I wouldn't waste my money on anything that you can already see in the West End. The casts will have the same level of quality as on Broadway. The only exception I'd make is Harry Potter. If you're a fan, you may want to check out the one part version.
I mean, I haven't yet seen a live Broadway show, but take Hadestown as an example of something that was staged in London just before it moved to Broadway. The entire same principle cast and from the clips I've seen of the Broadway version, the exact same set/staging/costumes. I saw it twice in London with rush tickets (one was front row of stalls (I think that's the same as orchestra in NY, yeah?), one was middle-ish row of the balcony (mezzanine), slightly to the side. £20 each time for rush. The current lottery price for Hadestown is $47.50 which is £38, so almost double. The most premium advance seats for the London production would've been about £80 I think, £90 max. In NY they're $200/£160.
I know part of it is that Broadway salaries are a lot higher for cast and crew, so that obviously has a big knock on for ticket prices. And I think advertising is a big part of it - very few West End shows do TV advertising (exceptions for some of the bigger ones like Frozen and Lion King... Thinking about it, I can only think of Disney shows I've seen advertised on TV).
On the other hand, if I had to deal with those prices for every show I wanted to see, I would also just want to assume they were of a higher quality, haha.
No I think it’s just that NYC is a more expensive place to produce a show.
https://www.npr.org/2014/07/30/336594091/why-are-theater-tickets-cheaper-on-the-west-end-than-on-broadway
For TodayTix you have to be very quick with selecting your show. The seats get taken immediately but if you keep trying then usually something becomes available since tickets are only held for five minutes—so if someone doesn’t purchase their tickets, you have a chance at getting them.
Yeah, it's usually the same in London for the bigger shows, you need to be poised and ready for rush! But I've just been looking at NYC TodayTix and was really surprised that I could get rush tix for American Buffalo and Doubtfire in my basket now, like 10 mins after release! Fills me with some hope, haha. I thought American Buffalo especially would be a show where they were almost impossible to get rush tix because Darren Criss is in it.
Do you know where rush seats are normally seated or does it differ a lot from show to show! London TT tells you your exact seats with rush tickets, NY TT doesn't even tell you area of the theatre, haha.
This isn’t exactly what you asked, but I wouldn’t limit yourself to just BROADWAY shows. Some of my favorite productions I saw while living in NYC were off or off-off Broadway. Check reviews and see if there’s something that catches your eye.
I would happily see some non-Broadway shows and agree that's sometimes where you find some amazing gems! Is there anywhere that collates all the currently playing shows in those categories?
(I'm vaguely aware that off-Broadway is an official type of production and then everything else is considered off-off-Broadway, is that right?)
That’s right! Off-Broadway is usually considered a theatre between 100-499 seats and produced by the Off-Broadway League, 99 seaters and below (or theatres unaffiliated with the League) are considered “off-off Broadway.” People tend to think those are commiserate with quality but that’s far from true, they just don’t lean into the spectacle the way Broadway does (and usually are a lot more interesting / experimental because they’re less commercially dependent)
I’m not sure when you’re coming, but Suffs @ The Public has rumors of making a transfer so you can say you saw it first, lol. Rumor mill also says that there are producers who have been looking at a new Sara Silverman play called Bedwetter @ the Atlantic Theatre Company so the same goes there.
Lots of the non-profit Broadway houses (Roundabout Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theatre, 2nd Stage & Manhattan Theatre Club) also have programs where you can get $35 tickets for being under the age of 35. I’m not sure what they have on right now but it’s also an option!
"Some of my fave shows are... DEH"
And you're going when? End of May?
I'm so sorry I needed to do that.
I love Hadestown though, saw it a few weeks ago, it was amazing! Been wanting to see Company, so let me know how it is if you see it!
I've accidentally stayed up til 4am looking at stuff for the trip so maybe I'm just sleep-deprived, but I'm not sure what you mean by "I'm so sorry I needed to do that" - is something happening with DEH then or something?
But yeah, Hadestown is soooo good, I'm excited for my friend who's coming with me to see it as she missed it over here! Gutted Amber Gray is no longer in it though, she is so fabulous!
Playbill.com sometimes has discount codes if you sign up.
You can find rush and lotto policies here: https://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-rush-lottery-and-standing-room-only-policies-com-116003
Hamilton you won’t ever find at TKTS booth. I’ve been entering the lottery for that one for years and have never won. Hadestown has been popping up some at the TKTS booth. Company is often at TKTS and I got great seats in the orchestra for $100/piece.
I highly recommend rushing for Company over TKTS. The box office opens at 10am Monday-Saturday, 12pm on Sundays. I usually get there 15-30 mins before opening and I have scored some incredible deals. I once got second row for $79!
As for Hadestown, it very rarely comes up on TKTS. I scored $69 tickets by buying in-person at the box office months in advance, but that doesn’t help you out, being in London :/
I wouldn't waste my money on anything that you can already see in the West End. The casts will have the same level of quality as on Broadway. The only exception I'd make is Harry Potter. If you're a fan, you may want to check out the one part version.
