Tickets can only be purchased on day of performance
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
No trip to the Big Apple is complete without seeing a show on Broadway. The one thing that might prevent you from going is the cost. $100 (£65) for decent seats is extremely expensive considering the amount you have probably paid to get to NYC. I was determined to go, but not at those prices. So whist in the UK I ploughed through the Internet only to find a rather wonderful little outlet called TKTS in Time Square, which turned out to be my saviour!
*** So what is it all about in a nutshell? *** TKTS is a small company that sells discounted Broadway, Off-Broadway, Dance and Music events tickets, which can only be purchased on the day of performance. The company has been around since 1973 and works in conjunction with the cooperation of The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc., The League of Off Broadway Theatres and Producers, Inc. and The City of New York Parks & Recreation, Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor, Adrian Benepe, Commissioner. By offering last minute availability, the companies make theatre accessible to those who may not be able to afford the best seats at usual prices.
*** How much? *** Tickets are available at 25%, 35%, and 50% of full-price (plus a $3.00 (£1.75) per ticket service charge). We saw The Producers at the St James theatre on 44th Street which should have been $103.00 (£58) for Row N Orchestra stalls (about 15 rows from the front). We paid about $53 (£30) each with all the handling fees, so that is 50% off! A bargain! Most shows are 50% off from what I could see, again it would depend on the day you go and availability.
*** Where can I get my hands on some tickets? *** There are 2 outlets in Manhattan:
TKTS Times Square Theatre Centre is located at 47th Street & Broadway, N.Y.C. Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays for 8pm perfs: 3pm - 8pm Wednesdays and Saturdays for 2pm matinees: 10am - 2pm Sundays for matinees: 11am - 3pm Sundays for evening perfs: 3pm TO CLOSING
TKTS Lower Manhattan Theatre Centre at South Street Seaport (the corner of Front and John Streets, the rear of the Resnick/Prudential Building at 199 Water Street) Hours: Monday - Friday 11:00am to 6:00pm Wednesday matinee tickets are available on Tuesday ONLY Saturday 11:00am to 7:00pm Saturday matinee tickets are available on Friday ONLY Sunday matinee and evening tickets will be sold on Saturday. Sunday: 11am-4pm
Tickets can only be purchased on the day of performance from the TKTS booth in Times Square (49th street end) You can't miss it, it's right in the centre of the road plastered with a red and white logo. In order to get the best seats I would advise you to queue at least an hour in advance. The box opens at 3pm. We arrived on a Wednesday at 2pm and there were 30 people in the queue. I have not been to the other outlet so I have no idea what the queue was like there, but I would imagine it would be quieter. If you are buying matinee performances, the downtown location sells tickets the day before. For example, Thursday matinee tickets must be bought on Wednesday.
Payment is by cash or traveller's check. If you don't have that payment they will send you to the back of the queue! The same shows are sold at both outlets. The ticket systems are both linked and released by the shows' box offices so you will get the same tickets at either booth. In addition to musicals, TKTS sells off Broadway shows, and plays. At the TKTS booth in Times Square, Window 6 is a separate PLAY ONLY line. These productions are highlight with the letter P on the monitors.
*** Shows available *** The shows available differ everyday due to amount of tickets on hand, or if the show is playing that particular day. The listings become available after 3pm on the TV screens in the booth. They are easily viewed when getting to the front of the queue. A few guys walk around whilst you are queuing offering you a listing of what's available at a small cost, but you might as well wait or pop to the front and decided before getting to the booth. On the day I went, these shows were available:
ALL SHOOK UP AVENUE Q BEAUTY AND THE BEAST DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS DOUBT FIDDLER ON THE ROOF HAIRSPRAY LENNON MAMMA MIA ! MOVIN' OUT RENT SWEET CHARITY THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA THE PILLOWMAN THE PRODUCERS
You may also be interested to know that TKTS produces gift vouchers/certificates for any loved ones visiting NYC! They are available in denominations of $25, $50 and $100, and can be purchased from the booths, through the website http://www.tdf.org/tkts/ Or by calling 212.221.0885 ext. 446 (Mastercard, Visa, American Express)
If you can't get to Broadway, there's always the TKT office in Leicester Square that works along the same lines. I have used these before and got 2nd row seats for Some Girls last month!
***To Sum Up*** Experiencing a wonderful Broadway show is a huge part of the whole New York scene, which is a must for anyone visiting. TKTS is a marvellous company that is able to make theatre accessible to the majority of the pubic by lowering normally extravagant prices. I believe this is not only great for the theatre, but great for culture as we are all able to witness live entertainment as opposed to 2D TV. You may have to queue, and unfortunately, you can only get them on the same day, but it is worth it!
***Contacts:*** Website: http://www.tdf.org/tkts/
Phone: (001 if dialling from UK) 212 221 0885
*** How to get to…*** Times Square: you can take the J,M,Z, 2,3,4,5 to Fulton Street or the A,C to Broadway-Nassau.
Seaport: The M15 bus travels down Second Avenue to the Seaport.
