Theatre Buddy

Ticket access — every avenue at a glance

Most shows offer several legal cheap-ticket programs in addition to box-office and resale. Bookmark these:

Same-day / discount

  • TKTS — Times Square, Lincoln Center & Brooklyn (20–50% off, same-day)
  • TDF Membership — deeply discounted tickets for eligible members (teachers, students, union, etc.)
  • BroadwayBox — promo codes for Broadway & Off-Broadway shows
  • NYC Broadway Week & Off-Broadway Week — 2-for-1 tickets twice a year (usually January and September); check the Broadway League or your preferred ticketing site for current dates
  • Kids' Night on Broadway — free kids ticket with paid adult

Industry & papering

  • Play-by-Play — industry papering platform; free and discounted tickets for theatre professionals
  • Audience Extras — long-running papering service; $3/ticket reservation fee, skews Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway
  • Union & guild programs — AEA, IATSE, SDC, and other unions often offer member ticket access directly
  • TDF — also serves industry and arts educators, not just general public

Rush & SRO

  • General Rush — discounted tickets sold at the box office when it opens that day (cash or card, varies)
  • Student Rush — bring a valid student ID; many shows offer it
  • Standing Room Only (SRO) — sold only when a performance is sold out
  • Playbill — Rush, Lottery & SRO Policies — crowd-sourced per-show rush and lottery details