Question regarding Broadway shows

[LisaR]

I am wondering how far in advance one can normally buy tickets for Broadway plays? DD and I will be going to NYC for her 16th b'day in May and plan on catching four shows. We only have one weekend in May that we can go so I want to make sure to get tickets when they are released. Nothing is available at the moment.

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

I'm not sure but I think it's pretty far ahead. What dates are for sale now? Think of it as CRT ressies, trying to calculate what day to call Disney Dining. If December (or whatever) is on sale now, when will May be on sale? You can always call the box office and ask.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Two people buying four Broadway show tickets is a load of cash.

I suggest you try this for at least a couple show:

http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56

This service sells unsold seats. It's hard to get tickets at TKTS for newer shows, especially popular ones, but it's a great way to go for buying classic productions that have been around for years.

Hope you and DD have a wonderful visit in NYC. Happy Sweet 16th to her!

 

[Imzadi]

What's the show? Some Broadway shows are only limited engagements. Then you have some shows like The Lion King, which will run forever.

Also be aware, if NYC has another successful terrorist attack, (the alleged car bombing attempt was actually ON the street of 5 Broadway theatres,) the shows may close right after, due to tourists canceling because of fears of coming to the city. Many Broadway shows closed after 9/11.

If that happens, it could take 6-8 weeks for refunds to be issued to you. That could tie up your funds to switch and see other shows that are still available. Four shows is a lot of funds to have tied up.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks for the info. We will likely end up catching three shows but will try for four. The plan would be to fly in on a Friday and catch an evening performance. On Saturday on want to do a matinee and an evening performance. If our flight left late enough on Sunday, we might be able to catch a matinee but that may not happen.

DD wants to see Phantom for sure. That is the main purpose of the trip (well that and the fact that it will be her B'day). We have been to NYC and, I am not trying to offend anyone, but it just isn't our favorite place. We love the shows but after that, it just isn't our cup of tea. I would rather go for the shows, get a bite to eat and call it a day.

After Phantom, she has a whole list to choose from so I am sure we will be able to find two or three more. We have seen a few Broadway productions and performances in Chicago and Toronto so I am just trying to encourage her to pick things we haven't seen before.

Mamma Mia, West Side Story, Jersey Boys, Billy Elliot and Mary Poppins are all possibilities.

Maybe this is a crazy idea and I should rethink it. I certainly have plenty of time!

 

[Kimberly]

Really depends on the show and the venue. I've gone that day to buy tickets for a Broadway play and not had an issue.

 

[Imzadi]

Really depends on the show and the venue. I've gone that day to buy tickets for a Broadway play and not had an issue.

Yes, I would never pay full price now for Phantom tickets. I saw the original production 20 years ago, with Michael Crawford. But, I wouldn't pay that price now. Phantom & Mama Mia are both probably at the TKTS line on the day of the shows. I think I saw Mary Poppins listed for tonight, when I walked by and looked at the board. I don't remember if West Side Story was there.

Jersey Boys is pretty much sold out as the tickets get released, so you will have to keep checking often.

 

[LisaR]

It sounds like TKTS might be a good bet since a lot of the shows we are looking at are already considered "old." I don't mind taking our chances since we are open to many different shows. Thanks!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Yes, I would never pay full price now for Phantom tickets. I saw the original production 20 years ago, with Michael Crawford. But, I wouldn't pay that price now. Phantom & Mama Mia are both probably at the TKTS line on the day of the shows. I think I saw Mary Poppins listed for tonight, when I walked by and looked at the board. I don't remember if West Side Story was there.

Jersey Boys is pretty much sold out as the tickets get released, so you will have to keep checking often.

I was just about to write this same info, so ditto.

 

[NYUBwayBaby]

It's a bit too early to buy tickets for next May... They're only selling til December right now. I would check in late August, just to see what has been released. I'm not sure how Phantom releases tickets.

Shows that closed after 9/11 didn't close right after- they mainly closed due to, well, lack of tourists wanting to see said shows. Don't worry about things like that.

You can search online for discount codes. Broadwaybox.com is a pretty good site. I wouldn't recommend paying full price for Phantom, but I'm also not a huge fan of the show in the first place. Also! If price is not as big a factor, if you sit orchestra do NOT sit under the mezzanine. You do miss some stuff. And Phantom will most likely be playing when you're in the city- like Wicked, it shall be playing til the end of time.

