Posted: 5/19/26 at 10:44pm
My daughter and I are coming after Memorial Day. I am going to stay a couple more days. Should I do TKTS or head straight to the Box Office? Kinda hate the TKTS line. Figure since it’s just me I have a good chance of getting a decent seat at the Box Office? The shows I want to see have all been on TKTS lately. Advice? How early can/should I show up at the box office? Thanks for any opinions.
Posted: 5/19/26 at 10:53pm
Just get to TKTS early unless you want specific seats and don't mind paying full price for them. Also see if the shows offer Rush tickets and get those when the box office opens. If the show is popular, there may be a line so you might want to arrive early. JMO
Updated On: 5/19/26 at 10:53 PM
Posted: 5/20/26 at 1:11am
Go to the TKTS booth at Lincoln Center. Opens earlier, minimal line -- you'll be in and out in 5 minutes.
Posted: 5/20/26 at 2:05am
Box office every time. They won’t be able to offer you a discount, per se, but they’ll accommodate in your price range and they have access to the best tickets in the house. I shouldn’t have to say this: but just be really really nice. I can’t tell you the number of great seats I got for cheap just for being pleasant with the box office staff…especially last minute.
Posted: 5/20/26 at 9:45am
Often times in the post-Covid era, I can get a better last-minute deal at the box office than at TKTS because the lowest-priced seats (far less than the half-off price of the most inflated ones) don't always go to TKTS. I'll tend to look at the price on the TKTS board, then head over to the theater and ask if they have anything for that day's show, if they have rush seats and if not what the most affordable is. Either way, always able to save compared to buying online (including TodayTix) with fees at that point. I live in the city and like to be spontaneous and don't always have the cash free far ahead, so I very rarely plan what I'm seeing in advance, and always get into *something* I'd like to see just a couple hours before. Sometimes even minutes. But I would certainly understand wanting to play it safe on a trip.
As Play Esq. said, just be nice and be appreciative to the staff for accommodating you and it can work wonders. If you make somebody *want* to make your day, they're more likely to!
Updated On: 5/20/26 at 09:45 AM
Posted: 5/20/26 at 9:54am
How many shows are you seeing? TKTS always gives me great seats and accommodates an aisle for me (I’m tall). It’s literally 30-50% off. If you’re only doing one show, go to the box office to avoid the line. If you’re doing multiple, if you bring your ticket back on a return to TKTS for another show, you skip the line for 7 days with your original ticket purchase.
Posted: 5/20/26 at 10:01am
ryandk2 said: "Go to the TKTS booth at Lincoln Center. Opens earlier, minimal line -- you'll be in and out in 5 minutes."
Not necessarily true. I had family in town last week and they spent about an hour in line at Lincoln Center. It's not as much of a secret as it used to be. But still probably better than Times Square, especially being inside for most of the line.
Posted: 5/20/26 at 10:17am
I've used the TKTS booth numerous times post-COVID, and I've never waited more than 15 minutes to get to a window. I usually go 60-90 minutes prior to curtain rather than queuing up before it opens. I've found that lines are more manageable as it gets closer to showtime, that better seats are released later on, and I've had no complaints.
Each time I've gone recently, the attendant has asked for my price range and accommodated my specific request for aisle seats. Most recently, for OH MARY! (with John Cameron Mitchell in early March), I got fifth-row aisle seats about an hour before showtime.
Posted: 5/20/26 at 1:59pm
Sometimes though, if you go too late, the show that you wanted to see is sold out, even if it is still on their board...I have had good results going like an hour or half an hour before curtain getting a good seat, but I understand that might be cutting it too close for some people.
Posted: 5/20/26 at 2:33pm
Play Esq. said: "Box office every time. They won’t be able to offer you a discount, per se, but they’ll accommodate in your price range and they have access to the best tickets in the house. I shouldn’t have to say this: but just be really really nice. I can’t tell you the number of great seats I got for cheap just for being pleasant with the box office staff…especially last minute."
