Whether you are in New York City for a business trip or a long weekend, seeing a live performance on (or off) Broadway is always a highlight. But getting tickets to the shows you want to see requires a lot more time, effort and in many cases, money, than you may have available.

While you can always hand over show-ticket responsibility to your hotel concierge, you’ll pay top dollar (plus tip!) for that kind of service. But if you’d like to save a little money and do it yourself, here are four tips: 

1> Tourists and theater lovers seeking discounted tickets to see the best Broadway shows usually head to well-known TKTS booths located in Times Square, South Street Seaport or Brooklyn. For availability and tips for avoiding lines (but not for ticket sales), check out the TKTS website, or download its app first. TKTS offers heavily discounted tickets (up to 50% off) for same-day and next-day performances of some of the most popular shows, but waiting in line can take hours (especially during peak summer or winter season). Who has time for that?

2> Check out StubHub’s New York City Last Minute Service Center at 1412 Broadway & 39th St. There you will find computers that you can use to find ticket deals up to 20 minutes before curtain.  Ticket prices often drop last-minute so if you have the flexibility and are willing to take a chance, you could end up with really cheap tickets (or no tickets at all). There’s an even better chance of saving money if you’re willing to buy individual tickets. People usually want to sit with their group, but if you’re solo or willing to split up for the performance, it will pay off in savings. After you buy tickets on the computer, a StubHub employee will print them for you on the spot so you can rush off to the venue- most are nearby. (TripAdvisor forums show that some folks have even been able to score Hamilton tickets here.)

3> Use discount ticket sites that can help you get a bargain without leaving your hotel room. Sites or apps like Goldstar and TodayTix offer last-minute Broadway play and musical tickets up to 50% off. In addition to Broadway shows, these websites offer tickets to other performances in the city like opera and comedy shows.

4>Don’t forget that you can also drop by the theatre on the day of the show and ask about same-day rush tickets, which can go for as little as $25 each. Call the theatre to find out when its ticket window opens and get there early. This is a great idea for solo travelers since most of the really cheap seats are singles or in some cases, standing room only.  (This strategy has worked well for me on my frequent solo trips to London, too.)

UPDATE: A spokesperson for Vivid Seats reached out with this helpful advice:  I work for Vivid Seats, the largest independent online ticket marketplace with a similar size of StubHub. If you want to see an in-demand Broadway show, Vivid Seats is ideal – tickets don’t sell out and you can pick exactly where you want to sit. You don’t have to settle for a show just because tickets are available – we have tickets when you want them. We would be thrilled if you would link to us as an additional resource for Broadway tickets. If you should choose to, the most relevant page is here. https://www.vividseats.com/theatre/broadway/

Tell us about how you scored great seats to a Broadway play. What did you see? How much did you pay? How was the show? 

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