Discount Websites
All of these sites (except TDF membership) are FREE, and some don't require you to sign up unless you want to receive a newsletter and even then will require only an email address.
Be aware that you will likely receive multiple emails from these programs (generally weekly, but sometimes more frequently) letting you know about on-sale dates for shows, giving you news about upcoming shows or tours and other happenings (and not limited to traditional theater; dance, comedy, or, in the case of Goldstar, just about any cultural activity you could want; e.g., wine tastings, mystery tours, symphony concerts, children's theater.) Some I find I can delete just from seeing the subject line; others I make sure to review just so I don't miss a discount I'd like to use!
Be aware that you will likely receive multiple emails from these programs (generally weekly, but sometimes more frequently) letting you know about on-sale dates for shows, giving you news about upcoming shows or tours and other happenings (and not limited to traditional theater; dance, comedy, or, in the case of Goldstar, just about any cultural activity you could want; e.g., wine tastings, mystery tours, symphony concerts, children's theater.) Some I find I can delete just from seeing the subject line; others I make sure to review just so I don't miss a discount I'd like to use!
Goldstar: a really fantastic website that covers theatre as well as other entertainment events such as tours, wine tastings, museum admissions, etc. Highly recommended.
Playbill Club: sign up with your email at Playbill.com and there is a separate area of the website listing shows for which discounts are available, both on Broadway and off Broadway.
Theatremania: a discount ticket website that features discounts for multiple cities and theatre events
Broadway Box
Audience Rewards: this is more of a loyalty program for theater in general than a discount site; you can earn points for buying tickets, answering trivia questions, etc.
Student Rush: this is a website that may be offering discount tickets and will notify you of same-day specials for New York-based shows and events.
Culturadar: a website focusing on the arts and entertainment in focus cities (currently Chicago, New York City, Washington DC) with up to date listings and a "deals" page.
TDF (Theatre Development Fund): this website is also the web presence for TKTS (see next section for more), but if you are fall into a qualifying category (ex. students, recent graduates, seniors, clergy, teachers, civil service employees), you may apply for membership and pay a low annual fee to have access to various discounts on a wide range of shows. They also run contests for free tickets!
Today Tix: a relatively new app for mobile use that can be used in multiple cities, including NYC, DC, London, and includes same day and future purchase opportunities, lottery entry for selected shows, and allows you to know the seat you're purchasing at the time. It also has both major and smaller shows available.
Playbill Club: sign up with your email at Playbill.com and there is a separate area of the website listing shows for which discounts are available, both on Broadway and off Broadway.
Theatremania: a discount ticket website that features discounts for multiple cities and theatre events
Broadway Box
Audience Rewards: this is more of a loyalty program for theater in general than a discount site; you can earn points for buying tickets, answering trivia questions, etc.
Student Rush: this is a website that may be offering discount tickets and will notify you of same-day specials for New York-based shows and events.
Culturadar: a website focusing on the arts and entertainment in focus cities (currently Chicago, New York City, Washington DC) with up to date listings and a "deals" page.
TDF (Theatre Development Fund): this website is also the web presence for TKTS (see next section for more), but if you are fall into a qualifying category (ex. students, recent graduates, seniors, clergy, teachers, civil service employees), you may apply for membership and pay a low annual fee to have access to various discounts on a wide range of shows. They also run contests for free tickets!
Today Tix: a relatively new app for mobile use that can be used in multiple cities, including NYC, DC, London, and includes same day and future purchase opportunities, lottery entry for selected shows, and allows you to know the seat you're purchasing at the time. It also has both major and smaller shows available.
TKTS/NYC only
TKTS is an off-price, in person, cash only ticket booth in NYC (two locations; one in Times Square) for day-of performance tickets only. You can check the website each day for availability, but must buy the tickets in person that day. The available shows are listed on a board near the ticket windows and will represent both plays and musicals. The shows that you should not expect to see available at TKTS on any kind of regular basis are shows that fill their houses most nights (you can find these numbers on a weekly basis at Playbill or The Broadway League ; look for shows selling over 90% and they will likely not be available for discounted prices at TKTS or elsewhere - but it never hurts to look :)!).
