First Trip to New York

[BroadwayBookworm2]

Posted: 5/19/17 at 7:48pm

Hi everyone. I'm an eighteen year old student from the UK and I'm going to New York for the first time this summer. I've booked tickets to see Bandstand and Anastasia. I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about how the stage door works and also what it is like after a matinee. I'd also love to get tickets to a third show when I get there, what tickets would I be able to get for a reasonable price - I will give anything a try. 

Thanks,

BB.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/20/17 at 10:05am

Stage doors are just like they are in London

Discounted tickets are available at the TKTS booth on Duffy Square, just as they are at Leicester Square.

Enjoy your trip!

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 5/20/17 at 12:50pm

This site will show you where each stage door is... 

 

http://www.stageelf.com/stage-doors-on-broadway.html

[_IrisTInkerbell]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 4:26pm

Stage Door is actually quite different from London, because in NY many SDs are quite crowded, while in my experience barely anyone does in London. Even for Harry Potter there was only like 20 people, and 5 for Ronan Keating in Once.

Unlike with most shows in London they will set up barriers, and people are supposed to line up on the street side. Actors will then sign and likely with both those shows take photos when asked. With bigger stars (not the case here, really) there'll sometimes be additions rules, like no photos or only show playbills/merch will be signed.

As far as cheap tickets go, you can go to http://www.broadwayforbrokepeople.com/ to check out all the rush (day seat) policies. Almost all shows have them, although some have lotteries and some have Standing Room Only (SRO). Rushes are often quite a bit harder than what I've experienced in London. There's three categories I'd say. Easy rushes, where you can show up any time during the day and still get rush tickets (looks like War Paint and Sunset Boulevard are in that category), normal rushes, where you should show up between 8 and 10am for a 10am Box Office opening to get tickets, and then crazy rushes like Great Comet and Come From Away where people like up at 5, 6am.

Other options for cheap tickets are the mentioned TKTS (same as in London, just longer lines) and various discount codes, I like Playbill and Theatermania. You can buy ticket online with those codes, or save the ca. $12 online fee and take the code to the Box office and buy tickets there (no need to print the offer out, just have it at hand, e.g. note on your phone).

There's also TodayTix just like in London but it doesn't tell you the seat you get, and it's usually the same price as discount codes, so I barely ever have used it.

[karen24]

Posted: 5/21/17 at 9:20pm

Broadwaybox.com also has a good list of discount codes. I like using it if I want to buy tickets ahead of time and be able to choose my seat(s) (It will take you to Telecharge or Ticketmaster.) Just be careful that you don't get onto a ticket broker site that tacks on a lot of fees - use one of the sites recommended here, or the show's official Web site.

TKTS has several locations now,  and there's also an app you can get that will show you what's currently on offer. Also note that there's a separate line just for plays, which is often much shorter!

Have fun!

[BroadwayBookworm2]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 5:19am

Thanks everyone for your replies, I'll probably use TKTS when I'm there. 

Are the stage doors very busy? How long would you have to wait on the cast coming out and do they come out after a matinee? And would they only sign one thing per person?

[BroadwayBookworm2]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 5:19am

Sorry. Double post. 

Updated On: 5/22/17 at 05:19 AM

[_IrisTInkerbell]

Posted: 5/22/17 at 8:09am

As I said, most likely busier than in London, how busy depends on the show of course. I would expect Anastasia and Bandstand to be fairly busy, but not as bad as something with a big star.

Time just depends on the people. Some come out after 10 minutes, some may take 45 minutes to an hour.

After matinees some actors will come out but not as regularly and never the whole cast. I always try to see an evening show when I really want to meet the cast, and not take my chance on a matinee.

[BroadwayBookworm2]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 12:24pm

Thanks. And I have one last question. What is the dress code? Is it similar to the West End or more casual or fancy?

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 12:48pm

BroadwayBookworm2 said: "Thanks. And I have one last question. What is the dress code? Is it similar to the West End or more casual or fancy?

 

"

There is none, you'll see people all dressed up next to extremely casual dressed people. 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 4:35pm

"What is the dress code? Is it similar to the West End or more casual or fancy?"

Like another poster said, there is no dress code but I think business casual is perfect. The last time I was in London (March 2016), I thought the people going to shows overall dressed nicer.

[rjm516]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 4:43pm

Like everyone said, stage door is more crowded in NYC than it is in London. But, don't skip out before the curtain call to make it outside! eesh! I saw Anastasia a few weeks ago on a Wednesday matinee and it was pretty crowded but everyone came out and took pictures and was super friendly. There was a young aspiring actress standing near me and Christy Altomare talked to her for a while and gave lots of really kind and thoughtful advice and everyone nearby was just in awe of how nice and generous that was of her.