What's on Broadway?

Our Secrets

Broadway To The People

How to Get Discount Theater Tickets in NYC!

So you want to see a Broadway or Off-Broadway show but you don't want to pay full price? Try using our time-tested methods (described briefly at the top and in more detail below)! Some of these methods are specifically helpful to those with a student ID or those who are considered "young patrons" (typically 30 and under or 35 and under). However, other methods (highlighted in red) may be useful regardless of age or student status. To see what's on Broadway now, visit the "Shows" page.


Here's what we usually do (in brief):


1. As a matter of convenience, we will usually try to buy our tickets online first. So, if there's a particular show we want to see, first we see if we have a discount membership to the theater/production company that produces the show (i.e. Roundabout Theater Company, Second Stage Theater, Lincoln Center, Manhattan Theater Club, Playwrights Horizons, and more). These particular venues/theater companies have their own online membership discount programs through which you can purchase discount tickets in advance. Some subscriptions are for "young patrons" under a certain age. These programs include, but are not limited to: HipTix, Second Stage 30 under 30, LincTix, and MTC30under30. However, a lot of these theaters/production companies also offer other subscription types that are not based on age - and will get you tickets at a discounted price. It's always worth checking with the individual theater you want to visit whether they have a discount program for young patrons or others. Check the full descriptions below to learn more about these discount programs, how to sign up, and how to purchase tickets through them.


2. If we don't have a discount membership to the production company, we check in with the discount sites and apps with which we have memberships. These include TDF.org, tix4students.com, and TodayTix. 

  • TDF offers tickets online for anywhere from $30-$49. Memberships are available to those who meet qualifications and require a $30 annual fee. Check the full description below to learn more about the qualifications for membersip, how to find out if a show offers discount tickets through TDF.org, and how to buy them.
  • Several shows will offer tickets through the website tix4students.com, in advance, instead of offering student rush tickets at the box office on the day of the performance. Tickets range from about $35-$50. Check the full description below to learn more about how to find out if a show offers tickets through tix4students and how to buy them. 
  • TodayTix is a phone app that offers discount tickets for a number of shows. You can purchase tickets day-of or up to 30 days in advance in some cases. Anyone can get this app, regardless of age or student status. This app also offers certain lotteries.

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3. If we can't buy tickets online ahead of time, we check to see if the show has a "rush" policy (if they are selling tickets at the box office on the day of the performance for a discounted price). Sometimes, shows only offer rush tickets to those with a student ID ("student rush"), other times, rush tickets are open to anyone ("general rush"). Check the full description below to learn more about how to find out if a show offers rush tickets and how to buy them.


4. If we can't get student or general rush tickets, we check to see if the show offers standing room only tickets. Check the full description below to learn more about how to find out if a show offers standing room only tickets and how to buy them.


5. If a show does not offer rush or standing room only tickets, it might have a ticket lottery. Check the full description below to learn more about how to find out if a show offers tickets through a lottery and how to buy them. Generally, a ticket lottery is not your best bet as there can be 200 people entering their names to buy only 20 tickets, but it doesn't hurt to enter.


6. If there's no other way, we might try going to the TKTS booth (though those tickets usually cost more than we like to pay). Check the full description below to learn more about how to buy tickets at the TKTS booths in NYC.


7. Playbill.com also offers discounts comparable to TKTS. We signed up for this site for free and might buy tickets through this site.


8. Also, we've gotten tickets through the Arts Initiative box office at Sarah's school (Columbia University). If you attend a university in New York, your school might offer discount tickets. Or check with the organization/company you work for.


9. We might also check into certain limited offers/promotions going on. For example, during Broadway Week and Off-Broadway Week you can get two-for-one tickets to a lot of shows. Additionally, many Off-Broadway theaters participate in the "20 at 20" promotion, selling $20 tickets twenty minutes before the show begins, when available.


10. We are on the mailing lists for several theaters or theater companies and will get occasional emails or flyers advertising discounts for shows. Barrow Street Theatre, for instance, sends emails offering discounts to several shows in the city.