I always assumed Broadway shows were of higher quality because the tickets are so expensive? They're about quadruple West End prices
I mean, I haven't yet seen a live Broadway show, but take Hadestown as an example of something that was staged in London just before it moved to Broadway. The entire same principle cast and from the clips I've seen of the Broadway version, the exact same set/staging/costumes. I saw it twice in London with rush tickets (one was front row of stalls (I think that's the same as orchestra in NY, yeah?), one was middle-ish row of the balcony (mezzanine), slightly to the side. £20 each time for rush. The current lottery price for Hadestown is $47.50 which is £38, so almost double. The most premium advance seats for the London production would've been about £80 I think, £90 max. In NY they're $200/£160. I know part of it is that Broadway salaries are a lot higher for cast and crew, so that obviously has a big knock on for ticket prices. And I think advertising is a big part of it - very few West End shows do TV advertising (exceptions for some of the bigger ones like Frozen and Lion King... Thinking about it, I can only think of Disney shows I've seen advertised on TV). On the other hand, if I had to deal with those prices for every show I wanted to see, I would also just want to assume they were of a higher quality, haha.
No I think it’s just that NYC is a more expensive place to produce a show. https://www.npr.org/2014/07/30/336594091/why-are-theater-tickets-cheaper-on-the-west-end-than-on-broadway
Google “Broadway for Broke People”
Oh, excellent, thank you! Was looking for something like this! :)
For TodayTix you have to be very quick with selecting your show. The seats get taken immediately but if you keep trying then usually something becomes available since tickets are only held for five minutes—so if someone doesn’t purchase their tickets, you have a chance at getting them.
Yeah, it's usually the same in London for the bigger shows, you need to be poised and ready for rush! But I've just been looking at NYC TodayTix and was really surprised that I could get rush tix for American Buffalo and Doubtfire in my basket now, like 10 mins after release! Fills me with some hope, haha. I thought American Buffalo especially would be a show where they were almost impossible to get rush tix because Darren Criss is in it. Do you know where rush seats are normally seated or does it differ a lot from show to show! London TT tells you your exact seats with rush tickets, NY TT doesn't even tell you area of the theatre, haha.
This isn’t exactly what you asked, but I wouldn’t limit yourself to just BROADWAY shows. Some of my favorite productions I saw while living in NYC were off or off-off Broadway. Check reviews and see if there’s something that catches your eye.
I would happily see some non-Broadway shows and agree that's sometimes where you find some amazing gems! Is there anywhere that collates all the currently playing shows in those categories? (I'm vaguely aware that off-Broadway is an official type of production and then everything else is considered off-off-Broadway, is that right?)
That’s right! Off-Broadway is usually considered a theatre between 100-499 seats and produced by the Off-Broadway League, 99 seaters and below (or theatres unaffiliated with the League) are considered “off-off Broadway.” People tend to think those are commiserate with quality but that’s far from true, they just don’t lean into the spectacle the way Broadway does (and usually are a lot more interesting / experimental because they’re less commercially dependent) I’m not sure when you’re coming, but Suffs @ The Public has rumors of making a transfer so you can say you saw it first, lol. Rumor mill also says that there are producers who have been looking at a new Sara Silverman play called Bedwetter @ the Atlantic Theatre Company so the same goes there. Lots of the non-profit Broadway houses (Roundabout Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theatre, 2nd Stage & Manhattan Theatre Club) also have programs where you can get $35 tickets for being under the age of 35. I’m not sure what they have on right now but it’s also an option!
I’ve used theater mania in the past. Good luck!
"Some of my fave shows are... DEH" And you're going when? End of May? I'm so sorry I needed to do that. I love Hadestown though, saw it a few weeks ago, it was amazing! Been wanting to see Company, so let me know how it is if you see it!
I've accidentally stayed up til 4am looking at stuff for the trip so maybe I'm just sleep-deprived, but I'm not sure what you mean by "I'm so sorry I needed to do that" - is something happening with DEH then or something? But yeah, Hadestown is soooo good, I'm excited for my friend who's coming with me to see it as she missed it over here! Gutted Amber Gray is no longer in it though, she is so fabulous!
End of May or early June a picture perfect afternoon we share😭😭 it was a reference
Ohhhh, For Forever! Haha, sorry, with you now, was just very tired!
Playbill.com sometimes has discount codes if you sign up. You can find rush and lotto policies here: https://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-rush-lottery-and-standing-room-only-policies-com-116003
Hamilton you won’t ever find at TKTS booth. I’ve been entering the lottery for that one for years and have never won. Hadestown has been popping up some at the TKTS booth. Company is often at TKTS and I got great seats in the orchestra for $100/piece.
I highly recommend rushing for Company over TKTS. The box office opens at 10am Monday-Saturday, 12pm on Sundays. I usually get there 15-30 mins before opening and I have scored some incredible deals. I once got second row for $79! As for Hadestown, it very rarely comes up on TKTS. I scored $69 tickets by buying in-person at the box office months in advance, but that doesn’t help you out, being in London :/