I 100% agree with you there. It reminds me of a good story, when Lempicka was on broadway at the Longacre I decided to go to the box office to get my ticket in advance. when the staff member (i'm pretty sure her name was Claire) showed me where I was seating she asked if I had been to this theatre before, I told her yes, it was for the prom and we bonded over a conversation involving beth leavel who of course was in the show, and sure enough she offered me a discount. since then I always trust the box office way more than TKTS or using online services like todaytix and telecharge
Updated On: 5/20/26 at 02:33 PM
Posted: 5/20/26 at 3:20pm
If box office staff sniff that you are so cheap you squeak, you'll get no special treatment. People who lead with "can I use this discount code today" can get treated pretty coldly. Be really kind, friendly, tell them you're flexible on price, ask their opinions on best places to sit, etc. You can pretty easily read who is going to lean into warmth and who ain't.
If I use TKTS I typically do it when there is no line and I can buy for the next day's shows or when there is little to no line 45 minutes to 30 minutes before curtain. As a solo, I usually get a great seat.
Posted: 5/27/26 at 1:21pm
Restating my previous statement, went to the Two Strangers BO and got a house seat for 109 bucks. Never hurts to be polite.
Going to Betty’s point: I generally go in with a price range and ask nicely what’s the best they can do; I suppose it obviates the cheap/squeak issue.
Updated On: 5/27/26 at 01:21 PM
Posted: 5/27/26 at 2:28pm
Play Esq. said: "Restating my previous statement, went to the Two Strangers BO and got a house seat for 109 bucks. Never hurts to be polite.
Going to Betty’s point: I generally go in with a price range and ask nicely what’s the best they can do; I suppose it obviates the cheap/squeak issue.
For the sake of accuracy, you did not get a "house seat". What you got was a seat in a location that was good enough to be used as a "house seat" if necessary. House seats are industry perqs and are released for sale to the public (if they are not requested by the company or other industry) on a set schedule --which can be anywhere from 98 hours prior to the performance up to 2 hours.
Updated On: 5/27/26 at 02:28 PM
Posted: 5/27/26 at 2:52pm
Bettyboy72 said: "If box office staff sniff that you are so cheap you squeak, you'll get no special treatment. People who lead with "can I use this discount code today" can get treated pretty coldly. Be really kind, friendly, tell them you're flexible on price, ask their opinions on best places to sit, etc. You can pretty easily read who is going to lean into warmth and who ain't.
If I use TKTS I typically do it when there is no line and I can buy for the next day's shows or when there is little to no line 45 minutes to 30 minutes before curtain. As a solo, I usually get a great seat."
I never thought I could in essence bargain with a box office rep, I usually go to TKTS. One time I tried using a discount code in person and I was rebuffed, even though the show was on TKTS. So, I had to walk to TKTS and get the ticket. They were going to get some money out of me either way. Why risk the chance I would change my mind walking there. I forget if I specifically mentioned TKTS or not.
Updated On: 5/27/26 at 02:52 PM
Posted: 5/27/26 at 6:00pm
For the sake of accuracy, you did not get a "house seat". What you got was a seat in a location that was good enough to be used as a "house seat" if necessary. House seats are industry perqs and are released for sale to the public (if they arenot requested by the company or other industry)on a set schedule --which can be anywhere from 98 hours prior to the performance up to 2 hours.
"
My darling: I bought my seat an hour before the performance. I know what a "house seat" is: spare me your pedantics. I was also sitting immediately behind tony voters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. I think I know what I'm talking about.
But even if I were wrong: FO. Who cares to address such a facile issue?
I don't feed trolls, but going to add one meaningful aspect to this conversation: spoke to the WONDERFUL (she was young, blonde, and charming...for identification purposes only, because she was so lovely) and she got me into three Schmigadoon! first roz mezz seats for a fraction of what I was seeing on-line.
Goes back to my suggestion: just be nice to people.
Aside: met Robert this afternoon. What a class-act, I think he was surprised that someone outside of the community recognized him, but he was lovely.