11. And, though it's not a sure-fire way to get tickets to a show of your choice, sometimes Living Social or Groupon offer tickets to some Broadway or Off-Broadway shows. Make sure to set your account to get updates on offers on entertainment in the NY Metropolitan area.


Note: The longer a show runs, once the hype dies down, or once a "star" leaves, it usually becomes easier to buy tickets. The tickets begin to show up on discount websites like TDF or Tix4students.com and the regular price tickets are cheaper. However, this could also mean that the show will no longer offer standing room only or lottery tickets (these are typically only offered if a show is sold out). So, while we may have waited in line for hours for Standing Room Only tickets for Hedwig and the Angry Inch when it first opened with Neil Patrick Harris, this option may no longer be available or necessary. Other shows, however, like Book of Mormon and Wicked are ALWAYS in high demand and will always only offer discount tickets through lottery or standing room only.



(in more detail):


Student Rush or General Rush

Many shows offer discounted tickets at the theater box office on the day of the performance (evening and matinee). These tickets are called "Rush Tickets." These tickets typically cost about $20-$45 each (most theaters accept credit cards but some are cash only). Sometimes the seats are "partial view," meaning they are on the sides. The seats are nearly always in the orchestra or in a box. Each show has its own rush policy, some offer rush tickets only to those with a valid student ID, these are called "student rush" tickets. Other shows offer rush tickets to anyone and these are called "general rush." You can usually buy only one or two tickets per person. Theater box offices usually open at 10am Tuesday-Saturday and 12pm on Sundays (most theaters are closed on Mondays and do not have performances on Monday nights). For the popular shows, you might need to line up an hour or more before the box office opens. For other shows, you might still be able to buy rush tickets only an hour or two before the performance (way after the box office opens). Check out our page on the show's we've seen for more info on the specific show(s) you want to see. Note: Ticket availability is at the discretion of the theater so they can simply say "no rush tickets today" and all your planning goes down the drain! (That doesn't usually happen but we have experienced that on some rare occasions, like when a show is in its last week).


How it Works:

1. Pick a show you want to see.

2. Find out if this show offers rush tickets by checking out the "Shows" page of our site. You can also find this information on the theater's website, on studentrush.org, broadwayforbrokepeople.com, or by doing a basic search engine search. Playbill.com also lists the rush and standing room only policies.

3. Find out how many rush tickets are available, when they go on sale, how many you can buy per person, how much they cost, and whether or not you have to line up for them. For some shows, you will need to arrive at the box office before it opens to line up for rush tickets. For other shows, you might not need to line up in advance at all, you might be able to just walk to the theater sometime during the day and ask for rush tickets and they will have some available. It depends on the show (how popular is it?), the time of day (is it a Wednesday matinee?), and the season (is it freezing cold and people aren't coming out to the theater?). You might even get lucky asking for rush tickets later in the day if the show has had a cancellation (someone has called or come by giving up their tickets to that day's performance) and the box office is looking to resell the ticket(s).

4. If it's a show you don't have to line up for, swing by the theater box office and ask for rush tickets. They'll tell you how much and you can buy them then and there.

5. If it's a show you have to line up for, wait patiently. Read the tips below for lining up. After a few minutes or hours of reading or knitting or catching up with your correspondence, someone at the box office will indicate that they are now selling rush and/or Standing Room Only (info below) tickets. Everyone will stand up and, one by one, you'll be able to approach the window and buy your tickets (hopefully). If they're out by the time you reach the box office window, better luck next time!


Lining Up:

If it's a popular show, you may have to line up early for rush tickets. Here are some tips for lining up:

  • If you are with a friend, make sure you arrive together. Don't be the jerk who joins his friend in line half an hour before the tickets go on sale when everyone behind you has been waiting for hours. Also, the people behind you are probably counting the number of people ahead of them to determine their probability of getting tickets and if you join up later, you'll throw off their whole count. Not to mention, they will probably tell on you or maybe throw eggs at you. So if you're lining up with a friend or friends, don't save a spot for them. You can, however, save their spot once you've already lined up together if you want to send your friend out to go get coffee or Shake Shack (43rd Street & 8th Ave).
  • Take note of how many people are ahead of you in line. Sometimes a show's website, or a staff member at the theater, will tell you how many rush tickets are available for that performance. If it looks like there are too many people ahead of you, you might want to leave that line and try another box office of another show you want to see. If they only have 20 rush tickets and you're number 30 in line, for example, don't waste your time on this show and go line up for another!


