buying tickets for broadway shows

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 2:40am

hello all... so i'm going to new york this summer for about a week... i want to buy tickets for shows in advance because i really want to see them... so i'm wondering... what's the best way to go about it... should i go on the internet (i.e. telecharge or ticketmaster).... theater websites (i.e. this one, broadway.com)... or call the theater... i know all about rush and TKTS and all that stuff so i'm not interested in them... any help would be appreciated...

oh and if you're wondering... the shows my friend and i want to see are Wicked, Tarzan, Spamalot and Avenue Q.... and don't hate the choices people... i know how some of you can be.. haha

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 2:45am

The best suggestion I can offer is to look for discount codes for shows. Playbill.com and Broadwaybox.com offer discount codes for a lot of shows. It's a good way to buy tickets in advance without paying full price.

The most convenient way to buy tickets is through Telecharge or Ticketmaster (most Broadway shows are sold on Telecharge, with some on Ticketmaster). It's safe and convenient. You can have the tickets mailed to you, have them keep them at the box office, or even have them emailed to you so you can print them at home.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 2:47am

Well, if you come from a distance and want to have things planned, you can buy your tickets in advance at a discount:

http://www.broadwaybox.com lists discounts.

As for Spamalot, there's really not a lot of tickets left, so it won't be on TKTS so your best bets are getting at the theater early for cancellation or standing room. Same with Wicked (they don't have standing room I think, but they have cancellation and lottery). For Wicked and Spamalot, keep checking back on the ticket sites because you never know what you can find.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 3:09am

Wicked does not have standing room.

If you're getting tickets for this summer, I don't think you'd have too much of a problem with Spamalot and Wicked now. It's far enough in advance for tickets to still be available, so you don't have to deal with the cancellation line.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 6:05am

The best way to purchase the tickets is if you have someone in NYC who can go to the box offices and purchase them there for you. Then you save the hideous service charges. If not, TicketMaster or Telecharge are the best ways to go about it. Webites can add as much as 15-20% in additional fees.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/9/06 at 6:56am

"Webites can add as much as 15-20% in additional fees."

I hate that. I bought an $87.50 Spamalot tour ticket that ended up costing a little over $107. Yikes. It is a convienece, though, so again, if you are coming from a distance and want the guarantee to see the shows you want (because although some shows it is easy to get tickets through rush, cancellation, lotto, or standing room, you are never guaranteed anything) order online. You don't want to go empty-handed, and then fail at all your tries.