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Getting Tickets to NYC’s Hottest ShowsSecrets of the TradeThink it’s impossible to catch that hit Broadway show or popular classic on your next Big Apple visit? Not true! While it’s always advisable to buy tickets well in advance (and new services are making that even easier for visitors), for more impromptu visits you can still get hold of great seats – and sometimes great deals – for an evening of top-notch New York theater you don’t have to buy tickets a year in advance – or pay full price – to enjoy an evening of top-notch New York theater. Deciding What to SeeThe Sunday “Arts and Leisure” and Friday “Weekend” sections of The New York Times are great sources for show information and reviews, as are the listings in Time Out New York, WHERE Magazine and City Guide, available at hotels and newsstands throughout the city; or go on-line at http://www.newyork.citysearch.com. Several phone lines also offer everything from plot synopses and show times to actual tickets. The best include The Broadway Line (888/BROADWAY, 212/302-4111, http://www.broadway.org/bwlinepr.htm a service of the League of American Theatres & Producers and NYC/On Stage (212/768-1818), a service of the Theatre Development Fund. Getting Tickets While In TownLocated in Times Square (47th St. bet. Broadway and 7th Ave.), TKTS offers same-day tickets to Broadway, Off-Broadway and other arts events at up to 50 percent-off original prices. Note: tickets are offered solely on availability so if you have your heart set on seeing a recent or popular show, you run the risk of it not being available. Insider Tips: Though not close to the theater district, the downtown TKTS booth has several advantages: it’s less crowded than its midtown counterpart, indoors, opens earlier and matinee tickets can be purchased one day in advance. If you choose the midtown booth, aim to get there between 5 pm and 8 pm – additional tickets often go on sale immediately before the start of a performance. (Hours: Times Square: Monday – Saturday, 3 pm – 8 pm for evening performances; Wednesday and Saturday, 10 am – 2 pm for matinees; Sunday, 11 am – 8 pm for matinees and evening performances. The Official NYC Visitor Information Center (810 Seventh Ave. at 53rd Street, 212/484-1222) is a full service visitor center and official source for information on everything there is to do and see in New York City. Drop by for free NYC brochures, maps, and discount coupons (including discount coupons to Broadway shows); updates on city events; touring advice from multilingual travel counselors; tickets to top attractions; and MetroCards for subway and bus travel. The center is open Monday to Friday 8:30 to 6, Saturday and Sunday 9 to 5. Ticket BrokersBroadway boasts many top-flight ticket brokers who can help visitors find the best on and off Broadway. A reputable ticket broker or group sales agent can be a reliable, convenient source for last-minute show tickets. Some of the city’s best include: All Tickets, Inc.,
201-224-7400 Other Ticket OptionsKids' Night on Broadway (KNOB) (212/563-2929) – This annual program, sponsored by the Theatre Development Fund and The League of American Theatres and Producers, gives children ages 6 to 18 free admission (with the purchase of one regularly priced adult ticket) to Broadway shows and offers special children’s programming. TDF Vouchers (212/221-0885) – The Theatre Development Fund, the nation's largest nonprofit service organization for the performing arts, offers discount vouchers for Off-Off-Broadway productions and other events sponsored by small, independent production companies. For those who are eligible – students, teachers, performing-arts professionals, retirees, clergy, union and armed forces members – it's a great deal: $28 buys four vouchers that can be redeemed at the box office of any participating organization. For more information, see the TDF web site at www.tdf.org. CareTix (212/840-0770, ext. 230) – Sponsored by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, CareTix sells house seats for sold-out Broadway and Off-Broadway shows and some non-theatrical events. Tickets are twice the regular box-office price, but you can claim one-half of what you pay as a tax-deductible charitable contribution. High 5 Tickets to the Arts (212/445-8587) – Through the High 5 program – which has sold 23,000 tickets since 1995 – any junior high or high school student between the ages of 13 and 18 can attend shows, concerts and museum exhibitions for $5 or less. Tickets are sold at all New York Ticketmaster locations (212/307-4100). Proof of age is required, and tickets must be purchased at least one day prior to the performance. For more details and a listing of available shows, see High 5's web site at www.high5tix.org. The Hit Show Club (630 Ninth Ave., bet. 44th and 45th Streets, 8th Flr., 212/581-4211) – This free service distributes coupons that can be redeemed at the box office for one-third or more off regular ticket prices. You can either get the coupons through the mail (call for details) or pick them up at Hit Show Club's offices. Tips For Buying Broadway TicketsFinding tickets to top shows can be easier for visitors if they follow these tips from Theatre Direct International, a leading New York-based ticket agency. Use a travel professional – Buy Broadway tickets in advance through a travel agent in your home area. Expect to pay a service fee. Visit the box office – Some shows will have seats for sale at the box office window. Since the mega-hits sell out far in advance, buy these tickets through a travel agent well in advance and try the box office for other shows. Box offices don’t charge service fees. Check with your hotel – Secure tickets through your hotel’s concierge staff or its theater ticket desk. This method can be more expensive, depending on the show chosen. Access the Web – You may research New York theater through www.theatredirect.com Edited by Kerry Cohen |
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