what do foreigners need to know about broadway

thoughts



ps I am a foreigner

While not “broadway”

Dont eat at chain restaurants in times squre. (Ex. Applebees) unless you wanna pay a lot of money

Dont grab anything someone trys to give you in times square.

And if you are using a taxi know the street names, some taxi drivers take advantage of tourists

Also unlike other countries, playbills are free! dont be scared to accept one or grab one, stage door is also free where you can meet the actors, although not a lot of them do it!

Whenever Im in the city, I try to see shows through TKTS stand, while they are not the most popular shows its sitll a trip to the theatre.

Have a great trip!

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Bwayfan292 said: "Dont grab anything someone trys to give you in times square."

THIS ^^^ THIS is a BIG one! And not just in Times Square, ANYWHERE in the city. These crooks have been getting bold. Last time I was in the city, they tried to pull this one me inside the H&M store. Also going off this one, DON'T take pictures with any of the "characters" hanging around either.

It's a city of a million dreams and a million schemes.

Theatres in Europe are very classy and food and drinks are not allowed in the auditorium, only in the foyer. People usually dress well for a theatre visit. It is considered a special night out.

On Broadway, it's like going to the cinema, sneakers, sweaters, popcorn, drinks, ice cream, everything is allowed. Snacks are even sold in the auditorium itself.

Also, outside of the US it is common to have a few drinks after a show in the foyer and theatre bars. It is part of the experience. On broadway you are literally pushed directly from the auditorium to the street. Often there is even a magic door that opens and in the blink of an eye you find yourself standing in the rain between police sirens without even having your coat on yet.

The whole mentality is different, the USA is much more of a consumers society, constant food and dumping groups of people as fast as possible to bring in the next, or for the employees to go home as soon as possible is the most important thing there.

It's like food and shows are consumed and devoured without even realizing the value of them. That can come as quite a shock when you are from, for example, France or Italy, where it's all about taking the time, small bites, gently chewing your food accompanied by a glass of wine and piano music on a terrace, watching people walking by and be watched, while thousands of other people do the same thing, sitting on a terrace on the street from one of the countless restaurants, with a plate of Gamba's marinated in garlic and white wine, some grapes and various cheeses.

Same goed for theatres, I once went to see The Lion King in Scheveningen, Holland, at the Circustheater and I was welcomed in a very classy way and escorted to one of the terraces, had lunch at Le Cirque, one of the facilities within the theatre, and after the show I was treated with some delicious African snacks in another bar with cosy seats. There were 400 people talking about the show, sharing their thoughts and experiences while drinking wine and champagne, while the photographs of the stage show surrounded us and the logo of the show was processed in the napkins and coasters. That is a theatre experience.

So beware that Broadway is the opposite.

Updated On: 9/25/18 at 07:06 AM

That depends how "foreign" you are. Is English your native language? Do they have Broadway-style live musicals where you're from? (Are you coming from Korea/Australia/Germany/etc.?)

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Gizmo6 said: "Breakfast is shocking, coming from a UK/Irish background, they don't do sausage or bacon. Breakfast seems more sweet based. I did have a delicious omelette in a diner near Macy's."

FWIW, sausage and bacon are both really common American breakfast foods. I think it's probably just a coincidence of where you went that those weren't choices.

Depending on your budget and which shows you want up see, I’d probably recommend a combination of going to the discount booth at the Times Square TKTS Booth (look for the red stairs) and doing rush and lottery and standing room line for other shows that aren’t listed at TKTS. That is how I saw most shows on my first few trips to NYC and I had such a great time. Now many lotteries are digital so that makes it easier to enter although probably harder to win. I will list the link below regarding lottery, rush and standing room policies for each show. There is also an app for TKTS, but you cannot buy tickets through it. It will show you what shows are currently listed and the amount of discount being offered. There are four booths, but the Times Square booth is closest to the Theatre District. If you look at the show offerings (on the app) for Lincoln Center it will show you the actual ticket prices being offered at all the booths. Junior’s is more affordable than most places in Times Square, but other than their breakfasts, I find their food generic. If you’re going to splurge a bit, I recommend Sardi’s. It’s not groundbreaking cuisine, but very good, the service is superb, and the decor is a theater-lover’s Dream. They have a web-site if you are intrigued.

http://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-rush-lottery-and-standing-room-only-policies-com-116003

Yes, avoid Broadway.com. They’re a reseller and they’re extra fees are atrocious.

Gizmo6 said: "those Disney characters are as annoying AF"

To be clear, those filthy, obnoxious "characters" in Times Square are in no way associated with the Disney company. They are similar to the shady "characters" one may encounter in spots along the riverfront in London.

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Updated On: 9/26/18 at 09:06 AM