Everything You Need To Know To Enjoy Theatre In New York

Broadway is an avenue that spans the length of Manhattan from north to south and passes through Times Square, the heart of the city’s theater district. The theater district is located from 42nd Street to 53rd Street, between 6th and 8th Avenue. This relatively small area houses approximately 40 theaters known for their musical and dramatic productions.

What’s the difference between Broadway and Off-Broadway?

Broadway: Broadway theater refers to the large scale, high budget, lush, theatrical extravaganzas that often feature the hottest stars from stage and screen. Tickets range from about $40 to $120 depending on various factors including (of course) the quality of seats. In addition, some shows offer premium seating at up to $450 per ticket. However, with a bit of planning, research, and flexibility, you should be able to secure tickets to your favorite Broadway shows at an affordable price.

Off-Broadway: The difference between Broadway and Off-Broadway theater may be confusing to some first time visitors to New York because several Off-Broadway theaters are actually located on Broadway. Off-Broadway houses can be found throughout New York City. The venues are smaller (they usually range from 100 to 499 seats) when compared to the mammoth seating plans of the big Broadway theaters. The approximate range of ticket prices is $25-$75. Although Off-Broadway productions have much smaller budgets than the multi-million dollar shows of The Great White Way, these budget constraints often result in creative stage design, lighting, and other innovative production techniques. One of the advantages of Off-Broadway theater is that it has the luxury of showcasing new talent and exploring a wider variety of subjects and styles from which mainstream Broadway often shies away.

Off-Off-Broadway: This refers to the much smaller venues scattered throughout the city, sometimes called "black box" theaters. Venues with less than 100 seats are classified as Off-Off Broadway. The productions are very low budget and often extremely creative. Off-Off Broadway often showcases the most cutting-edge, avant garde, experimental productions. Ticket prices range approximately from $15 to $40.

Timessquare.com Theater Tips: How To See a Show

It’s best to do some research first and decide which shows you want to see ahead of time, because some of the most popular musicals and plays sell out months in advance. The best approach is to secure your tickets before you even come to New York. Always try to check a seating chart before you purchase tickets, in order to ensure that you get the best available seats in your price range.

Buying Tickets: You can order tickets online or by phone through TicketMaster or Telecharge, or purchase them in person at the box office at the theater. Box office hours vary but are typically 11am-8pm. For the big Broadway shows, some theaters may offer standing room and rush tickets at bargain prices.

If you were unable to procure tickets in advance, you can often purchase same-day tickets at half price (plus a service charge) at the TKTS booths in Times Square. The usual location is at 47th Street and Broadway, but that site is currently being renovated, so the booth may presently be found on 46th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, at the Marriott Marquis hotel. There is another location at the South Street Seaport. Operated by the nonprofit Theatre Development Fund, the TKTS booths accept cash and traveler's checks only.

Explore the Broadway Ticket Center at the Times Square Visitors’ Center, located on the east side of Broadway between 46th and 47th streets, open 8am to 8pm daily. This is a centralized outlet offering same-day or advance tickets to almost every Broadway show (plus select Off Broadway productions) at regular box-office prices. You can also find up-to-date information about all the Broadway plays and musicals, pick up brochures, and even watch video previews of the various shows.

Ticket Central sells tickets for many Off-Broadway shows. Call 212-279-4200, Monday-Saturday, 1pm-8pm.

SmartTix sells tickets for many Off-Off-Broadway shows. Call 212-206-1515.

Ticket brokers, usually located in major hotels, sell tickets for almost everything on and off-Broadway. Although this route can be quick and convenient, brokers will charge you a much higher fee than Tele-charge or TicketMaster.