This Sunday I'll be arriving in NYC around 12:30, and hope to see a matinee. I know most of the matinees this Sunday (holiday weekend) are at 2 pm, not 3 pm (as I usually do). This time around, I haven't bought anything in advance - I thought I'd take a chance and walk up to the box office and see what best seats they have at the best prices (trying to get rid of them within an hour or so of curtain). I think I've read here that many theater-goers have had luck this way.
Any suggestions of which shows I'd have the most luck with (meaning, the BO would be happy to get rid of unsold good seats at a discount last minute) ?
The ones on my list which I haven't seen yet, but wouldn't mind seeing this time, are: Beautiful, Mormon, Play / Wrong, Evan H, and Wicked. (Unless there's another show which someone advises and I can get good seats at a discount last minute).
If this does not seem like a good idea, any other suggestions for me to get seats for Sunday matinee at a discount? I've checked a few sites, and the only discounts I'm seeing are for the nose-bleed section or 'partial view'.
I had great luck a year ago with StubHub and Dear Evan Hansen. On the morning of October 4, 2018, there were over 70 tickets listed on StubHub for that night's 7PM performance of DEH.
As expected, availability and prices dropped throughout the day.
I held out until 6:50, when the $199 orchestra seats dropped to $32.
I don't have experience to share about buying day-of tickets, but most of those shows (and more) have a digital lottery, so I'd recommend entering those.
TKTS is probably your best bet for Beautiful and Play / Wrong, or check Stubhub. I saw Hadestown and Moulin Rouge for cheap using Stubhub about an hour before curtain. The box office does not normally discount tickets an hour before curtain just to get rid of them (perhaps moving premium seats to normal priced seats they will do). You could try a rush ticket to Beautiful, but by 1 I am guessing it likely would be gone.
Since Beautiful is closing on Oct 27, you may want to prioritize that show over the others if you have future trips planned. I think you should be able to find tickets for it and The Play That Goes Wrong on TKTS. I've been in the DEH box office right before curtain and they were still selling at full price.
Also enter the digital lottery. There is nothing to lose by entering. I believe all your listed shows, except Play/Wrong offer digital lottery. You just enter online and you'll get results the latest by 9AM the day of, some post results earlier.
Goldstar has seats in the last 2 rows for many performances of The Play That Goes Wrong for $25. With fees, it's probably $35. It's a small theater so it's only 13 or 14 rows back and it's a great view. It's a cheaper price than TKTS and you can buy them well in advance so you don't have to bother with TKTS getting them the day of.
I took the advice to see Beautiful and so glad I did! Thank you fellow forum poster.
TKTS had nothing early afternoon but I went to the box office and got sixth row center orchestra for face value - no extra fees. They had just released those seats. Glad I got the ticket!
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joined:7/22/17
joined:
7/22/17
Posted: 10/10/19 at 8:57pm