How to Buy Broadway Tickets

Purchasing Tickets Online

Go to the Broadway site to look up showtimes and dates. Opt for a direct online purchase by searching the official Broadway website first. Use the search bar to figure which show you’d like to see, and when you’d specifically like to see it. After selecting your seats, complete your ticket purchase by checking out on the Broadway website. You can access the Broadway website here: https://www.broadway.com/. Take note of how many tickets are available per show. If you’re buying tickets for a group, don’t be surprised if there aren’t many tickets left for a popular production. To better your odds at securing a seat, trying scouting for tickets several months in advance. Take advantage of the map option. This lets you see where your potential seats are located, and also lets you see how many theatre seats are available overall. Broadway’s website tends to sell tickets at market value, so its website might not be the cheapest option. Depending on your seat selection, you can expect to pay at least $130.

Find an official ticketing website if you don’t want to use the main site. Search for tickets on websites that are sponsored by Broadway, such as Ticketmaster, Telecharge, Roundabout Theatre Company, and ATG Tickets. After picking a show and showtime, look around different websites to find the best possible price. If a particular ticket seems expensive, double-check another site to make sure that you’re getting the best deal. If you’re preparing for a big outing, consider purchasing premium tickets. These seats are in prime locations, and give you a great view of the stage; unfortunately, they’re on the pricier side, and tend to be at least $250 per ticket. If you’re not having luck with a Broadway-supported vendor, try purchasing tickets on other websites like StubHub.Warning: Avoid purchasing tickets from sites like CraigsList. These marketplaces aren’t reliable, and there’s a chance you could end up buying counterfeit tickets.

Print your ticket out so you can see the show. Wait to receive a confirmation email that includes your seating and ticket information. Find the portion of the email that contains your ticket, and print it out ahead of time. Lastly, check the message to see if the email itself can be used as a ticket when you arrive at the theatre. If you ordered your tickets through the official site, you can download your purchased tickets and store them in the mobile Broadway app. If your ticket is digitally stored, you don’t have to print it out. Don’t worry about printing out a ticket if the email can grant you admission.

Ordering over the Phone

Contact Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 to find available tickets. If you don’t want to purchase your tickets online, call Telecharge, a digital ticketing partner with Broadway. Specify to the operator which show you’d like to see, and what kind of seating selection you’d like. Keep in mind that you’ll have to give out payment information over the phone, so be sure to place the call in a private location. You can also use Telecharge’s website to purchase tickets. You can use Telecharge to order tickets in advance.

Reach out to Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4100 to acquire tickets on the go. Look for discounted tickets by reaching out to Ticketmaster via your mobile phone or landline. Mention the specific show you’d like to see, and ask which showtimes are available. Like other telephone-based companies, be prepared to give out some kind of payment info over the phone. If you don’t know what kind of show you’d like to see, feel free to ask the operator for recommendations! You can also check Ticketmaster’s website.

Check for a confirmation email containing your ticket and seat info. Wait a few minutes after the call ends to get an email with your ticket and seating information. Print out this ticket and bring it with you to the theatre once you arrive. You can also double check the email to see if the ticket is downloadable to your phone. If you don’t receive your ticket confirmation within a day, have your payment history on hand when you call the ticketing company back (i.e., credit card statement).

Paying in Person on the Day of the Show

Purchase tickets at the box-office of the show you’d like to attend. Arrive at the theatre before the scheduled showtime of the production that you’d like to see. Depending on the show’s popularity, you might be able to buy tickets at the door. Most shows host performances at 7 PM, so keep this in mind when you’re planning your day around the city. Depending on the day, some shows also offer a matinee performance in the afternoon. While in-person tickets will consistently cost over $100, you don’t have to worry about them being counterfeit. Try to get to the theatre at least 2 hours before the performance.

Head to the theatre early to purchase returned tickets for most sold-out shows. If you have your heart set on seeing a popular, sold-out production, get to the theatre a few minutes before the doors open for the day. Ask the ticket salesperson if any tickets were cancelled or returned, and if said tickets are available to purchase. Depending on the day, you might catch a lucky break! Many theatres open officially at noon. Stop by a little before then to check on the status of the tickets.

Enter the cancellation line outside of the theatre for popular shows. Find the cancellation line at popular, sold out shows, which lets eager, last-minute customers purchase tickets that were returned by other customers. Depending on the number of extra tickets available that night, you might be able to catch a break! This is not a guaranteed way to get tickets. If you really want to see a popular show, try pre-ordering tickets ahead of time. Expect to pay retail price for cancelled tickets.

Pursuing Cheaper Alternatives

Purchase tickets through a TKTS booth to get a discount. If you’re in New York City, search online to find the nearest TKTS vendor to you. If you arrive at any of these booths early enough in the day, you can buy tickets at a discounted rate. If you’re angling to see an evening performance, stop in between 3 and 8 PM, depending on the day. If you’d prefer to purchase matinee tickets ahead of time, go to the TKTS vendor between 10 AM and 2-3 PM, depending on the day. TKTS is an organization within the Theatre Development Fund that works with professional theatre groups to help make Broadway tickets more affordable to the public. The individual productions decide how much the tickets will be discounted, so the prices only apply to certain days. You can track available Broadway tickets using the TKTS app. TKTS also lets you buy Off-Broadway tickets.

Attend Broadway shows during Broadway Week to save money. Pay attention to ticket releases during mid-January and early September, as discount “Broadway Week” usually occurs during those times. Monitor the website for 2-for-1 deals, as well as cheap premium upgrades! Although it’s called Broadway week, it usually lasts around 2 weeks. The exact dates change each year, so check the Broadway website for updates! Kid’s Night on Broadway is a great event to take advantage of if you’re traveling with someone under 18. One night in late February, you can receive a free kid’s ticket after buying adult admission.

Take advantage of special discounts on tickets. Keep your eyes peeled both online and in person for discounts that apply to certain groups of people, like students or veterans. Try to keep your ID with you at all times, especially while you’re trying to buy Broadway tickets—this helps prove your age and military status, thus granting you cheaper admission. In many cases, students can see Broadway shows for as low as $30.Tip: If you’re looking for the ultimate discount, try entering a lottery to win some Broadway tickets.

Families.Broadway by The Broadway League is a resource for family offers/discounts. Check the Families.Broadway URL for updates on special discounts that you can apply to your next family outing! These offers are situational, so you won’t always be able to find discounts for a specific production. For consistent updates, consider joining the Broadway Fan Club to be added to their email list. You can join the Broadway Fan Club here: https://broadwayfanclub.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fd86f81c87d862208eb56c407&id=cc4227ab7d&MERGE5=Broadway.org. You can access this website at: https://www.broadway.org/info/families.

Visit the Playbill Club for discount codes. Check the Playbill discount page, then select the specific show that you’d like to see. Scan the webpage for a special discount code, which you can use online, over the phone, or at the box office. You don’t have to purchase a special membership to use these codes. Find some Playbill discounts here: http://www.playbill.com/discount.