* When we use Rush Tickets: Often! These are often the cheapest tickets so, if we have a morning free, we head to the box office to line up for tickets! Or stop by the theater in the afternoon/evening. Sometimes we'll do a "double header," one of us gets in line for rush tickets to a matinee and the other stands in line for rush tickets for an evening performance and we see two in one day! If it involves lining up for hours, we do this if/when we have an afternoon free. Lining up is not ideal for those who have to go to work during the day or for people who are visiting and want to spend their precious hours in New York seeing the sites.

​

Standing Room Only

Getting tickets to a show for "Standing Room Only" (SRO) is another form of "rush," or day-of, ticket purchasing. SRO tickets are sometimes reserved only for the most popular shows in lieu of offering student or general rush tickets. Book of Mormon for instance, because of its immense popularity, does not offer rush tickets but does offer standing room tickets. Getting standing room tickets means you will be standing, as the name suggests, at the back of the theater right behind the orchestra seats. It's a great view actually and there is a bar to lean on when your feet get tired. You can typically buy one or two tickets per person and the prices range from about $20-$40, depending on the show. Check out our page on the shows we've seen for more information on the specific show(s) you want to see! Note: Ticket availability is at the discretion of the theater so they can simply say "no rush tickets today" and all your planning goes down the drain! (That doesn't usually happen but we have experienced that on some rare occasions, like when a show is in its last week).


How it Works:

Basically, follow the steps above under  "Student Rush or General Rush."

1. Search online to find out the rush policy of the show you want to see. Sometimes a show will offer SRO tickets even if they don't mention it on their website. If you're in the area, it doesn't hurt to stop in the box office and ask in person.

2. If a show offers SRO tickets, check to see what time they go on sale. Sometimes, a show offers SRO tickets only after all rush or lottery tickets have been sold. Other times, a show offers both SRO and rush at the same time. SRO tickets might be sold in the morning or they might be sold about an hour or two before the show begins (check for the particular policy of the show you are seeing).

3. Once you know when/if SRO tickets are sold, do some research to see what time you should get to the box office and how many tickets might be available. You can make an educated guess based on the popularity of the show and whether or not they offer rush tickets. For example, if the show you want to see does not offer regular rush tickets, but it does offer standing room only, you could be in for a long wait for those tickets! For Book of Mormon, you'll be waiting a long time. For other shows, you can just stroll into the theater and buy SRO tickets whenever. There are no guarantees, of course, but you're usually better off if you go on a week day rather than a weekend. It's also good to look into how many standing room tickets are available. Typically, a theater will have about 20-30 standing room tickets available for any given show, but that could vary. Additionally, even if there are 20 standing spots at the back of the theater, there may not be 20 tickets available that night, as the theater may be holding some tickets for someone. This is what happened with us when we tried to get standing room tickets to Hedwig for the first time. So, again, do your research. 

4. If you have to line up for tickets, read the "Lining Up" tips above, under "Student Rush or General Rush."

5. Once you've bought your tickets, leave for an hour or two to get a drink or something to eat and then come back to enjoy the show (standing up)! Really it's not so bad to stand...and probably pretty good for you too!


*When we use Standing Room Only: When we really want to see a show! If it involves lining up for hours, we do this if/when we have an afternoon free. Lining up is not ideal for those who have to go to work during the day or for people who are visiting and want to spend their precious hours in New York seeing the sites.


