what do foreigners need to know about broadway

[eastcoasttheatre]

Posted: 9/24/18 at 7:53pm

thoughts 

 

ps I am a foreigner

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 9/24/18 at 8:10pm

Don't fall prey to the ticket sellers in your hotel. Most hotels will have a "buy show tickets HERE" counter but 95% of the time those tickets are the highest cost seats. Look up discount codes, buy from discount sellers, or even buy directly at box office where you'll pay just as much as you will from the places at the hotel but at least have a bit more control over the locations of your seats and you don't risk a "convenience" charge add on.

Example: My mother sat next to a very nice pair of foreigners when she went to see "Beautiful." She got her tickets at TKTS for 30% off. They were sitting directly beside her, closer to the center even, and got their tickets at their hotel because they didn't realize. They asked her how much she paid and when they figured it all out, their tickets were 40% more then hers because they were full price PLUS a number of fees piled onto them.

Updated On: 9/24/18 at 08:10 PM

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 9/24/18 at 8:25pm

While not “broadway”

Dont eat at chain restaurants in times squre. (Ex. Applebees) unless you wanna pay a lot of money

Dont grab anything someone trys to give you in times square.

And if you are using a taxi know the street names, some taxi drivers take advantage of tourists

Also unlike other countries, playbills are free! dont be scared to accept one or grab one, stage door is also free where you can meet the actors, although not a lot of them do it!

Whenever Im in the city, I try to see shows through TKTS stand, while they are not the most popular shows its sitll a trip to the theatre.

Have a great trip!

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 9/24/18 at 8:57pm

Times Square is PACKED before and after shows. Use nearby side streets instead to avoid the jostling masses.

At the theatre, thank the usher for directing you to your seat. No tip is expected.

Do not bring food or drink into the theatre. Though you can quietly sneak in a small water bottle or an intermission gumdrop.

Many of the Broadway houses are small. I often sit in the last few rows of the uppermost level to watch my budget, and still have a marvelous time.

Hope you are planning a visit soon!

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 9/24/18 at 9:34pm

Bwayfan292 said: "Dont grab anything someone trys to give you in times square."

THIS ^^^ THIS is a BIG one! And not just in Times Square, ANYWHERE in the city. These crooks have been getting bold. Last time I was in the city, they tried to pull this one me inside the H&M store. Also going off this one, DON'T take pictures with any of the "characters" hanging around either.

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/24/18 at 10:50pm

You can't videotape or record anything while seeing a Broadway show. 

 

[geoffreyC]

Posted: 9/25/18 at 6:21am

It's a city of a million dreams and a million schemes.  

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 9/25/18 at 6:55am

The theater marquees are fascinating, at least for me they are, as well as the exterior architecture of the buildings themselves. Make it a point to take pictures of them along with all the other Broadway sights. There was a thread I started several months ago with generic questions along this line...

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1108521#5032480

 

Updated On: 9/25/18 at 06:55 AM

[Dave28282]

Posted: 9/25/18 at 7:06am

Theatres in Europe are very classy and food and drinks are not allowed in the auditorium, only in the foyer. People usually dress well for a theatre visit. It is considered a special night out.

On Broadway, it's like going to the cinema, sneakers, sweaters, popcorn, drinks, ice cream, everything is allowed. Snacks are even sold in the auditorium itself.

Also, outside of the US it is common to have a few drinks after a show in the foyer and theatre bars. It is part of the experience. On broadway you are literally pushed directly from the auditorium to the street. Often there is even a magic door that opens and in the blink of an eye you find yourself standing in the rain between police sirens without even having your coat on yet.

The whole mentality is different, the USA is much more of a consumers society, constant food and dumping groups of people as fast as possible to bring in the next, or for the employees to go home as soon as possible is the most important thing there.

It's like food and shows are consumed and devoured without even realizing the value of them. That can come as quite a shock when you are from, for example, France or Italy, where it's all about taking the time, small bites, gently chewing your food accompanied by a glass of wine and piano music on a terrace, watching people walking by and be watched, while thousands of other people do the same thing, sitting on  a terrace on the street from one of the countless restaurants, with a plate of Gamba's marinated in garlic and white wine, some grapes and various cheeses.

Same goed for theatres, I once went to see The Lion King in Scheveningen, Holland, at the Circustheater and I was welcomed in a very classy way and escorted to one of the terraces, had lunch at Le Cirque, one of the    facilities within the theatre, and after the show I was treated with some delicious African snacks in another bar with cosy seats. There were 400 people talking about the show, sharing their thoughts and experiences while drinking wine and champagne, while the photographs of the stage show surrounded us and the logo of the show was processed in the napkins and coasters. That is a theatre experience.

So beware that Broadway is the opposite.

