The Scoop on Broadway Theater Tickets

For most travelers, a visit to New York City includes a trip to a Broadway show. For some of us, Broadway is the best reason for a trip to the Big Apple. Ready to go? Here's the scoop on finding the best shows, the best ticket prices, and the best seats.

Begin by asking your travel agent or friends who are theater fans for recommendations. (Three of my favorites are Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, and Wicked.) The Sunday New York Times Arts and Leisure section is a gold mine of theater information. Reviews, feature articles, and advertisements proclaim the latest and the most popular shows. Other good sources for comprehensive show reviews are www.broadway.com and www.theatermania.com.

For tickets, plan ahead or get lucky. If your heart is set on a show, buy before you go as far in advance as possible. There are hundreds of ticket sources and ticket prices vary dramatically. Average tickets for popular shows range from $60 (back balcony seats) to $125 (orchestra center seats). Hard-to-get tickets can often be acquired through ticket brokers and cost $250 or more. How badly do you want to see that particular show? Tickets for older shows, except long-running award winners, are as low as $25-$50.

Two reliable ticket sources are www.ticketmaster.com and www.telecharge.com. Tickets must be charged to a credit card and are printed online or mailed. Theater seating maps show available seat locations. Leg room is very limited in most theaters, especially in the balcony. Seats far to the side of the room sometimes have partially obstructed views. With upper balcony seats, take binoculars or opera glasses if you want to see performers at close range. Always check seating charts or ask about exact floor location before purchasing to avoid seating disappointment.

Discount tickets are sometimes available through on-line theater clubs such as www.hitshowclub.com or www.playbill.com. Membership is free. Once you sign up, you get discounts of 10%-50% on many theater tickets and theater/dinner packages. Hit Show Club has been around for 40 years and is a credible source for discount ticket purchases. Playbill's on-line club offers the similar discounts, many on short notice, and is another good theater information site.

If you wait until you arrive in New York City and depend on ticket luck, you have several options. You can stand in line at the TKTS booth near Times Square or South Street Seaport for same-day tickets. (Unless you arrive early, the wait can be an hour or more.) Lines are usually shorter at the South Street Seaport location. Beware of entrepreneurs roving the crowd selling counterfeit tickets or offering to move you the front of the line for $10-$20. You pay your "fee," get led to the front, the seller rapidly disappears, and undercover security taps you on the shoulder and sends you back to the end of the line. Grin and bear the wait. You may get lucky and get half-price tickets. Heads up, only cash or traveler's checks are accepted.

Going directly to the theater for SRO (Standing Room Only) or Rush tickets is another last minute strategy. If SRO tickets are available, you have to stand for the performance, but tickets are as low as $20.00. For Rush tickets, you fill out a card for a ticket lottery drawing for available seats. If your card is drawn, you pay about $25.00 for seats in the first few rows (unclaimed VIP seats). Call theater box offices for information on whether these last minute tickets are offered.

Last but not least, many travel agents offer New York City vacation packages that often include theater tickets and take advantage of group buying power discounts for your entire trip. Happy Travels!
Copyright 2004

Columnist Lynne Christen is author of Travel Wisdom - Tips, Tools, and Tactics for All Travelers, available at local bookstores or www.travel-wisdom.com. Contact Christen at travelwisdom@cox.net.