Posted: 5/27/26 at 6:52pm
JSquared2 said: "Play Esq. said: "Restating my previous statement, went to the Two Strangers BO and got a house seat for 109 bucks. Never hurts to be polite.
Going to Betty’s point: I generally go in with a price range and ask nicely what’s the best they can do; I suppose it obviates the cheap/squeak issue.
For the sake of accuracy, you did not get a "house seat". What you got was a seat in a location that was good enough to be used as a "house seat" if necessary. House seats are industry perqs and are released for sale to the public (if they arenot requested by the company or other industry)on a set schedule --which can be anywhere from 98 hours prior to the performance up to 2 hours."
...and once those seats are released they can just sit there. Especially if it is a single seat. So the seat in question was still available. Play Esq., as a member of the public, went to get a ticket and was sold a seat marked as a House Seat, that was most likely released, and maybe not released yet, for a lower price. Why? Possibly because there were Tony Voters in attendance and Play Esq. was nice at the window. Box offices can release those seats when they want and will "dress the house" especially when critics and voters are in.....For the sake of accuracy.
Updated On: 5/27/26 at 06:52 PM
Posted: 5/27/26 at 7:03pm
Comment double posted.
Updated On: 5/27/26 at 07:03 PM
Posted: 5/27/26 at 8:54pm
..and once those seats are released they can just sit there. Especially if it is a single seat. So the seat in question was still available. Play Esq., as a member of the public, went to get a ticket and was sold a seat marked as a House Seat, that was most likely released, and maybe not released yet, for a lower price. Why? Possibly because there were Tony Voters in attendance and Play Esq. was nice at the window.Box offices can release those seats when they want and will "dress the house" especially when critics andvoters are in.....For the sake of accuracy.
"
Thank you and exactly. House seats are really just the best in the house, usually reserved for critics and, in this case, Tony voters, or, when it’s a hit, those who want to pay the most. I joked with the lovely woman in the box office asking if they were both in today, knowing it’s a voter performance. She knowingly gave me a look and it was clear: of course, dumbass 😆
Updated On: 5/27/26 at 08:54 PM
Posted: 5/29/26 at 3:54pm
Thanks, everyone. I’m in the air, and unfortunately the flight was two hours late. It’s gonna be close-hoping I can see a show tonight!
Posted: 5/29/26 at 6:08pm
There’s also another ticket booth in Times Square on Broadway between 44th and 45th. Has anyone gone there?
Posted: 5/29/26 at 7:09pm
Off to an exciting start. Checked in to my hotel, determined I didn’t have time to go to the TKTS booth, so went straight yo the box office. Sat down in a GREAT seat, looked at the Playbill-The Outsiders. Crap. Went back to the box office, told them I meant to buy for Operation Mincemeat. Theaters are right next to each other. She was very nice, said it happens all the time. Went next door, got a &282 ticket for $160. Even had time for a slice of Pizza 🙂.
Posted: 6/5/26 at 11:06pm
I saw 7 shows in 5 days (actually 8-I saw Schmigadoon twice). Went to TKTS booth 5 times, box office 3 times.
TKTS: Play That Went Wrong, Death Becomes Her, SIX, Stranger Things, Titanique
Box Office: Operation Mincemeat, Harry Potter, Schmigadoon
TKTS was definitely cheaper. But the only “last minute” show I did at the box office was Operation Mincemeat. Other two were a day in advance.
Great trip with my daughter and grandson. They went to Stranger Things and Harry Potter, while I went to Titanique, Schmigadoon, and Death Becomes Her.
Schmigadoon was definitely my favorite. How McKenzie Kurtz wasn’t nominated for a Tony is beyond me!
Posted: 6/6/26 at 1:37pm
I have always seen the most popular show Tuesday-Thursday and the less popular Friday to Sunday, then using that logic I can stroll to a window at about 3pm and get what I want, but I always have a plan B.
Going to TKTs at 11am is like going to see to Statue of Liberty at 10am, that is the time every tourists in New York go.
On a side note does anyone know if Darryl is still around, he was a big black guy that worked the line at TKTs, he is also one of the nicest guy you find?
