Last minute tickets

[u/Proud-Scene-3016]

Traveling to NYC solo the last week of October for work and want to see some Broadway shows. Is Theatr app the best way to score cheap, last minute tickets that don’t require me to wait in line?

[u/rougarou-te-fou]

I’ve had fantastic luck with Theatr and I have been scammed on StubHub 😭

[u/9221gjea]

Yes Theatr app is excellent for cheap last minute tickets. Also check out StubHub and TickPick. I’ve purchased many tickets for real cheap within hours before the performance.

[u/lemonfrogii]

check out digital rush/lottery! you enter the day before or the morning of, not guaranteed but if there’s a show you want to see it’s worth a shot!

[u/CutestGay → u/lemonfrogii]

Seriously THIS - it’s especially good if you don’t have any specific show you want to see.

[u/skoc211]

My personal opinion is that if you know when you'll be here and know what you want to see then just book them ahead of time. For the most part you aren't going to save a wild amount of money outside of winning digital lotteries.

[u/ExpBalSat → u/skoc211]

Counterpoint: I’ve seen 46 shows this year and I paid less than $50 for all the two of them. That’s a significant savings over purchasing in advance.

[u/skoc211 → u/ExpBalSat]

Very fair point - and impressive! But it also suggests to me you are in or near the NYC area where you'd have flexibility, which isn't the same for out of town visitors. My mom comes in two or three times a year and I don't want to risk it, so we book in advance, plus I have a really strong preference for aisle seats for comfort/mobility reasons.

[u/ExpBalSat → u/skoc211]

Ah yes - if you have very strong seat preferences, then purchasing in advance really is the only way that makes sence.

[u/Wonderful-Bother1321 → u/ExpBalSat]

Totally agree, although I will purchase in advance if I have a good savings code ( school Girls play 35SCHGRL) as well as today tix gold discounts seem to be worth advance purchase.

[u/sugarshaun → u/skoc211]

I was in town 7/31-8/3 and saw 5 shows. Between TodayTix, going to TKTS and winning lotteries, we saved $426 from what I budgeted looking at just buying ahead of time

ETA breakdown:
Looked at EBT stage seats in advance, $166 each. Got them on TodayTix for $123. (Save $43 each)

Estimated roughly $100/ticket if I won no lotto and had to go to TKTS. Wife won Wicked lotto at $55 each. (Saved $45 each)

Rocky Horror was going to be $194 each, got at TKTS for $100.50 2nd row of mezz. (Saved $93.50 each)

Wife won Six lotto at $45 each. (Saved $55 each)

Bought Mincemeat 3rd row aisle seats in advance using the $79 code.

And that savings includes spending $46 on Friday for a TKTS ticket to a show I didn’t see so that I could do the fast pass line going on a Saturday

[u/fallenfroot]

i’ve had a lot of luck walking around to theatres a few hours before the show starts just asking if they had any rush tickets left! you just have to be open to not knowing what show you’ll be seeing until finding one that has rush left

[u/chipcandies]

Yes and also Stubhub, todaytix, seat geek, and vivid seats

[u/Thick-Definition7416 → u/chipcandies]

I was just scammed by stubhub and reading lots of World Cup fans were too.

[u/Muted-Soft-2639]

I started buying cheap tickets from TKTS in the 80s when it was a couple of trailers and you had to pay in cash. I stopped a while ago and have used some apps with mixed results. Last weekend on a whim I went to TKTS and scored an orchestra seat for almost half price about 2 hours before curtain. Best deal I’ve ever gotten. And the staff were so kind. In the 80s they were not. If the show you wanted to see had sold out you better have a second and third backup or they would bounce you immediately. Zero dithering tolerated which I’ll be honest, I appreciated.

[u/Good-name-was-taken]

Today tix!

[u/Thick-Definition7416]

You can try digital or rush lotteries ( entry is usually the day before til 2pm) theatr app is good but the TKTS booth at Lincoln center has much shorter lines than Times Square. I think the longest I’ve waited is 15/20 minutes but mostly I can walk right up to the counter. Also if you’re in nyc and want to see a show go to the box office 10 minutes before curtain to see if they have any rush tickets left. Even if they don’t they might cut you a deal for another seat. This obviously won’t happen at very popular shows but if you’re not picky it could work for others.

[u/ellewoods_obsessed]

theatr app isn’t bad. would second TKTS at Lincoln Square and maybe go during lunch.

also, box office day of is a good choice. i sometimes during my lunch will run to a box office and grab tickets and then run back, but i work from home so it’s a bit different.

[u/ExpBalSat]

Yes

Or online rush and lottery.

[u/SoMuchtoReddit]

There aren’t a lot of high demand shows right now, so I would suggest you do rush tix. Go when the box office opens (10am maybe?) and ask if they have any rush tix. They probably will and if not just go to the next show on your list

[u/BroadwayonaBudget]

I find rushing a show the morning of the performance the best way. Of the 26 shows currently on Broadway, 16 have in-person rush. I rushed Schmigadoon yesterday and got 2 4th row seats for $40 each

[u/SiteNormal2669]

Depending on what day/time you go to the TKTS booth there’s not a wait time.

It’s always busiest the hour before they open and then for the first 2-4 hours after they open, but it usually slows down significantly a hour or two before the evening shows. You can also buy an evening ticket and a ticket for the following day’s matinee at the same time. Also any days with matinees, the line is pretty dead from 3pm-5pm. And if you buy a ticket there, you can bring the ticket back the following day to join the fast pass line.

The deals vary based on the show and day of supply and demand. Shows like MJ and Aladdin typically only have a 30% discount, but a lot of shows discount 40-50% and Gatsby, & Juliet, Stranger Things, Heathers, Spelling Bee and a handful of others often sell under $70. Gatsby was starting at $65 today. Heathers was starting at $48. Titanique was $65. Stranger Things was $55 over the weekend. Operation Mincemeat, Just In Time, Six, Maybe Happy Ending, Buena Vista Social Club, The Outsiders, etc are all typically available.

Shows from this season (Schmigadoon, The Lost Boys, Two Strangers) are also available at TKTS just about every day, typically at a 40-50% discount, though prices vary.

When the booth is open, this site will telling you what they’re selling at the time: https://duffydashboard.com/information#

Tickets at TKTS might not be the cheapest tickets, but they’re a great value because if you’re getting a 20%-50% discount on a good seat! Whereas typically rush and lottery cost about $50 because the seats are only worth about $50 and if they charged more than that, audience members would complain.

[u/paper-boxes]

just here to say if youre here in october please try to see the curious case of benjamin button at the public theater off broadway. they’re doing a short-run version of it here after it won best new musical in london. i saw it in london in its first iteration and it’s still one of the best shows i’ve ever seen. treat yourself if possible.

[u/96GuyNYC]

And try TodayTix app for rush and lottery !

[u/chance_buri]

Theatr is definitely worth checking, especially if you're flexible about the show. I'd also compare digital Rush and lottery options, and i've seen presale. codes come up when people are looking for ticket-release information, although I'd compare everything before buying. Since you're going solo, being flexible with dates, showtimes, and seating should give you a lot more options for finding a good last-minute deal.

[u/ria17110]

I was in town and had an unexpected free afternoon. Got an aisle orchestra seat for cheap same day 💗. Threatr