Updated On: 9/25/18 at 07:06 AM

[theaterwiz414]

Posted: 9/25/18 at 7:39am

You can not record performances on stage, and there is absolutely no exception to this rule (I got into an argument with someone because they said they paid x amount of money so they should be allowed-um, NO(. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/25/18 at 10:37am

That depends how "foreign" you are. Is English your native language? Do they have Broadway-style live musicals where you're from? (Are you coming from Korea/Australia/Germany/etc.?)

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/25/18 at 2:57pm

The people trying to hand something to you on Times Square was so weird the first time. And those Disney characters are as annoying AF. 

American audiences are very enthusiastic before the show, during the show, and after the show. 

They will literally stand for a box step, it's totally disorientating. 

From my experience ushers are rather rude, they don't really engage, the woman at Hello Dolly was like a sergeant and wanted to know my parents history (exaggeration for effect) before handing over a playbill. 

I agree with the poster food around times square is poor I did like the Dive Inn Diners and Dives Guy's place but portions for one would feed a family for a week. 

Breakfast is shocking, coming from a UK/Irish background, they don't do sausage or bacon. Breakfast seems more sweet based. I did have a delicious omelette in a diner near Macy's. 

What i loved was walking at night in the blocks around ties square. I felt safe and the lights and window displays are beautiful. 

I have mostly pre-booked, got rush for King and I and M.Butterfly. 

I really enjoyed seeing shows off-broadway at second stage and playwrights horizons. 

I have yet to use the subway I just walked to take in the atmosphere. 

 

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 9/25/18 at 5:57pm

Gizmo6 said: "Breakfast is shocking, coming from a UK/Irish background, they don't do sausage or bacon. Breakfast seems more sweet based. I did have a delicious omelette in a diner near Macy's."

FWIW, sausage and bacon are both really common American breakfast foods. I think it's probably just a coincidence of where you went that those weren't choices. 

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 9/25/18 at 8:46pm

Had a wonderful breakfast at Junior’s, albeit a little expensive, there’s  picture here in this thread...

Places to Eat in Times Square

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1111539#5079787

 

...and great doughnuts at The Donut Pub...

Best Pastries on Broadway 

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1111538&page=1

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 9/25/18 at 9:09pm

Depending on your budget and which shows you want up see, I’d probably recommend a combination of going to the discount booth at the Times Square TKTS Booth (look for the red stairs) and doing rush and lottery and standing room line for other shows that aren’t listed at TKTS. That is how I saw most shows on my first few trips to NYC and I had such a great time. Now many lotteries are digital so that makes it easier to enter although probably harder to win. I will list the link below regarding lottery, rush and standing room policies for each show. There is also an app for TKTS, but you cannot buy tickets through it. It will show you what shows are currently listed and the amount of discount being offered. There are four booths, but the Times Square booth is closest to the Theatre District. If you look at the show offerings (on the app) for Lincoln Center it will show you the actual ticket prices being offered at all the booths. Junior’s is more affordable than most places in Times Square, but other than their breakfasts, I find their food generic. If you’re going to splurge a bit, I recommend Sardi’s. It’s not groundbreaking cuisine, but very good, the service is superb, and the decor is a theater-lover’s Dream. They have a web-site if you are intrigued. 

http://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-rush-lottery-and-standing-room-only-policies-com-116003

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/25/18 at 9:32pm

eastcoasttheatre said: "thoughts
 

Don't buy tickets from Broadway.com 

From where?

Buy tickets discounted from TKTS in Duffy Square-Times Square ticket booth with the stairs, Ticketmaster, Telecharge or from the Theater and if the hotel that you're staying at sells tickets they will charge a hefty fee.

You only need to arrive 15-20 minutes prior to the curtain time just don't be late and leave at least 2 hours for a meal and getting to the show your attending. When are you coming...what are you planning on seeing and have you purchased tickets yet?


ps I am aforeigner"

 

Updated On: 9/25/18 at 09:32 PM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 12:57am

Yes, avoid Broadway.com. They’re a reseller and they’re extra fees are atrocious.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 6:04am

JudyDenmark said: "Gizmo6 said: "Breakfast is shocking, coming from a UK/Irish background, they don't do sausage or bacon. Breakfast seems more sweet based. I did have a delicious omelette in a diner near Macy's."

FWIW, sausage and bacon are both really common American breakfast foods. I think it's probably just a coincidence of where you went that those weren't choices."

Hi Judy, sorry I meant we just have very different sausage and bacon. Our bacon is called back bacon the round (eye) part very lean with a tail of fat opposed to American bacon which we call streaky bacon. Then our sausages are different, I felt the American were more like mini hot dogs. Irish breakfast sausages would have a lot of spice and English sausages would have a high meat content and herby. 

So just different.  

[Lot666]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 9:06am

Gizmo6 said: "those Disney characters are as annoying AF"

To be clear, those filthy, obnoxious "characters" in Times Square are in no way associated with the Disney company. They are similar to the shady "characters" one may encounter in spots along the riverfront in London.

Updated On: 9/26/18 at 09:06 AM