Seren Morris
The Ultimate NYC Broadway Guide
Seeing a Broadway show is a must for anyone visiting New York City. But with 41 theatres showing various plays and musicals, not including off-Broadway shows, where do you start? From The Lion King to Mean Girls, there's a show for everyone. But deciding which show to see isn’t always easy. Plus, considering how expensive Broadway tickets can be, planning to see a show can be an overwhelming experience. However, to help you make the most of your trip to New York City, we’ve put together The Ultimate Broadway Guide. It’s full of top tips including...
- The most popular Broadway shows
- Broadway shows new for 2019
- How to get cheap Broadway tickets
- Broadway vs Off-Broadway
- NYC attractions for theater fans
- And more!
Save on admission
Remember, many popular New York attractions are included with the New York Explorer Pass. You could save up to 50% on admission vs gate price.What is Broadway in New York? What’s the difference between Broadway and off-Broadway?
A Broadway show is a play or musical presented in one of 41 theatres with more than 500 seats along Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. An off-Broadway show is a play or musical presented in a Manhattan theater with between 100 and 499 seats. An off-off-Broadway venue has fewer than 100 seats.How to get cheap Broadway tickets?
Broadway tickets can be expensive. However, there are lots of ways to get cheap or discounted Broadway tickets. From the Broadway lottery, rush tickets, ticket apps, and booths, this is how to save money on Broadway tickets:Today Tix app
Today Tix is a free app for purchasing discounted theater tickets. However, to save even more money on Broadway tickets, make the most of Today Tix’s rush tickets and ticket lottery options.-
How to get rush tickets?
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How to win the ticket lottery?
TKTS Booth
Visit a TKTS booth at Times Square, South Street Seaport or the Lincoln Center for same-day tickets discounted up to 50%. Head here as early as you can as the lines can get long. If you want to see a play instead of a musical, join the ‘play express’ line which is often quicker than the general line. Bear in mind that every ticket is subject to a $6 fee, but the discount should be great enough that you will still make a saving.Visit New York during Broadway Week
If you plan your trip to New York for Broadway week, you can save tons of money on Broadway tickets. For a short time in January and September, you can get 2-for-1 Broadway tickets for popular plays and musicals. The next Broadway Week is September 3-16, 2019. Check the Broadway Week website from mid-August to get your tickets.Don’t buy from street vendors
There are some people selling tickets on the street, especially in popular tourist areas like Times Square. Be wary of street vendors as the tickets may be fake or fraudulent. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t risk wasting your money and only buy tickets from reputable sources.What are the most popular Broadway musicals?
If you can’t decide which show to see, consider choosing from this top five list. They’re popular for a reason! The highest-grossing Broadway musicals currently running are:- The Lion King
- Wicked
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Chicago
- The Book of Mormon
What are the new Broadway musicals and plays?
There are also many newer plays and musicals that are enjoying incredible success on Broadway. Some popular Broadway plays and musicals that have only started in the last few years include:- Hamilton
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Dear Evan Hansen
- Come From Away
- Mean Girls
- Waitress
What Broadway musicals are new in 2019?
If you’ve already seen the most popular Broadway musicals, don’t worry – there are plenty more to choose from. Loads of musicals have started on Broadway in 2019, including:- Oklahoma!
- Tootsie
- Moulin Rouge
- Hadestown
- Beetlejuice
Attractions for theater fans
New York City has plenty of attractions for theater fans. If seeing a Broadway show isn’t enough to satisfy the theater fan in your group, make the most of these theater-themed attractions:-
Radio City Stage Door Tour
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Broadway & Times Square Walking Tour
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The RIDE
In summary
We hope this guide has helped you decide which Broadway show to see and that our top tips will help you save money on Broadway tickets. Remember, admission to the popular New York attractions mentioned in this guide are included with the New York Explorer Pass. You could save up to 50% on admission vs gate price.Share your trip with us
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and share your adventure with us. Tag us at @GoCity and use #GoCityPass on your travel photos to keep us up to date with your New York vacation!