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How to get a cheap Broadway musical ticket in New York at $30?

August 12, 2022

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NomadHer

August 12, 2022

New York is an expensive city to travel to. If you are interested in musicals, you want to know all of the tips to find cheap Broadway tickets with a tight budget. Because the normal price for most musicals is over $150. When I’ve been to New York a few years ago, I found ways to see famous Broadway musicals at affordable prices. I got each ticket for around $30 for Wicked(in-person lottery ticket), The Chicago(rush ticket), and The lion king(online lottery ticket). On the first try, I got a chance to see these world-famous Broadway musicals at a special price! Here are tips to get cheap Broadway tickets for $30.

✳️ How to get a cheap Broadway musical ticket in New York at  $30?

1️⃣ Rush ticket

Rush ticket is usually sold on the morning of the day that the musical is performed. You have to visit the theater box office in person to purchase it. Rush tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The locations of seats are determined by the box office. Many rush tickets provide seats that have quite a clear view to enjoy musical enough.

👉 What do keep in mind about the Rush ticket?

  • The range of the rush ticket price is around $30-45.
  • You need to bring your ID card(Most theater box offices request to show it) and cash to pay(Some allow only in cash)
  • Check the maximum number of rush tickets available to buy. Most Broadway musicals allow you to buy only 2 rush tickets per person or just 1.
  • The number of rush tickets that they provide in a day is less than 20 tickets. So, if the ticket that you want to see opens at 10 am, you need to arrive box office of the musical at least an hour before just in case.

Here is the website where you can see prices, how to buy discounted tickets and how many tickets they sell for famous Broadway musicals in New York.

2️⃣ Buy a discounted ticket at the TKTS booth

TKTS booths are run by a non-profit organization called TDF (Theatre Development Fund) which has supported bringing the performing arts to everyone since 1968.  It sells tickets on the day of the performance only which is held day time and night time. There are 2 TKTS ticket stands in New York.

  • TKTS Times Square: It is located "under the red stairs" in Father Duffy Square at Broadway and 47th Street. This is the most accessible booth for people because of its’ perfect location in the center of Times Square.
  • TKTS Lincoln Center: It is located in the David Rubenstein Atrium at 61 West 62nd Street.

👉 What do keep in mind when buying a discounted ticket at the TKTS booth?

  • The discount rate is from 20% ~ to 50%. Considering the face value for tickets is usually over $150, it can be expensive compared to rush tickets or lottery tickets.
  • They don’t sell top 10 Broadway musicals. Because tickets at the TKTS are the last unsold tickets.
  • You must buy tickets in person. so you can wait in line.
  • They usually sell seats called Orchestra(first floor). For example, the Mezzanine means the second floor, Balcony means 3rd floor.
  • You can check information about a day of the program and discounted rate through the TKTS app or below website.

3️⃣ Lottery ticket(In-person / Online)

Applying for a lottery ticket is a great way to see a famous broadway musical in New York at a special price. But not all musicals sell lottery tickets. but still, you can find many great musicals selling lottery tickets like The lion king, Wicked, Aladdin, and so on. Don’t forget this - In New York, you can get lots of chances to enjoy its various cultural event if you want! So who knows if you can have luck?

👉 What do keep in mind to get a lottery ticket?(In-person/ Online)

  • The range of the lottery ticket price is around $30-45.
  • Each musical has a different time to apply for a lottery ticket(In-person/ Online). So check this below website for detailed information.
  • For an online lottery ticket, if you win the lottery ticket, they send you an email with a payment link. In this case, you have to pay within an hour through that link. Also, check your spam box just in case. The mail sometimes goes to the spam box.
  • For an In-person lottery ticket, You have to go to each musical’s ticket box in person to apply and wait for the result. Some request to pay only in cash, not a credit card. so just in case bring some money to pay for your ticket.
  • Direct page to apply for some musicals
  • You can see more musical lists here to apply)

4️⃣ NYC Broadway Week

Without a doubt, New York is the city that offers the most dynamic and cultural experience in the world. Every Sep, In the city, NYC Broadway Week has been held. You can get two tickets for the price of one for famous musicals like Wicked, The lion king and so on! In 2022, NYC Broadway Week will be held from September 6-25. The list of shows will be announced on August 16, when tickets go on sale. You can see the list and make a reservation with the promotion code below the website.

