How To Plan a Trip

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/27/06 at 10:53pm

BroadwayWorlders, I come to you for advice. I just right now booked a trip to New York (staying at my aunt's apartment) from July 18-July 23. I can't see a show on the 18th, nor on the 23rd. Thus, I have Wednesday matinee, Wednesday evening, Thursday evening, Friday evening, and Saturday evening opportunities for shows. I want to see a show every chance I get.

I also, though, don't want to spend that much money. I mean, that's a good $500, if anything. The shows I'm definitely looking at seeing are:

Spelling Bee
Wedding Singer
Spamalot
Jersey Boys
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

For the two shows I order in advance, I can definitely GET tickets (I have connections, so availability is not a problem), but I'm not sure how to go about planning my trip for the others. I want to at least order (in advance) two of the shows, so I can say that no matter what, I'm seeing two shows at full price.

Otherwise, though, for the others, what should I do? Is TKTS my best bet? What about a student rush, or a lotto? And which shows do you suggest I order in advance (I'm thinking two), and which should I risk?

Thanks for your advice, and please, no stupid people need respond.
Updated On: 6/27/06 at 10:53 PM

Posted: 6/27/06 at 10:55pm

JERSEY BOYS is very expensive, but if you book now. You'd probably get tickets.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 6/27/06 at 10:57pm

I was planning on seeing Jersey Boys in August and there are no tickets to be found.

Maybe there are some for July, who knows, but it's sold out in the days of August that I checked...

If they have them for Jersey Boys, I'd get them- quick!

Updated On: 6/27/06 at 10:57 PM

[Bdwy24]

Posted: 6/27/06 at 11:00pm

Book Jersey Boys and Spamalot now, if you can.

Check into student rush. I saw over 30 shows in one month when I was there with student rush and spent less than 1,000 on it all. check www.talkinbroadway.com they have a nice student rush page.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/27/06 at 11:04pm

Spelling Bee, Wedding Singer and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels are readily available on TKTS for $50ish dollars each. (Cash only, no credit cards).

DEFINITELY buy tickets to Jersey Boys in advance. Go ahead and get Spamalot tickets in advance, too.

Have two backup shows planned, especially for shows you are TKTSing.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/27/06 at 11:20pm

I highly recommend the standing room for Spamalot, just get there when the box office opens, it usually opens at 10am except for Sundays at noon instead. Those tix are only $ 21.25 and it is easy to get them, just get there when the box office opens or 15 minutes before.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/27/06 at 11:51pm

Okay, so as far as the shows I don't buy advance tickets for, the best way is just the TKTS booth? I mean, I'd like to get a seat and not SR. Otherwise, though, TKTS is better than rush?

See, until you're alone in NYC without people who know what they're doing, you think it's easy. Hah. My friend and I are gonna go crazy. :P

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/27/06 at 11:54pm

You can get front row Wedding Singer rush for $26.25.

[Anakela]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 12:00am

Of your list
Spelling Bee
Wedding Singer
Spamalot
Jersey Boys
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

I would order Jersey Boys and Spamalot ahead of time.

The Wedding Singer is a rush (you have a student id right?), whereas Spelling Bee and DRS are lottos; as long as you're in line early enough you will get a TWS rush ticket (it'll be high summer tourist season, I have no idea how early early should be here), versus Bee and DRS will all be up to luck.

If Bee is sold out they do a standing room also, since it's only a 1hr45min show (no intermission) standing at Bee is not so bad- I've done it once.

I have always won the DRS Wed matinee lotto, since you have a Wed matinee slot I would suggest playing that then, but again, I have never played during the summer.

I think that's all I have for suggestions. :)

Posted: 6/28/06 at 12:13am

No plans for The Drowsy Chaperone? The lottery for the front row starts at 7pm, so you could make it your backup plan if you're shut out of the others. Also, there's a big festival off-Broadway that week that you might find interesting:
The Midtown International Theatre Festival

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 1:45am

Thanks, Local -- I already saw it in L.A.. :)

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 9:46am

If you're really dying to see those shows that have lotto, like Spelling Bee and DRS, TKTS is a better way to go. You'll be paying more money, but at least you'll definitely see the show, especially if you get there before it opens (10 p.m. on Wednesday for the matinees and 3 p.m. on the other days).

Enjoy your trip!

[Barihunk]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 12:41pm

Another word of advice, whatever two shows you use your "connections" for, try to book the tickets for Friday and Saturday night as these are the most difficult to acquire. You should have an easier time at TKTS on Wed and Thurs by comparison.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 1:27pm

Or check some of the discount ticket sites online.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 3:09pm

Okay, so now I have some kind of plan! Basically, I'm getting house seats (the producers' tickets) for Wednesday night and Friday night for Jersey Boys and Spamalot -- which is when, I'm not sure. Now, I know that for other shows, like Wedding and Spelling Bee, I can probably get TKTS on the day I'd like to see the show. However, this isn't a guarantee -- I mean, it never is. So I'm ordering Spelling Bee in advance at full price as well. I mean, I'd kick myself if, of all the shows I could have seen, I ended up not seeing Spelling Bee (my favorite show) only because I wanted to save a little money. So I'm pre-ordering Spamalot, Jersey Boys, and Spelling Bee, and then trying my luck for Wedding Singer and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at TKTS. What other shows are good bets at TKTS? And is this now a good, well-thought-out plan? Please and thank you. :)

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 3:19pm

I would do rush for Wedding Singer, as it's always available and is a world cheaper than TKTS.

Most shows are available on TKTS. The only ones you will definitely not find are Wicked and The Lion King, though the latter may be available now that it's moved to a larger theatre, but I'm not sure. Just have three shows in mind when you go, because one is bound to be up there.