I try and go to Broadway shows at least once a week. No I don't necessarily have the money to be seeing a show once a week when tickets are about $100 a pop, so I have found that these tips are helpful when it comes getting discounted tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway show!
1. Rush*
My personal favorite way to get discounted tickets. Started in the 1990's with RENT where people would sit outside the theater and wait for it to open to get discounted tickets. People don't wait all night anymore. However, people are there at 7 AM to get tickets for their favorite show. Not all shows offer this, so make sure you check the rush policies for the show. Why I like this one best is because you get to interact with people who love the show or are interested in the show as much as you are!
2. Lottery*
This has changed drastically over the past few years. It used be two and half hours before the show, you stand outside the theater and wait to see if your name has been called. Nowadays, you can just enter online. It makes it much more difficult to get the tickets because people are just sitting at their desks at work attempting to get tickets. I prefer the in person lotteries only because those patrons are committed to wanting to see the show. Another way this has changed is of course Lin-Manuel Miranda adding his "Ham4Ham show" on two show days. He invites guests to sing for the crowd waiting for their name to be called. Truly has changed the game for outdoor lotteries.
3. Student ID's
You can do so much with your student ID. There are some theaters that have student rush where you need a valid school ID to receive discounted tickets. These rushes aren't as common anymore, but do your research and see where they are available.
4. Online
There are some websites that offer discounted tickets to these shows that make it impossible to get tickets to the show you want. Some include: broadwaybox.com, theatermania.com, nytix.com.
5. TodayTix
TodayTix is an app that was created to offer tickets to shows for that day. There are some lotteries and rushes on this app as well (once again more difficult but it's there). You pick up the tickets about a half hour before the show outside the theater. Convenient and reasonably priced.
6. TKTS
TKTS has a website for memberships (link below) that also offers discounted tickets. There is a discounted price for students for the membership as well. But there are also TKTS booths around Manhattan that sell discounted tickets. These are tricky and filled with tourists that don't know the shows well. The discount isn't always the best but it is still a discount and I would personally make this a last resort.
https://www.tdf.org/
7. Go to the theater itself!
This tip is very hit or miss. Sometimes I go to the theater of the show itself and ask for its lowest price of the day and sometimes (and I stress SOMETIMES) they give me a lower price. I do this usually an hour before the show and they give me a discount since they want to fill the house at that point. Once again, this isn't a guaranteed discount but it is worthy to be on this list.
Go out and support theatre and see as much as you can on a little budget!
*For a list of policies check out http://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-rush-lott... or broadwayforbrokepeople.com!
