Ticket Prices on the Rise... Again!

The recent jump to $111 isn't enough as some shows plan to exploit the holiday season. And once producers see that they can get away with charging these prices there not going to go back down.

As per Telecharge:
Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me - Musical


Detailed Pricing Information
Orchestra: $111.25
Mezzanine (Rows A-D): $111.25
Mezzanine (Rows E-H): $86.25
Mezzanine (Rows J-K): $56.25

Week of December 25 - 31:
Orchestra: $121.25
Mezzanine (Rows A-D): $121.25
Mezzanine (Rows E-H): $86.25
Mezzanine (Rows J-K): $56.25

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Ticket prices have always spiked during that time period. Nothing new.

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Yes the last spike put tickets to $111. I believe the first shows to go up were Jersey Boys and Spamalot. After tickets hit 111 they never came back down and now thats the normal price for most shows. Once tickets jump to $121 at the end of the year its very unlikely that they return to 111. Once producers see that they can get away with charging more theres no reason to lower the price. Although a gold gift bag would be nice.

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No, for that week tickets went as high at $125 I think this past year....

It's still ridiculous. I think I take it for granted that I have my student ID, and just what a great deal that is. When my parents were in town last week, we were going to see a show, and it really hit me just how obscene the prices have gotten. Tickets for Sweeney Todd at TKTS were a couple dollars shy of $60 with fees. I'm sorry, but unless I'm getting primo seats (and these weren't, being in row T on the side), I just can't justify paying that price.

It wasn't that long ago that the orchestra used to be $75. While it's not as if it was last year or the year before, I'm only talking like 5 or 6 years ago. If the next jump is going to be to $120+ (and while that's for a holiday week now, I don't think the permanant jump is that far off)...there's just no excuse to be getting within $20-30 of doubling already high prices in 6 years or so. Is it just me, or does that seem insane? In another five years, are the current premium ticket prices going to be the norm?

Frankly, it's the same thing with college (and I suppose much of everything else, but I'm sticking with tuition for the moment). While I lucked out getting a hold on my tuition, the room and board jumped (and continues to jump) every year, to the point, where I just don't see how it could go on (and yet it does). Room and board my freshman year was something like $7500, and now there are rooms that are as high as $14,000! While they aren't the necessarily the same room, the fact that most rooms seemed to jump $700-1000 each year is mindboggling to me. If I were coming in as a freshman now, would room and board be $15-18,000 by the time I'd graduate?!?)

Anyway, back to theater...I guess there's not much that you can do about it when Jersey Boys is sold out months in advance, shows like Threepenny and Pajama Game sell out their entire limited runs. Why wouldn't they keep upping the prices if people are willing to pay??

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I totally agree. I don't see why shows like Sweeney or Bee which have fairly small casts and a minimalist set/costumes should charge the same price as something like Lion King or Dirty Rotten Scoundrals that have large casts, multiple sets, extravagant costumes, etc.

And how could a show like I Am My Own Wife (as much as I loved it) charge $90 (or whatever it was) for a one man show with the one set/costume, etc??? Just because big musicals charge $100+ doesn't mean that every show should.

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The day disounted tickets are $ 100 is the day we stop going altogether

It is greed and as long as people are willing to pay outrageous prices they will go up.Since people are will to pay $ 250 for a ticket especialy to one roundly roasted by critics they think people will pay anything .The producers are cutting their own throat. They are losing generations of theatergoers who can not afford it. By the time producers call a halt to the madness it will be too late and many will be hurt including tourism items like hotels and restaurants

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Do not start by "3 Days of Rain"

I agree but something like this has to take its natural course. Some people will pay anything so you waste your time with them. Teachers state they are not paid enough (another discussion ) but one was interviewed buying a premium ticket for 3 Days. Underpaid but able to shell out $ 250 to see a straight play roasted by critcs. Am I missing something here ?

When people stop going it will be to late. It will happen gradually & naturally producers will make up for the loss by rising prices on others. Greed also is involved with the selling of concessions

Somoen I used to know said " When you die, it does not make much difference how many shows you have seen" I agreed than but I am inwardly chuckiling as who said it to me but I agree

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I want to say that this will go right back down when people stop going but it won't.

Tourists will ALWAYS go to Broadway, it's like " the thing to do." With them still going, hotels and restaurants will be fine.

What sucks if for the locals, like myself, that WON'T pay for this.

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It's just so unnecesary. There's no reason to raise prices, it's already expensive.

I believe it might have to do with a restoration charge. For example, Sweeny Todd tickets are 111.25 because of a 1.25 restoration fee. I've seen other theatres with the same prices. So they just tack on the extra 1.25. But that's just a possibility, I'm not 100% sure.

Nick> All tickets include the theatre restoration fee. I dont know if its required but every show does it. That $1.25 is intended to be spent on the theatre to make sure that they dont become run down. I have yet to be in a Broadway theatre thats in bad condition and we continue to see improvements on theatres such as the Lyceum, Belasco and Rodgers. So it leads me to believe that, the $1.25 is being put to good use. And believe me, that $1.25 does not put a ticket price over the absurd limit. $61.25 would be reasonable $121.25 is ridiculous.

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That jump for the holiday week isn't new. I remember Spamalot had a similar pricing structure this past December.