#tkts

The Gangreen Gang all in New York City enjoying fancy milkshake for themselves while in an RV here!

This is my favorite question and the answer is actually not rush or lottery. I never pay full-price for anything unless it's a very rare circumstance (like the Follies concert where I didn't care what I paid so long as I was in that room).

Here's what you need to do:

TDF: $35 yearly membership fee (first year only, after that it's $40) for the best discounts across NYC theatre. Tickets cost between ~$11-$60, depending on the class, and seats are assigned by the box office. I've been able to sit prime orchestra in seats costing hundreds for about $60. It's gotten a little pricier over the years (used to be $54 for a Broadway musical back in 2019, now it's $63, including fees). Membership is closed to specific groups/communities, but nearly everyone is eligible. It pays for itself within a show or two, so it's worth it.

Age-based discounts: the non-profit Broadway companies all have some sort of "30 under X" discount for young theatergoers. Many off-Broadway companies have really great student/under 30 deals too if you just do some searching before you buy.

Second Stage is "30 under 30" and I've found that by buying the season subscription (five shows for $150, so same price as single ticket sales), I get access to much better seating choices. Can be ordered online or at box office (sans fees). The shows are a mix of two Broadway, and two or three off-Broadway, and possibly a small fringe show thrown in depending on the season. Last season it was two Broadway and three off.

MTC is "30 under 35" and consistently has great shows. Can be ordered online or at box office (sans fees). The MTC's theatre (Friedman) has the most comfortable mezzanine seats in all of Broadway. Plush, high back, wide. It's luxury. And the side seating has pretty good sightlines, so there's not a bad seat.

Roundabout has the most generous one at "30 under 40" with their HipTix program, and this also eschews any fees even when ordering online. It's the easiest out of the three, though slightly more restrictive in what seats are offered. Never sit in the rear mezzanine of either the Todd Haimes or Studio 54 theatres. Bad times for very different reasons. Go side orchestra every time.

All three of these programs allow two tickets per show, though some won't allow guests of any age and some will.

Comp Tickets: There are a few paid programs you can join to get access to free (with a $5 per-show ticket fee) tickets. Last year I did TheatremaniaGold for $80, and this year WillCallClub for $15. Neither are really worth it, if you ask me. Most of the shows are the weird little fringe things that aren't selling, and while that may be fun, it doesn't really end up being great if you want to see Broadway unless it's a Big Flop. The Broadway shows I've seen listed include: Bad Cinderella, The Shark is Broken, and Lempicka, to name a few.

I'm also somehow on some comp lists where I get emails every now and then to see shows for free. I cannot tell you how to get on these lists, because I didn't do anything. It just happened. That's how I got to see Kimberly Akimbo so many times for free.

In-Person Box Office: If I have to get a ticket outside of these avenues, I always go to the box office to save on the online fees, which can be anywhere from $9 to $17, and that's money I want for me, not the predatory sites like telecharge and ticketmaster.

NYU ScholasTix: As an NYU alumnus, I get access to the school's discount program, but I've found the tickets aren't that discounted, and the seats are bad. And also you have to go all the way downtown to the NYU box office at Skirball Center to pick them up instead of going to the theatre box office before showtime. I hate it, and it's inaccessible, and the accessibility service is garbage, so I don't do this unless there are no other options (i.e. really popular Broadway play that won't ever be on TDF). Many city schools have similar programs, and you should definitely check because they don't advertise well.

Rush/Lottery: Every now and then, I'll do a digital lottery or rush. I don't do it in person because I just can't with my knees. Also, I have an adult job and can't just stand around the box office at ten in the morning. Shubert Broadway shows use the telecharge rush system. Jujamcyn/Ambassador use Lucky Seat for lottery only. Nederlander shows use Broadway Direct. Then there's the off-Broadway companies and non-profits that use the TodayTix app, and that one's a bitch to win, but hey, it's possible.

Seatplan: If you're like me and see too much Broadway, you can start uploading seat pictures to SeatPlan to earn rewards points. Every 4,400 points, and you get a free $50 telecharge gift card. Depending on how many points you earn per show (between 40-120), you can get a card every 36-50 shows, so that's easily one a year for me.

Other programs I don't use include:

The Theatr app, which is a new thing where people can sell tickets their not using either at cost or discounted, so it's never a situation where resellers profit. Anyone trying to sell fraudulently is immediately removed, and their customer service is pretty quick on the trigger.