This post is all about how to get cheap Broadway tickets in NYC.
When I first moved to New York City, Hamilton was the “it” show on Broadway. It was playing with the original cast of characters and I was set on seeing it – how expensive could it be? You’re probably laughing, but imagine my shock when I saw tickets selling for four figures?!! One look at the astronomical costs and I realized that was not happening.
Most shows are not so expensive but at that moment I was determined to figure out how to see the Broadway shows I wanted to see on a budget. Now that I’ve had a few years to learn the ropes and after hunting for deals and chatting with fellow theater-goers, I’d like to think I’ve cracked the code. So I’m offering my list of tried-and-true methods to score cheap Broadway tickets in NYC. And if you’re wondering, I did get to see Hamilton for $10?!! I promise I’ll explain how, let’s get into it!
How To Get Cheap Broadway Tickets in NYC
1. Rush Tickets
I love to rush tickets and it’s my #1 hack for getting discounted Broadway tickets. It’s how I’ve seen Music Man (with Hugh Jackman, gah!), Sweeney Todd, Good Night Oscar, The Notebook, and Kimberly Akimbo to name a few.
Rush tickets are last-minute, day-of tickets that are heavily marked down. They usually cost around $30-$50 per ticket and can be anywhere in the theater, very often the orchestra!
The only catch with rush tickets is that you need to get them in person at the theater’s box office. Depending on how popular the show is, people will generally line up and wait for the box office to open (typically around 10am on weekdays or 12pm on weekends) to purchase tickets. When I rush, I aim to join the line an hour before the box office opens and have almost always been able to get a pair of tickets.
This is definitely hard to pull off if you have a 9-5 job, but it’s a great option for weekend shows or for those of you on vacation to New York City. Be aware that there’s a 2-ticket limit per person, so if you want to go with a group of people, plan accordingly so you’re able to get tickets for your entire party.
2. Standing Room Tickets
Did you know that most theaters have a designated area in the orchestra for standing room? The caveat is that these spots are usually sold only if the regular tickets are completely sold out. Like rush tickets, these are sold at the box office on the day of but are even more affordable – we’re talking $20-$30 per ticket.
I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous the first time I got a standing room ticket for the Phantom of the Opera but I quickly forgot I was standing and the view was fantastic. Standing room is usually behind the last row of the orchestra and there’s usually a railing of sorts which you can lean up against. Since that first show, I’ve done standing room at many shows, most recently Hadestown!
3. Enter Digital Lottery
Digital lottery is a great option for those who aren’t able to spend an hour or longer of their morning waiting at the box office. These are discounted tickets that are distributed through lottery. It’s really easy to enter which means competition can be pretty high but if you live in New York City and are flexible with when you see a show, this could be a good option for you.
The terms vary by show, but usually a digital lottery will run daily or for a couple of days.
The most common places to enter digital lotteries are on TodayTix, Broadway Direct, and Lucky Seat.
If your heart is set on Hamilton, sign up for their digital lottery on their website. I once won $10 tickets in the front row and it’s a show I’ll never forget!
4. Check for Theater Discount Programs
Many theaters have discount programs for groups those under a certain age. You’ll likely need to set up an account and verify your status but this unlocks tickets under $30 at quite a few theaters!
Here are the Broadway discount programs I always keep an eye on:
- Lincoln Center Theater’s LinTix program = $32 tickets for those under 35
- Roundabout Theatre Company’s Hiptix program = $30 tickets for those under 40
- Manhattan Theatre Club’s 30 Under 35 program = $30 for those under 35
5. Join TDF
If you live in New York and are open to seeing a variety of productions, the Theater Development Fund (TDF) is definitely something to consider. The organization works to make performing arts more accessible and sells tickets up to 70% off the face value. You do need a membership to access these tickets which costs $42 for a year. However, once you’re in, you’ll see that performances are usually less than $60. I’ve seen Broadway shows for $40, $50, or $60, but there are also tickets to Off-Broadway shows, the New York City Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera, and more.
The tickets depend on availability at theaters so you can never predict what you’ll find but if you’re flexible, I’ve always found great options through TDF.
6. TKTS Booth
If you’re spontaneous and don’t mind deciding which show you see until the day of, TKTS booths are your new best friend. These little red booths offer same-day tickets for up to 50% off. The main booth is in Times Square, but there are also locations in Lincoln Center and South Street Seaport.
Be mindful that the lines can get long, especially at the Times Square location. You’ll see a screen at the booth that shows which tickets are available that day. If you have your heart set on a specific show, I recommend getting their early. The booth opens at 3pm for evening performances and 2pm for matinees. It’s definitely a memorable experience and a fun way to be surprised.
7. Check Resale Sites
Some shows are just so popular that they never open rush offers, lotteries, or any other discount. In this case, I will check resale sites like Ticketmaster and StubHub. All Broadway tickets are final so if someone can’t make a show, it’s likely they’ll relist them to make their money back.
The trick here is to buy the tickets as close to show time as you can. As sellers lose time to recoup their money, I’ve seen prices drop pretty significantly. Of course, this is a bit of a gamble, but it’s a trick to keep up your sleeve. This is how I recently scored tickets to see Merrily We Roll Along with Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez for half of the original cost of the tickets. Score!
That concludes how to get cheap Broadway tickets NYC. As you can see, you don’t have to break the bank to see a show and there are so many options for various price points.
Pro Tip: I’ll leave you with a handy link to this website that has an overview of which shows have lotteries, rush tickets, standing room tickets, etc. so you can start planning your next Broadway visit!