Lottery

If a show doesn't offer regular student or general rush tickets, it is probably because the show is very popular. As mentioned above, The Book of Mormon and Wicked are shows that do not have regular rush tickets. However, these shows do hold a ticket lottery before each performance. (Book of Mormon also offers Standing Room Only tickets. See above for more info.) A lottery for discount tickets is typically held anywhere from three to one hours before the performance. Anyone is allowed to enter his or her name into the lottery but only a few names will be called (typically about 20 tickets are offered, you may be able to check on the show's website to find out). You are usually allowed to buy two tickets if your name is called, meaning that there might only be ten names called if a show is offering 20 tickets. For shows like Book of Mormon or Hamilton, there are often hundreds of people entering their names so your chances are pretty slim. Tickets usually range from $10-$45 and the seats are usually really good (for Hamilton, they're in the front row!). Sometimes, however, the seats are "partial view," often meaning you're on the very side and can't see all of the action head-on. This is the case for one set of two tickets for Hedwig. Check out our page on the shows we've seen for more information on the specific show(s) you want to see!


How it Works:

1. Research online to find out the lottery policy of the show you want to see and what time the lottery is held (see Student/General Rush description above for resources on where to find this info). Typically, a show will start accepting lottery submissions 1-3 hours before the show begins and will do the drawing a half an hour after they open the lottery. This means you don't have to worry about lining up hours early.

2. Arrive at the theater box office any time in the half-hour slot allotted for lottery submissions. A staff member from the theater will come out in front of the theater and offer everyone pieces of paper to write down your name and a big box or other contraption in which to put the piece of paper with your name on it.

3. Write down your name and any other information they are asking for on a piece of paper and enter it into the box or other vessel.

4. Wait for the drawing time and see if your name is called.

5. If your name is called, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! The odds were ever in your favor on that one. If your name isn't called, better luck next time. At least you only spent a half hour trying to get those tickets.

6. If you bought tickets, come back to the theater in an hour or two for the performance!


A Note on Lottery: Be forewarned, the box office staff DO go through all the lottery submissions after giving out the tickets and if they see you've entered your name more than once, they will revoke your ticket. Please be fair and put your name in once like the rest of us!


*When We Use Lottery: When we have to. Obviously it's a long-shot to get tickets but we have won the lottery for Book of Mormon and Hamilton tickets before (and for tickets to the Tony Awards!), though we have entered lotteries countless times. The good thing is, it's not much time out of our day so it doesn't feel like a waste if we don't win. When we don't win, we usually try for rush tickets to another show that we know will still be available or we just go get dinner or a drink. Always have a back-up plan.


Online Lottery

A show might also offer an online/virtual lottery. Usually this is done through the TodayTix app (read below for more information). You submit your name into the lottery, the show does a virtual drawing a few hours before the show and emails you/notifies you through the app if you have won. You then usually have about an hour to purchase the tickets online for that evening's performance. The price range of these tickets is usually the same as regular lottery: $10-$50.


TDF

​The Theater Development Fund (TDF) is the organization that runs the TKTS booths you may have seen in Times Square, South Street Seaport, or Brooklyn. Those who are eligible can sign up for a membership with TDF for $30 a year and can book discount theater tickets online, typically within a couple weeks of the performance. Members can buy tickets to Broadway, Off-Broadway, Music, and Dance performances for $9-$45 and the seats are almost always orchestra. Those who are eligible for TDF membership include: full-time students, full-time teachers, recent graduates, full-time Union members, retirees, full-time employees of not-for-profit organizations, full-time clergy, members of the armed forces, full-time performing arts professionals, and more. To find out if you are eligible, and to sign-up for a membership, click here.


​How it works:

1. Join TDF for $30 a year

​2. Once you are a registered member of TDF, you can visit www.tdf.org and click "TDF login" in the top right corner.

3. The login page will show a list of current offerings from TDF. Click on the name of the show you want to see to find out how much the tickets are.

4. Choose the date and number of tickets (up to 9 tickets) from the drop-down menu.


* When we use TDF: Very often! It's super easy because you can book online and in advance! The shows we want to see are not always available on TDF's current listings. However, it's good to check back frequently because sometimes the shows will be added. We use TDF when we want to buy more than one or two tickets (you can buy up to 9 at the discount price listed!), when we want to book in advance, when we aren't able to go to the box office during the day for rush tickets, or when rush tickets are not available.