PS. If you are a student, recommend bringing your student card and asking the ticket box before your purchase the ticket. The above ways to get a ticket already offer discount rates, but just in case, ask if there is a student discount rate and compare them to which one is the best choice for you!

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✳️ The top 5 Broadway musicals list in New York

If you are looking for women travelers who hang out and watch musicals together, It is a good way to find your friends in NomadHer community now!

1️⃣ The Lion King

  • Address of theater: Minskoff Theatre - 1515 Broadway betw. 44th and 45th Sts
  • How to get a cheap ticket? : Digital Lottery
  • 👉 Click here to try
  • Price: $30
  • Tickets Per Person: Limit 2
  • Special Policy: Winners will be informed via email, and have 1 hour to pay for the ticket. You can pick up a ticket at the box office no sooner than 30 min before performance time with your ID.

2️⃣ Wicked

<Digital Lottery>

  • Address of theater:  Gershwin Theatre - 222 W. 51st St. between Broadway and 8th Ave.
  • How to get a cheap ticket? : Digital Lottery. For the daytime show, the lottery will open the day before at 10 am and close the day before at 4 pm. The evening shows, will open the day before at 8 pm and close the day of the performance at 11 am. Winners will be informed and have an hour to pay for the tickets. then will get an e-ticket through email.
  • 👉 Click here to try
  • Price: $49 - $59
  • Tickets Per Person: Limit 2

<In-Person Lottery>

  • Address: In the Gershwin Theatre breezeway
  • Price: $30. You have to go in person. The lottery usually opens two and a half hours before the show. Winners need to pay for the ticket only in cash.
  • Tickets Per Person: Limit 2

3️⃣ Aladdin

  • Address of theater: New Amsterdam Theatre - 214 W. 42nd St. betw. 7th & 8th Aves.
  • How to get a cheap ticket? : Digital Lottery opens at 7 pm the day prior to the performance. it closed at 8:30 am on the day of the show. Make sure to check your mailbox after closing if you make it.
  • 👉 Click here to try
  • Price: $30
  • Tickets Per Person: Limit 2
  • Special Policy
  • : Guests must be 18 years of age in order to enter. Tickets must be purchased via credit card within an allotted 60-minute. Bring your ID.

4️⃣ Chicago

  • Address of theater: Ambassador Theatre - 219 W. 49th St. betw. Broadway and 8th Ave.
  • How to get a cheap ticket? : Rush ticket. You need to go in person when the box office opens on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Price : $49
  • Tickets Per Person: Limit 2

5️⃣ The phantom of the opera

  • Address of theater: Majestic Theatre - 247 W. 44th St. between 7th and 8th Aves.
  • How to get a cheap ticket? : Digital Lottery. Submit the form below website. The lottery opens at 12:00 AM Eastern Time the day before the show and closes at 3:00 PM the day before the performance.
  • 👉 Click here to try
  • Price : : $40 (plus $4 service fee per ticket)

If you want to see more information about Broadway musicals in New York, check this website.

✳️ Free concerts in the parks of New York

If you are traveling in New York, always keep in mind that the city is full of opportunities to enjoy music. One of the famous free concerts is “Broadway in Bryant” which has been held every summer in Bryant park by 106.7 LITE FM. During summer, they bring the best Broadway musicals for free to people! So hundreds of people visit the park to enjoy their lunch with music! On 2022 summer, The Lion King, Aladdin, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Wicked, Moulin Rouge and so many musicals are waiting for you!

👉 You can see the information about the schedule 👉

💡 Related Articles on South Korea

😀 Is New York safe for solo female travelers?

❤️ New York; a local's guide for safe solo female travel!

✈️ Are you planning to New York?

Join other solo female travelers heading to New York and meet local women!  Meet women travelers on NomadHer App and ask questions about traveling solo to Madeira, Portugal. You can join the NomadHer community by downloading the app. Also, You can see have a quick look at what’s going on right now by following  @nomad_her

More about NomadHer :

NomadHer is an app for female globetrotters to encourage solo travelling safely. NomadHer has a vision of empowering women through travelling.

To join the community of female globetrotters, you can download NomadHer App on IOS & Android. Follow NomadHer on Instagram: @nomad_her.

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