How to justify similar ticket prices?

A friend of mine had her first Broadway experience recently (Rent and The Lion King). She didn't know of discounts or any way to get cheaper tickets (as many audience members, I'm sure). She paid full price for both shows, orchestra at over $100. She liked them both very much, but she couldn't understand why Rent costs the same as the Disney show.

She wasn't talking about the quality, of course. But I think her point is valid, shouldn't the shows with more expensive production costs charge more than the ones that are obviously cheaper to produce? Has Broadway always been this way, where all musicals seem to have a very similar (if not the same) ticket price?

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Updated On: 3/8/08 at 07:15 PM

Its still a fool's market if producers think they're going to recoup.

Updated On: 3/8/08 at 07:26 PM

While most musicals on Broadway do charge the same (111.50 or so), the two musicals you mentioned are exceptions. Lion King now charges 121.50 on the weekends, and RENT is 110.00, but until recently the top seats were 95-100.00.

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Still, I understand if someone paid the same amount for a show with amazing production and technnical elements to one with almost none. I understand why (because they can), but I also understand it must be strange for an outsider.

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Market Economy...

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How come you didn't guide your friend to discounts, just curious haha.

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