TKTS

​TDF also runs the three TKTS discount ticket booths in Times Square, South Street Seaport, and Brooklyn. These booths offer discount tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows for up to 50% off on the day of the performance. The Times Square booth offers tickets for the day of the performance, starting at 11am until 3pm for Sunday matinees, from 10am to 2pm for Saturday matinees, and starting at 3pm until 8pm for evening performances (except on Tuesdays when the booth opens at 2pm). Tuesday evening performances typically start at 7pm, all other evening performances typically start at 8pm. The TKTS booths at South Street Seaport and Brooklyn offer evening performances starting at 11am and matinee tickets are available a day ahead of time at these booths as well.


The current listings are posted on a board at the TKTS booth and online at www.tdf.org (or on the TKTS phone app). The current listings are only posted just before the tickets go on sale. There is no guarantee that the show you want will be available that day, though if tickets were available to that show the day before, or within the last few days, that is usually a good sign. You can find out what was available this week by visiting www.tdf.org.


A Note on TKTS discounts: Next to the name of each show, the board will list the percentage of the discount available for that show (for example, 30% off). This means the discount is 30% off the regularly priced tickets for that show. Prices vary by seats (orchestra seats are more expensive than mezzanine, etc). And at the TKTS booth, you do not get to choose your seats, they will only offer you the best seats available. Therefore, you may not be able to determine the price beforehand.


How it Works:

​1. Decide on what show(s) you want to see. Be sure to have a back-up in case your top choice is not available.

2. Line up at one of the three TKTS ticket booths. The TKTS booths at the South Street Seaport or in Brooklyn are usually less crowded than the Times Square location, so you might have better luck there. These booths also open earlier (11am on most days) than the Times Square booth does (3pm on most days) for evening performances. No matter which booth you're using, the earlier you can line up the better, especially on the weekends. If you want to be sure to get ticekts to your top choice show, it's best to show up at least an hour early, especially if it is a popular show.

3. At the Times Square booth, if you want to see a play (not a musical), you can line up in the "Play Express" line. This line is located on the west side of the booth (the left-hand side when facing the red steps) and is usually much shorter than the main line. You can only buy tickets to straight plays at this window, no musicals are available here. 

3. Wait in line.

4. When you finally get to the ticket window, ask for the number of tickets you want to the show you want. If they are available, great! If not, try your second choice.


* When we use TKTS: To be honest, we hardly ever use the TKTS booth because we can usually find cheaper tickets elsewhere. TKTS tickets are not always that cheap (for those of us on a tight budget). Tickets can run anywhere from $50-$150. We use TKTS when there are no other options. For instance, the musical "If/Then" did not have general rush tickets, was not available on any of our discount sites, and we were having no luck with the lottery, so we lined up at TKTS at 2pm, waited in line for an hour until the booth opened at 3pm, and got three tickets for a total of $275 by 3:18pm! We also might use TKTS when we want to buy more than two tickets per person and there are no tickets available on TDF.org










TodayTix

TodayTix is a phone app that offers discount tickets to several shows up to one week ahead of the performance. The app is free and anyone can sign up for an account. The app also offers lotteries for tickets to a couple of shows which can be as little as $10!


Subscription Programs

The following are some of the theater subscription programs available to people of all ages:


LincTix

​LincTix is Lincoln Center's discount program for people ages 21-35. LincTix offers tickets for $32 and a limited number of LIncTix are available for every performance. LincTix are available for all shows at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, all shows at the Newhouse Theater, and all shows that Lincoln Center presents on Broadway. The seats are usually pretty good too, often in the orchestra section!


How it Works:

1. Sign Up for LincTix for FREE by clicking here

2. Check your email for your confirmation and member number (hang on to this email or write down your member number somewhere as you will need it to buy your tickets).

3. Log on to your LincTix account at www.lct.org/linctixMain.htm and choose the show and date that you want.

4. You are usually limited to buying only one or two tickets per person. However, if you want to buy more seats together, get your friends to sign up for LincTix too and you can use their member numbers to buy one or two more tickets next to yours.

5. You can have the tickets mailed to you or pick them up at the box office before the performance.


*When We Use LincTix: For any Lincoln Center or Lincoln Center-produced show we want to see! Your LincTix account doesn't get you tickets for ballet, opera, or most other dance productions or concerts at Lincoln Center but it will get you tickets to most plays and musicals performed there or on Broadway! If you sign up for their mailing list you'll get emailed about the tickets that are available through LincTix.


