As the annual Tony Awards (10 June) shine a spotlight on the best works on Broadway, many of the top productions will get increasingly difficult to see, thanks to sold out crowds and frighteningly high price tags. But for those in the know, there are still a few ways to see a Broadway musical in New York City without breaking the bank.

Rush tickets

Most theatres hold around 20 discounted orchestra seats for that night or afternoon’s show, even if the performance is sold out. They sell them on a first come, first serve basis to the first 20 people in line when the box office opens.

Lottery tickets

The lottery is a late afternoon event, usually starting between 5:30 and 6:30 pm, and people can enter into the lottery for the 30 minutes prior to the event. Then, theatre employees draw names from the lottery until all 20 tickets for that nights show have been given away. Unlike some rushes, which limit one ticket per person, each lottery winner can purchase up to two tickets, but that also means the odds are slim for larger groups.

TKTS

For a greater choice in shows, the TKTS booth in Times Square sells tickets for 20% to 50% off on the day of performance. Be prepared to queue for several hours for tickets to the most popular shows. The South Street Seaport TKTS booth, located in Manhattan’s Financial District, and the downtown Brooklyn location often have shorter lines and allow customers to tickets for buy next-day matinee performances.

Standing room only

Finally, if you don’t mind standing during a performance, head to the box office an hour before the show for standing room only tickets at the back of the theatre. Playbill.com lists which shows offer standing room only, and the tickets are only available if the performance is sold out.

A Broadway musical ticket is perfect when you get it at a much lower price. Tell us about your latest Broadway experience!

Source: BBC Travel

Image: Low Fares