Actually, with the exception of West Side Story, all of those shows will mostly like still be playing. WSS is a bit iffy... it's summer and was under 70% capacity last week. And it has to make it through the Jan/Feb slow down. Mary Poppins was at 85% (but they really don't have to pay rent, as Disney has a long term lease for the New Amsterdam) and Phantom was at 86%, but it long ago returned it's investment and Love Never Dies is supposed to open in the spring, meaning Phantom "phans" will likely come back for a "double feature," of sorts.

New shows will open before you arrive, too. Love Never Dies is supposed to, as is How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying- a revival of a 1960s Pulitzer winning musical comedy staring Daniel Radcliffe. If you don't know too much about theater Broadway.com is a good way to keep track of news. I just wouldn't buy from them.

 

[LisaR]

It's a bit too early to buy tickets for next May... They're only selling til December right now. I would check in late August, just to see what has been released. I'm not sure how Phantom releases tickets.

Shows that closed after 9/11 didn't close right after- they mainly closed due to, well, lack of tourists wanting to see said shows. Don't worry about things like that.

You can search online for discount codes. Broadwaybox.com is a pretty good site. I wouldn't recommend paying full price for Phantom, but I'm also not a huge fan of the show in the first place. Also! If price is not as big a factor, if you sit orchestra do NOT sit under the mezzanine. You do miss some stuff. And Phantom will most likely be playing when you're in the city- like Wicked, it shall be playing til the end of time.

Actually, with the exception of West Side Story, all of those shows will mostly like still be playing. WSS is a bit iffy... it's summer and was under 70% capacity last week. And it has to make it through the Jan/Feb slow down. Mary Poppins was at 85% (but they really don't have to pay rent, as Disney has a long term lease for the New Amsterdam) and Phantom was at 86%, but it long ago returned it's investment and Love Never Dies is supposed to open in the spring, meaning Phantom "phans" will likely come back for a "double feature," of sorts.

New shows will open before you arrive, too. Love Never Dies is supposed to, as is How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying- a revival of a 1960s Pulitzer winning musical comedy staring Daniel Radcliffe. If you don't know too much about theater Broadway.com is a good way to keep track of news. I just wouldn't buy from them.

Great info! I bookmarked the site and will check there frequently. Thanks!

 

[Imzadi]

Shows that closed after 9/11 didn't close right after- they mainly closed due to, well, lack of tourists wanting to see said shows. Don't worry about things like that.

Actually, with the exception of West Side Story, all of those shows will mostly like still be playing. WSS is a bit iffy... it's summer and was under 70% capacity last week. And it has to make it through the Jan/Feb slow down.

It's semantics to say that shows closed because lack of tourists wanting to see said shows. They didn't come to the city. Period. Hence, they didn't want to see the shows. Many closed within 3 weeks to a couple months after 9/11. A good friend was the lead in a show that closed and a couple other acquaintances who had smaller parts were in shows that closed.

Plus, all of Broadway was closed for quite a few days directly after 9/11. Matthew Broderick, who was starring in The Producers, at the time, said the show just wasn't important in light of our city losing all those people. In the days directly following 9/11, we actually didn't know how many people were lost. The estimates were actually higher back then, 50,000 was thought on the day of 9/11.

But, finally after that event was the only thing being televised on TV over and over, people actually needed the distraction going to a show would bring. Matthew said he wasn't sure how he was going to make it through the first night back on.


I do agree with the possibility that WSS may not be here next spring.

I see you go to NYU. That's my old alma mater. What school are you attending?

 

[alisonwonderland64]

I agree with pretty much everything that NYUBwayBaby said (and as a side note, yay NYU! I go there as well ). To add to the discount codes recommendation, I also suggest signing up for the Playbill Club on Playbill.com (http://www.playbill.com/club/join/), since it's totally free and gives you a nice variety of discounts to both Broadway/Off-Broadway shows and things like restaurants and such. When it comes to the Disney on Broadway shows I also like using mousesavers.com.