LCT3

LCT3 is Lincoln Center Theater's initiative to produce the work of new artists and to engage new audiences. Housed at the Claire Two Theater at Lincoln Center, LCT3 makes theater accessible to many different audiences by offering tickets at an initial price of $20. We've seen some truly AMAZING shows there, including the improv hip-hop group Freestyle Love Supreme, and two plays ("The Who and the What" and "Disgraced") by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar. And the best part is, it's such a small theater that every seat is a good seat!


How it Works:

1. Visit LCTS's website at www.LCT3.org to find out what's playing and buy tickets.

2. You can usually buy up to 10 tickets at the $20 price, but check to be sure!

3. You can have the tickets sent by mail or pick them up at the box office before the performance.


*When We Use LCT3: By registering with LincTix, we frequently receive emails about what is playing at the Claire Tow Theater as part of the LCT3. These productions might not necessarily be ones you've heard of, but are usually worth a go! The theater is very small and the shows are therefore usually more intimate. We can't say enough about the AMAZING plays by Ayad Akhtar that we've seen there! And we even saw Lucy Liu in the audience! of the small, 112-seat theater!


HipTix

HipTix is the Roundabout Theater Company's version of 30under30. They offer discount tickets to theatergoers ages 18-35 (two per person per performance, for purchase online in advance) to all of their productions, pending availability. All tickets are $20-$25! Some shows we've seen with HipTix include "Machinal" with Rebecca Hall, "Cabaret" with Alan Cumming and Michelle Williams, "If There Is, I Haven't Found It Yet" with Jake Gyllenhaal, and "Violet" with Sutton Foster. Roundabout reserves about 10-40 seats (typically in the Mezzanine) a night for HipTix members.


How it Works:

1. Sign up for the HipTix program for FREE by clicking here.

2. You'll get an email about the shows coming up or you can go online and look for the show you want to see. 

3. Choose the show you want to see and enter the appeal code 'Hiptix.'

4. Purchase the tickets and mark your calendar! (Pick up the tickets at the box office before the performance)


MTC30under30

MTC 30 under 30 is Manhattan Theater Club's discount ticket program. It offers 2 $30 tickets per person (purchased online ahead of time) to those age 30 and younger. Manhattan Theater Club is a renowned theater organization dedicated to the creation of new plays and musicals. MTC produces shows on Broadway - at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater - and at the New York City Center. Through the MTC30under30 program, you can buy $30 tickets to all of MTC's productions, pending availability. The seats are usually pretty good, typically in the the orchestra section. Some our favorite productions have been Harvey Fierstein's Casa Valentina and the Commons of Pensacola (with Sarah Jessica Parker and Blythe Danner). Sometimes MTC30under30 also hosts after-show parites or other perks so check the emails to find out!


How it Works:

1. Sign up for the MTC30under30 program for FREE by clicking here

2. Once you've signed up, you'll receive periodic emails from MTC that tell you about the MTC30under30 tickets available. DON'T DELETE THESE EMAILS as they will provide you with the code you need to buy the tickets. Also, you should note that the MTC30under30 tickets are often only available during certain timeframes (i.e. "only for performances from July 20-August 7" kind of thing) so make sure you pay attention to those emails. If you can't go on any of those dates, you might get another email offering more tickets for future dates.

3. If you get an email about a show that you like, go through the link in the email to purchase tickets. You can buy up to two tickets per performance (and your guest can be any age).

4. Once you've bought your tickets, mark the date down in your calendar and pick up the tickets at the box office before the performance


*When we use MTC30under30: Whenever we get an email from MTC about a new show, we know that the show is going to be good. It's a matter of finding the time to see them all! It's nice to be able to book a week or two ahead of time.


