The Best Tips and Tricks for Buying Cheap Broadway Tickets in NYC

New Yorkers may like to boast that many facets of our city—bagels, pizza, sports teams—are the best in the country, but it’s hard to argue that there is a better place to see live theater than here. After all, there’s nowhere else in the world that has Broadway shows, making a night out in the Theater District an essential element to any visit to the city. But, as you also probably know, prime seats to a popular production can soar to hundreds of dollars per ticket, which isn’t always in the budget. Luckily, not every show commands sky-high prices, and even the most popular ones offer ways frugal visitors can see them on the cheap. You just need to know where to look, which is where our expertise comes in: Read on for all the best tricks and tips for buying cheap Broadway tickets in NYC.

Theater District
Most Broadway shows offer a select number of same-day tickets, known as rush seats, that are only available to purchase in-person when the box office opens. While rush tickets won’t always get you the best views, this is not only one of the best ways to score last-minute seats to some of the city’s hottest productions, it’s also a foolproof, tried-and-true method for affordable seats (they’re generally around $40). Alternatively, if you’re able to lean for a few hours, standing room only (SRO) is typically located just behind the last row of the orchestra and can provide a great view for much cheaper than craning your neck in the nosebleeds. The rush and SRO policies are dependent on each show, so we recommend calling box offices ahead of time for availability and when to start lining up (Playbill also has a handy list on its site). Be warned: Lines for rush and SRO tickets for new and popular shows tend to start forming at the crack of dawn, so set your alarm.

Times Square
At this Big Apple institution under the red glass steps on Broadway and 47th, you can get same-day (and next-day matinee) tickets to tons of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows up to 50% off. And with the free TKTS Live app, you can scope out which shows are available and for what price before you head to the booth IRL. While these tickets may not be quite as cheap as rush or lottery seats, it’s still a fantastic option that involves minimal scheming ahead of time.

In addition to in-person rush, some shows offer digital rush tickets on platforms like TodayTix. The gist is the same as in-person rush: You can get a ticket the day of the show as soon as digital rush opens, so you’ll have to beat other excited, prospective audience members to the punch (but, hey, at least you can do this one from bed!). Check out Playbill’s complete guide to rush policies to find out which of the shows on your list you can digitally rush.

Not all, but many Broadway shows offer some form of digital lottery with platforms like TodayTix and BroadwayDirect. Similar to rush tickets, each show has their own policy with options like winning a same-day ticket, seat for tomorrow’s show, or sometimes you can enter in one big batch for the week ahead. Some shows set aside a certain amount of tickets for the digital lottery, and others use it as a way to offload remaining seats, meaning whether there will even be a lottery on a certain day can be hard to predict. Lotteries are more of a long-game option to get a ticket to that one show you’ve been waiting for—check out this guide for which productions offer a digital lottery.

This one is risky, but it can pay off big-time. If you've got a free day, a slightly looser budget, and crave an adrenaline rush, here’s your gameplan: First, check if a show has tickets up for resale on websites like StubHub or SeatGeek. Obsessively refresh, then head toward Times Square while constantly still refreshing—as showtime gets closer, you’ll see prices slowly go down. About an hour before curtains go up, prices update faster. When they get to an amount that works for you, smash that buy button! If you’re really craving some adrenaline, you can even wait until 10-15 minutes before showtime. Then sprint to the theater! While we can’t say this method is a 100% sure thing, it can result in some of the most surprising, affordable, and story-worthy theater experiences.

TDF, the non-profit behind TKTS, also runs a membership program that offers some of the best ticket deals you can get. Members have special access to deeply discounted seats to Broadway shows, plus Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway, dance performances, and concerts for only $11–$59.50. Even better: you can book your tickets online days—and sometimes weeks—in advance, and the seats (which are chosen for you) are often great. TDF memberships are available to students, teachers, freelancers, anyone under 30, seniors, civil servants, non-profit employees, and more.

Lincoln Center, Roundabout Theater Company, and Manhattan Theatre Club each produce some of the best shows on Broadway, and they want you to see them. For those in the range of 18-40 years old, joining these free programs can unlock affordable tickets without having to try your luck in a lottery or schlep to the box office: Lincoln Center's LincTix offers $32–$35.50 tickets for 18-35 year olds; Roundabout's HipTix offers $30 tickets for 18-40 year olds; and MTC's 30 Under 35 offers $30 tickets to anyone under 35. For similarly fantastic deals at Off-Broadway shows, check out Second Stage and Playwrights Horizons.

Broadway Roulette adds a bit of spontaneity to your cheap-ticket repertoire. Pick a date, number of tickets, and make a few other choices (like whether you want to see a musical or a play, or eliminate a show you've already seen), and they'll handle everything else! On the morning of your selected date, you'll receive a notification letting you know which surprise show you’ll be seeing for $49-$59 and additional necessary details. All Broadway shows are included in Broadway Roulette—even the biggest hits. Other perks include “premium spins” which guarantee orchestra seats; and if you use the program more than once, they’ll make sure you never see the same show twice.

When NYC Broadway Week rolls into town, it’s always with an incredible offer: 2-for-1 tickets. This fall, the program will be running from September 3–15, with 23 productions participating in the promotion, including heavy-hitters like Stereophonic, Suffs, The Notebook, and Hell’s Kitchen. And for more under-the-radar shows, check out sister program, NYC Off-Broadway Week, which will run from September 30–October 13 this fall. Keep an eye on the website for what shows will be participating.

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