How To Find a Low Price Ticket to a Broadway Musical

By Staff Contributor

Broadway musicals have charmed their way into the hearts of numerous patrons since the beginning of Broadway. Some of the most popular ones include Chicago, Annie, Cats, Rent, Hairspray, The Phantom of The Opera, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, and Wicked. However, if you have tried buying tickets to Broadway shows before, you know that a cheap price is hard to find. Like airfare tickets, however, you will find that a low price ticket to a Broadway show can be found, if you have the patience, and if you know where to look. Here are some tips on how to get your hands on a low price ticket to Broadway:

Use promo codes. Usually, when you buy your tickets online, the major ticket agencies with universal tickets systems such as Ticketmaster and Telecharge ask you to enter a promotional code. These promotional codes can actually give you a price discount from 25 to 50 percent off the face-value ticket price. These codes can be found simply by visiting websites such as BroadwayBox.com, Playbill, and TheaterMania.
Find a ticket broker. This is especially applicable if you are looking for tickets for the more popular shows, such as Grease or Phantom of the Opera. Because of their popularity, it is hard enough to find any discounted tickets to these shows on your own. Your best option is to take advantage of the price schedule and buy tickets during the slow months of January-February and September-October. Discounted tickets to these shows can sometimes be found at valid ticket broker sites, like TicketsNow and StubHub.
When it pays to be late. You could also cross your fingers and try your luck at securing rush tickets and lottery tickets on the day of the show itself. Some productions offer a limited number of rush tickets at the box office on the day itself, at discounted rates. Others hold lotteries, where prospective theatergoers can enter their name in a lottery draw several hours before the show.
On your feet. Sometimes, even when they don't offer rush tickets, you can get a standing room only, or SRO, ticket, for a fraction of the price of regular seats. If you're feeling up to the challenge, go ahead and spring for the SRO tickets.
Be close to the action. Some stage productions offer onstage seating to potential patrons. These seats usually have a side or rear view, which means that you tend to miss some of the action, but they still sell pretty well because of the intimacy that it provides, since you're so close to the performers. These tickets usually go for half the price of standard tickets, so it's a pretty good bargain. It's a good idea to reserve the tickets ahead of time though, as they sell out fairly quickly.
Membership counts. Some organizations, such as the Theater Development Fund, or the TDF, offer discounts to members for a low annual membership fee. If you are a frequent theatergoer, and you fulfill the requirements to become a member of TDF, then it makes sense to join the organization.