I've booked flights and hotels for a wee trip to NY at end of July. Started to look at theatre tickets and they are so expensive. Is it better to turn up to the box office on the day with my Equity Card and hope for a chance? It's just a sad homo alone looking for single tickets to a weekend of Broadway. Advice please so I don't waste money.
I have no idea if bringing an Equity card to the box office would help you - probably others can answer that. I think it can get you a membership to TDF which can give you discounts; check here: https://www.tdf.org/nyc/24/Eligibility-Requirements
You can also look on Broadwaybox.com for discounts; I like them because you can pick your seats in advance.
Of course there is also the TKTS booth in Times Square for same-day ticket discounts.
Rush for tickets! I live in VA, and when my friend and I come up for a weekend theatre binge we are constantly checking TDF and asking around about how the rush has been for shows.
I agree with the above posters - just go in for rush or maybe lottery. Not sure that Equity would help.
One other consideration is that it's much easier to rush for shows that aren't doing as well at the box office. If you absolutely want to see a very popular show, you may be better off buying in advance.
I have used http://www.broadwaybox.com/ in the past to get some very good discounts. My experience has been these tickets usually are main floor in the 1st 4 rows to extreme sides.
Last time I went I booked weekend shows with the family. But, Wed & Thurs I saw 4 shows with Rush or Standing room tickets all roughly $35. My Rush tickets for Rocky were 2nd row just in from the aisle so, I was closer to the fight scene than those that had premium seats on stage. For Bullets over Broadway I was 1st row 3 seats in from the left. I am 6'2" so had no problem seeing over the lip of the stage, but shorter people probably would. For Violet I was in the last row of the balcony. For Beautiful, I did stand room for a matinee. We stood behind the last row of the balcony, but for the 2nd act the ushers found all us seats. I got seats on the main floor in the 8th row, but moved to the 9th row, because the other standing room guy that was put next to me was 6'4" and the 2 5' women behind us asked to swap seats so they could see.
Just check ahead of time if the shows you want to see have Rush policies. Some, you have to get early morning of the show, so plan ahead and be there early ahead of the others as they often have limited rush, others go on sale an hour or 2 before the show. I did rush/standing room the week before Memorial day. Not sure how many people will be getting in line early in summer when school is out. Or if fewer shows will have rush tickets in the summer.
And it really depends on WHICH shows you are hoping to catch. Some will not have any discounts.
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