I'm heading to New York in a couple of weeks for the first time on my own, and on a limited budget. However, I want to see a good deal of theatre while I'm there. How do I go about "rush"ing tickets for shows? Is there any other way besides sitting in the TKTS line? Do students get cheaper ticket rates somehow? Any information is appreciated! Thanks!
Start here
http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/82428-Broadway-Rush-and-Standing-Room-Only-Policies
Fantastic! Thanks so much!
For most of these shows, I would say to show up about an hour before the box office opens but to be on the safe side, maybe an hour and a half. When I saw A Steady Rain, I got there maybe and hour and ten minutes before the box office opened and was within the last 4 or 5 pairs of tickets.
A friend of mine has done very well (on his own) hanging around outside the show as people go in. There are frequently groups who have had members drop out and will either give tickets away or sell them off cheaply. Worth a try. (I always get my tickets arranged before I go to the city.)
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
After you read about the policies on the link ljay posted, you can also search this message board's other threads for more details on particular shows you want to see (i.e. what time would be best to get there, how many tickets they hand out, what shows are the easiest to get, what days are easier to lotto or rush, etc.). Or you can just ask in this thread. If you tell us what shows you'd like to see, we can give you more info. Although, if you mean in "a couple weeks" as in Christmas-New Years, that is the busiest time of year so it may be hard to predict.
I student rushed A Steady Rain twice, both times got there at about 9:20 am and was either the first or second person in line. It's like the least craziest rush ever.
Updated On: 12/3/09 at 07:57 PM
I rushed it last Sunday (holiday weekend, box office opens at noon), got there around 9:30, and was fourth in line.
I'll be there from the 11th-17th and plan on rushing South Pacific, Hair, and possibly next to normal. Any thoughts?
HAIR and NEXT TO NORMAL have lotteries, not rush. Which means neither is guaranteed.
SOUTH PACIFIC has been selling consistently well since it won the Tony and only offers rush occasionally, I think. Call the box office ahead of time and ask if they will have rush that day. You're probably more likely to get rush tickets on a weekday.
So, I guess my thoughts are: have lots of backup plans.
Weekdays are better to try all three of those. South Pacific only offers rush on Tues, Wed. and Thurs. nights anyway (college ID only). And the Hair and Next to Normal lotteries are less busy during the week.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/06
Also check out Yero's site, broadwayforbrokepeople.com. Definitely inquire here for trends/the best time to try, but Yero has outlined all of the policies there.
Instead of doing the HAIR or Next To Normal lottery, just get your tickets from the TKTS booth. Those two shows are ALWAYS up there.
Leading Actor Joined: 10/13/06
There are shows, including South Pacific a few weeks ago, that are still selling rush tix at 5 minutes to curtain time. Definitely not all shows require getting there at 9am (but evidently some of the most popular ones do).
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