If you decide to go the discount code route and try to avoid paying full price, most discounts are announced a couple months in advance at most, so I'd recommend holding off on buying your tickets until a bit closer to your trip. I don't think you should have any issues getting tickets for your shows close to your trip (or even the day-of at the the TKTS booth). The only ones that I'd try to book farther in advance are Jersey Boys and Billy Elliot, but who knows if that'll be different a year from now. And if you're flexible with what shows you're willing to see, it'll be worth it to hold off in exchange for cheaper seats. I go to see shows very often and usually end up with good seats, and I generally buy my tickets a couple days in advance.

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

Definitely wait until day of for TKTS! They even had some Spring Awakening tickets when it was still pretty popular (and you know, open), and i got my Legally Blonde tickets through them for like $30. Plus you could always try for the lotteries if any of your shows happen to have them. I got front row $25 for the Drowsy Chaperone last time i was there.

 

[NYUBwayBaby]

I see you go to NYU. That's my old alma mater. What school are you attending?

CAS. I finally settled on a political science major

Also- does your daughter have a high school ID? Some shows have student tickets you can get day of. The more popular shows don't always do, and some have a lottery system that's sort of hit or miss... I rarely win when I really want to see a show. I only tend to win when I enter on a whim.

Anyway, it's another possible option. The seats aren't always the best, but it is the cheapest way I've seen a show. Playbill does a good job at keeping the list of student policies up to date. Just google "broadway student rush" and it will be the first result listed.

 

[donac]

I would wait. I went to see Mary Poppins a couple of weeks ago. I got the tickets about 6 weeks before we went and got a great discount through the website mentioned. As long as it is not Mother's Day weekend you should be good waiting that long except for Jersey Boys

 

[LisaR]

Thanks so much everyone! It looks like this trip will be much cheaper than I anticipated. I wanted to prepare in advance because we never had any luck with same day tickets in the past but I now realize that was because we were seeing brand new shows. DD isn't overly picky. I think the theme here is something musical and there are plenty of options. Thanks!

 

[donac]

I got orchestra seats for MP for a Sat matinee for $83

 

[LIDisneyFan]

First-don't worry about terrorist attacks tieing up your money. ANYTHING can happen in life-if you plan ahead there is always a risk.

Phantom (never a favorite of mine), Jersey Boys, Adams Family, and Wicked are generally not available at TKTS. You may get lucky, but if it is a must, buy in advance. Also, those shows don't (at least now) have discounts at Broadwaybox.com (which is the BEST website for discounts-never buy without going there first).

MOst other shows (except next year's hits) will be available there. At a steep discount (we were in NYC 2 weeks ago and saw "Promises, Promises", got the tickets 2 days in advance for $85 and were thrilled withour seats.

Bottom line-concentrate on the "musts". After that, save some $ by waiting a couple of months before the trip (May discounts should be out in Feb or March) and booking through Broadwaybox.com

Hope this help -and have a great time!

PS_ Don't discount off-broadway. There are several off-broadway theatres literally as block off broadway that have veru high quality (and differnt types of) shows at lower prices. Saw Avenue Q for $50.

 

[LiberalPrincess]

First-don't worry about terrorist attacks tieing up your money. ANYTHING can happen in life-if you plan ahead there is always a risk.

Phantom (never a favorite of mine), Jersey Boys, Adams Family, and Wicked are generally not available at TKTS. You may get lucky, but if it is a must, buy in advance. Also, those shows don't (at least now) have discounts at Broadwaybox.com (which is the BEST website for discounts-never buy without going there first).

MOst other shows (except next year's hits) will be available there. At a steep discount (we were in NYC 2 weeks ago and saw "Promises, Promises", got the tickets 2 days in advance for $85 and were thrilled withour seats.

Bottom line-concentrate on the "musts". After that, save some $ by waiting a couple of months before the trip (May discounts should be out in Feb or March) and booking through Broadwaybox.com

Hope this help -and have a great time!

PS_ Don't discount off-broadway. There are several off-broadway theatres literally as block off broadway that have veru high quality (and differnt types of) shows at lower prices. Saw Avenue Q for $50.

I am not a Phantom fan either, however whenever I go by TKTS there are almost ALWAYS Phantom tickets available. And when we have visitors in town and they want to see a show, Phantom has always been available, it is usually just some of the new, hot shows that are a bit trickier to get.