotteries. For the online lotteries why is there only an hour window for buying tickets? Example: A lot of lotteries for evening shows announce winners right after the lottery closes at 3. If you’re attending a matinee is there any way to get a lottery ticket for an evening performance without checking your phone during a show. I hate doing that.

Updated On: 5/26/18 at 10:20 AM

[(Insert Clever Name)]

Posted: 5/26/18 at 1:11pm

Not really if you are talking about a Sunday most shows that have eventjng prefornces on Sunday’s don’t do lotteries

[Impossible2]

Posted: 5/26/18 at 1:51pm

When I went to Sponogebob they were still selling rush tickets 5 minutes before showtime.