Second Stage Theater 30 under 30

Second Stage Theater produces both new productions and revivals. Second Stage Theater also has a 30 under 30 program, like MTC. They offer a select amount of $30 tickets (bought online, in advance) to patrons ages 30 and younger. You can buy up to two tickets but apparently BOTH people attending have to be 30 or under, which we did not realize. And they do check ID. Second Stage Theater also has student rush tickets available the day of the performance, one hour before curtain for $23. No membership is necessary.


How it Works:

1. Visit Second Stage Theater's website by clicking here.

2. Select the show you want to see and the date you want to see it.

3. Choose the area of the theater you want to sit in (those with an asterisk are available for discount tickets and are the areas from which you should select) and the number of tickets you want.

4. When you are brought to the next page, make sure you de-select the number of tickets from the "Full Price" drop-down menu and select the number of tickets you want to buy from the "Youth" drop-down menu (a total of $34) and purchase tickets.

5. Mark your calendar and pick up your tickets at the box office before the performance!


Other Youth Memberships:


Tix4Students

Tix4Students is an annual membership program for students 18 and over. It costs $5 to join and, once you do, you can buy tickets to several Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, as well as concerts and other events, for discounted prices. Not all shows offer tix4students tickets but those that do will typically sell tickets through this program at anywhere from $25-$47. Tickets are purchased online, in advance, and are usually limited to one or two per person, depending on the show.


How it Works:

1. Register for tix4students by clicking here and paying $5.

2. Peruse their offerings and receive email alerts about new shows that have been added.

3. Choose the show you want to see and the performance date and purchase!


20 at 20

Every year, the Off-Broadway Theater community offers tickets to certain Off-Broadway shows for $20. The catch is, they only hand the tickets out 20 minutes before the show starts! It works differently with each theater. For example, with the New World Stages Theatre, we were able to line up over an hour before the start of the show Avenue Q. There were already several people in line and we all waited until about 20 minutes before the show when the box office began selling the tickets. For another show at a smaller theater in Chelsea, we saw no line so we thought we'd have no problem. But people weren't lining up for this show. Instead, you were supposed to go in to the box office and leave your name. The woman at the Box Office gave us a number and, about 1 minute before the show began, our number was called! We were the last people waiting in the lobby of the theater, but we got in! And we ended up sitting next to the playwright himself, Ethan Coen (of the Coen Brothers!). You'll never know how many of these tickets are available, either. So just be patient!


StudentRush.org

StudentRush.org is another site that offers a lot of great information about discount theater tickets, particularly about the rush policies of each show, as well as information about free museum entry and other cultural events around NYC. If you become a member of studentrush.org, you will have access to all of this information and will also receive occasional emails offering $5 tickets to particular performances, usually Off-Broadway or "Off-Off-Broadway," through their "Will-Call Club." Anyone is welcome to join the site, though certain discounts will be limited to students only.


How it Works:

1. Visit www.studentrush.org and register for FREE by clicking "Log In" and then "Register."

2. Peruse the site for information about the student rush policies for each show and other information.

3. Receive emails from the Will-Call Club about $5 theater tickets (typically for the day of the performance).

4. Follow instructions in the email to buy your tickets!


*When we use StudentRush.org: This site is really great for information on the rush, lottery, and standing room only policies of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. And occasionally we're able to take advantage of the will-call tickets they offer as well!


Playbill.com

Playbill.com is a site offering all kinds of information about New York theater. You can also sign up for a membership for free and get access to some (smaller) discounts. These discounts are not as substantial as those you can get with TDF, the 30 under 30 programs, or student rush. However, they do offer discounts of anywhere from 20-65% off, which is something! You can usually buy up to 10 tickets and there are no age or other requirements​ to sign up. Tickets are bought online, in advance.


How it Works:

1. Visit www.playbill.com and click "join club."

2. Once you're registered, you can revisit the homepage and click on "discounts" for a listing of Broadway and Off-Broadway discount tickets available.

3. Click on the show you want to see and purchase!


*When we use Playbill.com: We've used this site to purchase tickets for a larger group of people, when they are not available on TDF. Most of the other discount sites we use only allow us o buy one or two tickets per person. This is one of the few that allows for the purchase of more than two tickets per person and has no age restrictions. We've used it to buy tickets for our parents, who are willing to pay more than we can afford but still appreciate a discount.