For both visitors and locals alike, the theatrical spirit of Broadway is something you have to experience at least once. But finding affordable tickets can be a production in itself. If you're looking for a showstopping good deal, here are some tried and true ways to get a Broadway experience at a fraction of the box office cost.
TKTS Booth
By now it's the worst-kept secret in cheap Broadway tickets, but the TKTS booth still delivers discounted tickets (from 20% to even 50% off) for popular shows. The Times Square booth is the most popular, and offers dozens of Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets on the day of the performance. If you head further south, they also operate booths at the South Street Seaport and in Downtown Brooklyn, less crowded locations where you can snag matinee tickets a day in advance.
More info: tdf.org
Broadway Box
For those who are looking for a little more advance notice, or who live further afield, Broadway Box is a great online option. The website provides dozens of discount codes, which you can use on the theater's normal ticket vending site, like Tickemaster or Telecharge. The show offerings and seating assignments are somewhat limited, but your savings will work out similarly to TKTS - up to 50% off your purchase - and you don't have to sign up for anything to get the deals; all the info is posted publicly.
More info: Broadwaybox.com
Theatermania
Unlike Broadway Box, which posts its deals on a freely-accessible site, Theatermania requires that you register with your email address to get the goods. Once you do, though, you'll get a newsletter right to your inbox with all the deals available. More comprehensive and with more availability than most competing discount sites, Theatermania will also notify you of Broadway news and reviews if you request it, so you can know which show is your best bet.
More info: Theatermania.com
Youngster Deals
Especially for families, ticket prices can add up quickly. Luckily, some of the best deals on Broadway are geared toward the younger set. On the first Tuesday and Wednesday of every month, the Broadway League holds Kid's Night, where anyone ages 6-18 gets a free ticket if accompanied by a full-paying adult. There are also deals for students and recent grads. Check out the Roundabout Theatre Company's Hiptix program, which offers $20 tickets to all their productions to those 18-35 (which can be often be a 75% discount or higher). Manhattan Theatre Club's also has a 30 Under 30 promotion, which lets those under three decades see two MTC productions for $30 each.
Rush Lines
If you're still looking for a cheaper ticket a few hours before a performance, hightail it over to the theater itself. Many Broadway theaters reserve a block of discounted tickets to distribute on the day of the show, called rush tickets. Others will record the names of hopeful patrons and enter them in a lottery for the coveted few seats. You can find a list of the specific practices for each theater on Playbill.
