Going to Broadway shows is a staple of New York City. However, many perceive attending them as a costly entertainment activity. Today, WUNY will teach ways to enjoy a Broadway show without breaking the bank.

According to the Broadway League, the average broadway show ticket averaged $128 as of the Spring of 2024 as reported by ABC News. The probable reason for the high prices are rising production costs, celebrities headliners, and simply supply and demand.

Here are the some of the ways you can save a lot of money on ticket prices.

To start with, the most favorite way to snag a discounted ticket is the rush option. There are offerings of up to 75% discount. The best way to acquire them is by going to a theater box office window at the day of the performance right when it first opens. If you are flexible on the show options, the majority of them offer these tickets. It’s very common to see lines at theaters doors in the first hours of ticket sales. If one show is sold out, you can try a different one. They are within the theater district in the Midtown area of Manhattan.

Another way of purchasing rush tickets is through the app TodayTix.com. Obviously, there are fewer options but it’s very convenient as it can be done from your phone. You can easily set up an alarm for when rush ticket sales start. The playbill.com website shows the full list of shows offering the rush ticket options.

The second option is the lottery, which is available exclusively online but not all shows offer it. Basically, there are 3 websites to go to: broadwaydirect.com, luckyseat.com and todaytix.com. The user has to select the lottery option on each website and then select the show and specific performance date and time. If contemplated, the lottery winner will be notified via email. It’s very important to check messages at the specified times because the window to purchase the tickets after each drawing is very narrow.. It’s worth noting that the winner doesn’t get to choose their seats. For both lottery and rush tickets there is a limit of 2 per person.

We would like to mention one specific lottery for the show Hamilton. The only way to participate on their lottery is by downloading their app in order to enter to win. Entering times are every Friday and drawings occur on Thursdays at 11am ET. If contemplated, tickets will only cost $10. 

Most of these lotteries offer discounts for the shows even if you don’t win. It’s usually more than lottery or rush prices but way less than regular prices.

Lastly, the TKTS booth is another option. With locations in Times Square (under the red steps) and Lincoln Center, you can walk in and get tickets for the same day performances with up to 50% discount. There’s usually a line but it’s also worth trying. TKTS is part of the TDF (Theater Development Fund), a non profit organization that offers memberships for qualifying individuals in order to purchase Broadway and off Broadway at a discount. TKTS doesn’t require a membership.

There you have it! Be sure to check out these options and have a lot of fun watching your favorite Broadway shows.