CHOOSING a show:

My current Broadway favorites
I keep a list of some of my favorite recommendations on the Stage Directions page (but please do some further research before you decide! :)).  You can also find the kid-friendly suggestions on the Stage Sprites page. You'll also find current theater news under Upstage...Theater News Feeds.​
Check out Playbill.com
A comprehensive website for finding a show is Playbill.com.  They have a listing of every Broadway show that has been announced (including those that are scheduled but not selling tickets yet, and even ones that do not have a theater yet; as well as Off Broadway shows).   They also have a weekly schedule of shows with days/times~invaluable when planning. One of my favorite Playbill resources for planning ahead is the schedule/list of upcoming Broadway shows.
Visit the show websites
​Where possible, I've provided links to the various show websites on this site. The show's site is a one-stop shop for the practical (schedules and ticket links), and the best way to get a feel for the show, with videos, audio, synopsis, cast bios, etc. 
Periodically check out the theater news websites I've listed on this page for the updates about shows in the works, casting and special offers.
Trust your own interests/sources 
Keep your eyes and ears open.  You might hear about your favorite actor planning to appear on Broadway from watching TV or reading the newspaper.  CBS Sunday Morning, (in my opinion, the best show on television), routinely does stories about current and upcoming shows on Broadway.
Weigh the discount options
Also, before you look for discounts, get an idea of the shows that appeal to you and then target your search.  You may find that it's worth more to pay the extra money to see a show you really want to see, rather than compromising on a discounted ticket to a show that isn't up your alley.  That said, discount tickets are a fabulous way of experiencing shows and theater that you might otherwise not expose yourself to because of the expense of the full price ticket options.
Accessibility Guidance
The invaluable site theatreaccess.nyc offers extensive information about finding shows that will accommodate various limitations, including mobility, audio needs, autism-friendly, etc.

Also consider:

  • Many theaters are dark on Mondays, meaning there is no performance, BUT...
  • Not every show follows the same schedule; i.e., some have Monday shows, some don't play on Sundays, etc.  
  • Tuesday and Thursday evening performances may start as early as 7pm.
  • It is wise to double- and triple-check the start time of your show these days, as the classic 2pm matinee, 8pm evening curtain times, and "dark on Monday," "no Sunday evenings," rules are no longer.  Shows may start at 7pm, 7:30pm, 2:30pm, etc.  Playbill.com has a weekly show schedule on their site, but also check your tickets or the show website.
  • A famous or celebrated actor may leave a show before the show's run ends - if you want to see your favorite actor in a role (*cough* Daniel Radcliffe, Josh Groban, Jake Gyllenhaal), go earlier in the show's run.
  • If you really, really want to go to the stage door after the performance to meet a particular actor, don't choose a Wednesday or Saturday matinee as the actors may not come out in between shows on a two-show day for time/ costume/makeup/energy reasons.
  • If you're traveling to NYC for theater, you might consider seeing a show that is not as likely to tour later, rather than the blockbuster that will surely make it to your hometown or nearby at some point; ex. Wicked, Jersey Boys, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago. That said, SEE WHAT YOU WANT!!! Don't let someone dissuade you from a show that seems like your thing.  
  • If you are really interested in seeing a particular actor that you love, do some investigating into Off Broadway shows.  In the smaller venues, you'll often get an even more intimate and satisfying experience of that actor's performance.

show-searching websites:

If there's an upcoming show you think you'll want to see, check the show website and sign up for email notifications from the show about tickets, contests, behind-the-scenes fun, etc.!


Theater on social media:

Social media has become a wonderful way of connecting with the theater community, both in NYC and in your own local area.  Theaters, shows, actors, producers, directors and fans are all using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share show content, special events, vlogs, interviews with cast members, backstage peeks, and as a way of sharing their thoughts about the shows that are involving them at the moment.  You will also hear about shows in the works long before they arrive on Broadway.  
The show websites will feature their specific social media links, and if you’re already a user of one or more sites, just add them to those you follow. 
If you do not want to use social media, not to worry, just make a point of regularly checking the theater news sites, such as BroadwayWorld.com; Playbill.com; Broadway.com; and Theatremania.com.
I use both Twitter and Instagram!  Look for @StageElf ...and let me know what shows you’re seeing.