New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [97]
Scoring tickets is fairly easy, especially if you have some flexibility. But if timing or cost is critical, the only way to ensure you’ll get the seats you want is to make your purchase in advance—and that might be months ahead for a hit show. In general, tickets for Saturday evening and for weekend matinees are the toughest to secure.
For opera, classical music, and dance performances, go to the box office or order tickets through the venue’s Web site.
For smaller performing-arts companies, and especially for Off Broadway shows, try Ticket Central (416 W. 42nd St., between 9th and 10th Aves., Midtown West | 212/279–4200 | www.ticketcentral.com | Daily noon–8 | Subway: A, C, E to 42nd St.), which is right in the center of Theater Row; service charges are nominal here. SmartTix (212/868–4444 | www.smarttix.com) is a reliable resource for (usually) smaller performing-arts companies, including dance and music; their service charges are nominal as well.
Inside the Times Square Information Center is the Broadway Concierge and Ticket Center (1560 Broadway, between W. 46th and W. 47th Sts., Midtown West | 888/BROADWAY | www.broadwayleague.com | Tickets: Mon.–Sat. 9–7, Sun. 10–6 | Subway: 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S to 42nd St./Times Sq.; N, R to 49th St.), where you can purchase full- and premium-price tickets for most Broadway (and some Off Broadway) shows.
Sure bets for Broadway (and some other big-hall events) are the box office or either Telecharge (212/239–6200, 800/432–7250 outside N.Y.C. | www.telecharge.com) or Ticketmaster (212/307–4100, 866/448–7849 automated service, 212/220–0500 premium tickets | www.ticketmaster.com). Virtually all larger shows are listed with one service or the other, but never both; specifying “premium” will help you get elusive—and expensive (upward of $200–$350)—seats. A broker or your hotel concierge should be able to procure last-minute tickets, but prices may even exceed “premium” rates. Be prepared to pay steep add-on fees (per ticket and per order) for all ticketing services.
TIP Although most online ticket services provide seating maps to help you choose, the advantage of going to the box office is twofold: there are no add-on service fees, and a ticket seller can personally advise you about sight lines—and knee room—for the seat location you are considering. Broadway box offices do not usually have direct phone lines; their walk-in hours are generally 10 am until curtain.
BUYING DISCOUNT TICKETS
The cheapest—though chanciest—ticket opportunities are found at participating theater box offices on the day of the performance. These rush tickets, usually about $25, may be distributed by lottery and are usually for front-row (possibly neck-craning) seats. Check the comprehensive planner on | www.nytix.com or go to the box office of the show you are interested in to find out whether they have such an offer and how to pursue it. Obstructed-view seats or those in the very rear balcony are sometimes available for advance purchase; the price point on these is usually in the $35–$40 range.
But for advanced discount purchases, the best seating is likely available by using a discount “code”—procure these codes, good for 20% to 50% off, online. (You will need to register on each Web site.) The excellent no-subscription-required | www.broadwaybox.com site is comprehensive and posts all discount codes currently available for Broadway shows. As with all discount codes offered through online subscriber services—TheaterMania (www.theatermania.com), Playbill (www.playbill.com), and Best of Off Broadway (bestofoffbroadway.com) among them—to avoid service charges, you must bring a printout of the offer to the box office, and make your purchase there.
For seats at 25%–50% off the usual price, go to one of the TKTS booths (Father Duffy Sq., W. 47th St. and Broadway, Midtown West | Subway: 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S, W to 42nd St./Times Sq.; N, R, W to 49th St.; 1 to 50th St. | South St. Seaport, Front and John Sts., Lower Manhattan | Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, E,