Help! re: TKTS if you can.

[jemjeb2]

Posted: 9/19/15 at 4:52pm

My group of four out-of-towners REALLY wants to see "The King and I" next Tuesday evening (9/22) and plan on trying through TKTS as the site shows it has been listed lately. The Times Square location opens at 2:00 for that night's performance and I am wondering how soon a line begins for tickets and how early we should get there to have a chance for available seats. Are some show's tickets not available at the start of sales and then avilable later in the day and if so would the box office staff know (or tell) ?  Or if none for "King" are listed when we are at the ticket window should we just see something else? Thank you kindly for any help here.

Updated On: 9/20/15 at 04:52 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/19/15 at 5:17pm

"King and I" has been up on the board every time I've visited it since mid-July, including the coveted Saturday matinee.  Of note: Yom Kippur begins at Sunday Tuesday (22nd) evening. Traditionally, that's a wonderful opportunity for those theatergoers not observing.  I noticed TDF often has more available seats for the September holidays. 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/19/15 at 5:21pm

I personally never wait in line for TKTS anymore--I haven't in years. My favorite thing is to go over there at 7 or so. I've gotten lots of good seats that way. 

 

It does happen sometimes that show release tickets to TKTS throughout the day so it's not necessarily a given that getting there right away gives you a better shot. I once hoped to see gentleman's guide, and I saw it on the app that day. I got to the window and they didn't have any availability at about 6 so I got tickets to something else. I checked the app and it was back up at 7. (I ended up not being sad about this because I saw skylight. Incidentally that's the only time I've ever not gotten tickets to my first choice show, although I usually get tickets in advance if something is selling very well). 

 

So if by chance TKAI is not available when you go you could conceivably check back later and wait until shortly before showtime to see something else.  You could also check the app periodically at different times of the day leading up to your trip to see if it's consistently available. (It's there right now, for example.)

 

good luck!

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/19/15 at 5:26pm

Oh and I've noticed it on the app a lot too. I've been checking periodically for other shoes. 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/19/15 at 5:27pm

Excellent points, all^.  On matinee days, I stroll up at 1:25 and often have terrific luck.  I'm guessing, but it seems to me box offices release unsold seats close to half-hour. I've landed in the second row center ("The Visit",  true house seats ("Porgy and Bess" and almost perfect center front row front mezz ("On the Town" at 1:30.  I'm sure the same holds in the evening. 

[jemjeb2]

Posted: 9/19/15 at 9:28pm

Thanks, folks - I'm feeling like there's a good chance we'll see our first choice. I appreciate the help.

[Patash]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 8:28am

One bit of advice -- I'd really make it clear that the four seats do not need to be together to much improve your seating. 
And unless you plan to talk to each other during the performance, there really is no reason to sit together anyway.

[Jshan05]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 2:58pm

How much are they typically going for at TKTS? Tried checking the app but it didn't load for some reason...