Interludes

VIEWPOINTS: The Frugal New York Theatergoer

• By drediman
• April 5, 2014
• No Comments

After getting a sense of how many performances I attend, most people tend to ask: “How are you able to afford it all?” For the record, I am (currently) NOT independently wealthy. I do, however, know of a few tricks whereby I rarely end up paying full price for tickets. In fact, I typically end up spending significantly less than the price tag on full-price tickets. All it takes is knowing when and where to purchase tickets. In no particular order, here are twenty-three money saving techniques I use when purchasing admission to performances.

1. For approximately $25, “standing room only”, or “SRO”, spots for Broadway shows are a great bargain (if you don’t mind standing). Given that most Broadway theaters are wider than they are deep, standing at the back of the orchestra level usually affords a wonderfully close, unobstructed view of the stage.

2. Most Thursday mornings, the NY Philharmonic opens its rehearsals to the public for only $20. Don’t worry, they play the entire program, and it’s a fascinating glimpse into the process of production.

3. Obstructed view seats at Carnegie Hall run at around $45 (a discount of more than 50% from full-view seats immediately around them). Given that you are primarily at the famed hall to listen to music (I assume), do you really care if a narrow pole slices into your line of vision? I don’t.

4. Do you love the Off-Broadway theatergoing experience? If so, I recommend theater binging in late January to early February during which time most Off-Broadway shows participate in the “20at20” program. That is, seats are only $20 at 20 minutes before curtain for participating Off-Broadway shows.

5. You can get up to 50% off retail pricing through various discount ticketing services such as Goldstar, Groupon, Living Social, etc. Membership is required (and free) for most of these discount ticketing services.

6. Likewise, you can also get up to 50% off the full price of tickets by utilizing discount promotional codes that can be found at the following websites: Playbill, Plum Benefits, TheaterMania, BroadwayBox, etc. Membership is required (and free) to access these discount codes.

7. Many performances (including most Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, the Metropolitan Opera, and the NY Philharmonic), even some shows that are hard to obtain tickets to, offer last minute, same day rush or lottery tickets that are significantly discounted ($20-$40). Seating locations are at the discretion of the management of the respective theaters and may be partial view. Patrons usually line up for rush tickets well before the time tickets are sold, which could be anytime from when the box opens to an hour before curtain. Note that some rush ticket policies have eligibility requirements (e.g., youth- or student-only eligibility) and may be cash-only. Same-day lottery tickets are usually drawn and sold two hours before curtain.

8. If you meet their eligibility criteria (e.g., full-time teachers / students, retirees, etc.), you should consider signing on as a member of the Theatre Development Fund (“TDF”) for an annual fee of $30. Being a member allows you to access $9-$45 tickets to tons of performances (including Broadway shows) in and around the city.

9. If you are a frequent attendee of performances at certain theater companies, becoming a member of those theaters may be an economical way to see performances. For example, an annual membership to the Public Theater ($60) has allowed me to save up to 50% on their shows and 20% on food and drink on their premises, including the delicious new restaurant on the mezzanine level, the Library. You are also privy to member-only benefits, including ticket exchanges, first dibs at purchasing tickets (many of their shows sell out), etc.

10. Don’t be afraid of purchasing cheaper full-price tickets to performances. Broadway (and certainly Off-Broadway) theaters are designed to be intimate spaces, so even sitting in the last rows of most theaters provide a fine vantage point (I can’t say the same for some of the barn-like venues across the country). For dance, sitting higher up in the cheaper seats are, I think, the best way to take in a choreographer’s vision for his or her dance. For opera and the symphony, the sound is usually the most balanced in the less expensive nosebleed sections.

11. There are always the tried-and-true TKTS booths, which allow you to purchase Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets at a discount of up to 50% off. If possible, try going to the booths right before the start of the show, as beautiful prime seats are usually sold at great discounts then.

12. If you are tough and can handle the cold, it’s typically more economical to plan your theatergoing during the brutal winter months of January, February, and March. Then, performances are more likely to be discounted through the channels laid out here.

13. If you’re really tough, you can get significantly discounted tickets to shows during inclement weather. Subscription-based theaters, especially (like the reputable Roundabout Theatre Company, which has an older subscriber base that is sensitive to severe weather), practically give their tickets away as subscribers opt out of attending shows in the event of bad weather.

14. If you are a frequent theatergoer like I am, it’s worth signing up for Audience Rewards, Broadway’s “frequent flyer” program. As you go to shows, you accrue points, which can be redeemed to see more shows (either for free or for a nominal co-pay).

15. Some of the most fascinating and though-provoking theater I’ve seen have been courtesy of “fringy” Off-off(-off-off) theaters or experimental theater festivals (like the works on display at the annual Under the Radar Festival in January). Tickets to these shows are cheap ($15-$25), many times cheaper than seeing a movie in the city.

16. For only $25 per ticket, the wonderful Signature Theatre on 42nd Street is a great place to inexpensively see polished productions of works from some of our most prominent playwrights. Note that these shows sell out fast and any extensions are sold at more typical Off-Broadway prices.

17. Most theater companies have programs that provide concessions to students, young people, and/or retirees, allowing them to buy substantially discounted tickets in advance (this is different from rush ticket policies, which are same-day sales).

18. If you know a performance will be sparsely attended, a money saving tactic may be to go with cheaper seats from which to experience the first act. At intermission, a money saving option is to move to a better seat that has not been claimed from which to better enjoy the subsequent act(s). Just make sure not to disrupt the experience of the theatergoers around your newfound enhanced seat.

19. It pays to be friendly: if you know people in the press and/or the industry, they occasionally have spare tickets they cannot use or have access to much cheaper tickets.

20. If there is any buzz of an Off-Broadway show transferring to the Great White Way, try catching it Off-Broadway at cheaper rates before the show moves to the more expensively priced Broadway venue. Successful shows like the Tony Award-winning “Rent”, “Once”, and “Spring Awakening” all had their origins at cheaper, more intimate Off-Broadway theaters.

21. For the ultimate bargain, none of these can beat the Public Theater’s two summer productions that comprise Shakespeare in the Park at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater. The Public typically attracts top tier names to star in these magical productions (e.g., Meryl Streep, Al Pacino), usually one Shakespeare and one non-Shakespeare. Tickets are FREE, but be prepared to queue hours for them.

22. Are you out and about and have the itch to see a show? In this day and age, you don’t need to trek to and queue at TKTS. You can conveniently access discount tickets through your mobile phone. The app (which you can download for free) is called TodayTix, and you can get same-day discounted tickets (up to 50%) through it.

23. If you care about not spending $100+ on a Broadway show but don’t care which show you end up seeing, try playing Broadway Roulette. Just specify when you’re free for a show, and they choose the show for you. It’ll set you back only $45 per ticket.

I hope this has been helpful. Any questions? Let me know.

Happy theatergoing!