Also, when you get to the window after waiting in line, you will not be able to choose from available seats; you will be given one option for the show you select (but you can ask about different shows). There are separate lines for plays and musicals so be certain to get in the right line! The board showing the list of available shows will indicate a "P" next to plays. That list will also give you the discount percentage off being offered for each show.
Also, when you get to the window after waiting in line, you will not be able to choose from available seats; you will be given one option for the show you select (but you can ask about different shows). There are separate lines for plays and musicals so be certain to get in the right line! The board showing the list of available shows will indicate a "P" next to plays. That list will also give you the discount percentage off being offered for each show.
Rush/Lottery/SRO Tickets
Most shows offer low price day-of-show tickets through either "rush" policies (that may be for students only), pre-show lotteries or "standing room only" (SRO) tickets. If you live in the NYC area, or are open to leaving your show schedule uncommitted prior to traveling to NYC, these options can provide a price break and put some excitement into your theater adventures. Be ready to give up some time standing in line, and to stay open to seeing a show that might not have been your first choice. But then again, for those high-demand shows, there's no reason you're not just as likely to win in a lottery as the person next to you, so go for it!!
Also, I've used lotteries to see shows that I love more than once without paying full price multiple times!
Please make sure you understand the rules for each show's lottery or rush program before you go; for example, many will accept only cash for those tickets and the lottery tickets may be for special seating.
Playbill.com has a great recap of the policies for each show.
Also, I've used lotteries to see shows that I love more than once without paying full price multiple times!
Please make sure you understand the rules for each show's lottery or rush program before you go; for example, many will accept only cash for those tickets and the lottery tickets may be for special seating.
Playbill.com has a great recap of the policies for each show.
Student Pricing
If you are a registered student of any kind (young or old) with student identification, always make sure you check for student discounts. Each theatre or show will run their student discount programs differently, so research the rules for the particular shows that you want to see, and make sure to bring your ID with you when you are picking up tickets. Student pricing is generally not available online.
Check with the Box Office
This is where the old adage "if you don't ask, you won't know" comes into play. Most discount codes and offers will indicate that you can take the code to the box office as well as using it online. The reality is also that you can always ask the box office what their best offer would be even if you don't have a discount code. On the day of the performance, especially within a few hours of the performance start time, unsold premium seats may be sold at regular full price, and the box office may have copies of the discount offers there and may offer them. I've had both things happen. Bottom line: if you really want to see a show don't give up!
TIPS:
- Sign up to receive emails from the above noted programs.
- Become a member at a theater that offers memberships; this will generally provide advance purchase notification, but does not require a subscription.
- Sign up to receive emails from a particular theater or theater company.
- Be willing to see the show during its preview period.
- Be willing to give up sitting in the center orchestra, or at least be willing to sit very, very close.
- If possible, go Tuesday - Thursday.
- Take a chance on a show that wasn't your #1 choice; or at least isn't everyone else in the universe's #1 choice.
- Become a subscriber to a theater or theater company, if their season has at least 2 shows in which you're interested. One big advantage to subscribing is that you have options open to you if you have to change your tickets for some reason.
- Check to see if the theatre has a flex option where you can buy a set of vouchers each good for one ticket to any shows during a certain period (generally almost a year), and the price for the pack will give you a per-ticket average of much less than face value.
- Recently, theatres at which I attended a performance have either offered to apply the cost of my ticket to a package purchase of multiple shows at the theatre during the season, or have offered an extra discount on a multiple show package because I attended one show already. This can work out to be a great deal if you enjoyed the show and think you'd like to see more from the theatre. Do the math of course :); but if it works out, you get the extra satisfaction of knowing you're supporting the theatre's efforts to keep bringing you great theatre!
