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Computer Science 2018, University of Waterloo

Bo knows Broadway

After watching my first Broadway show in 2016, it’s become one of my favourite things in the world. In this post, I will share everything I know about Broadway, including tips on how to get cheap tickets.

Richard Rodgers Theatre

Hamilton at Richard Rodgers Theatre


According to Wikipedia, Broadway, refers to the theatrical performances presented in the 41 professional theatres with 500 or more seats along Broadway road. To me, Broadway means 2.5 hours well spent and filled with entertainment.

I was introduced to my first Broadway show, Les Mis, when I visited New York during my 2nd internship. It was such a dynamic, unique experience that made me instantly fall in love with Broadway. Since then, I’ve watched 13 musicals and 1 play.

Shows I’ve watched

  1. Les Misérables (April 2016)
  2. Aladdin (September 2016)
  3. Phantom of the Opera (September 2016)
  4. Wicked (October 2016)
  5. On Your Feet! (November 2016)
  6. Chicago (November 2016)
  7. SpongeBob SquarePants (January 2018)
  8. The Book of Mormon (January 2018)
  9. Frozen (March 2018)
  10. Escape to Margaritaville (March 2018)
  11. The Play That Goes Wrong (March 2018)
  12. Mean Girls (April 2018)
  13. Hamilton (April 2018)
  14. Dear Evan Hansen (April 2018)
  15. Come From Away (April 2018)
  16. Dear Evan Hansen (I watched it again) (November 2018)
  17. Waitress (December 2018)
  18. The Lifespan of a Fact (December 2018)
  19. Anastasia (December 2018)
  20. Kinky Boots (December 2018)
  21. The Band’s Visit (December 2018)
  22. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (February 2019)
  23. To Kill A Mockingbird (March 2019)
  24. The Ferryman (July 2019)
  25. Oklahoma! (July 2019)
  26. Be More Chill (July 2019)

My top three would be: 1) Hamilton 2) Dear Evan Hansen 3) Phantom of the Opera.

Best day ever.


How to get tickets

Being a Broadway fan can become a fairly expensive hobby, as tickets are usually $150-200+. The good news is that there are many ways to get affordably priced tickets. With the exception of Hamilton, I paid between $30 to $42 for my Broadway tickets.

1. Purchase directly from the box office

You can accomplish this by going to the show’s website or visiting the box office in person. As mentioned before, you should expect to pay $150+ per ticket. Popular shows are usually completely sold out, so this method may not always be available.

2. Purchase from a reseller

This includes sites such as Stubhub, Ticketmaster, Craiglist, etc. The tickets are often significantly marked up on the face value, so this can end up becoming the most expensive method. In addition, there is always a risk of fraudulent tickets.

3. Rush tickets

Rush tickets originated from the iconic musical, Rent, where tickets for the first two rows were sold for $20 each first come first serve. Some shows offer ‘rush’ tickets, where you can purchase same day tickets for $30-40 when the box office opens. The twist is that it’s first come first serve, so you’ll have to line up.

4. In person lottery

For the most popular shows, you can imagine people arriving several hours before the box office opens to purchase rush tickets. The theaters discourage people camping out, so an in person lottery was introduced. For some shows, 2.5 hours before the start time, you can submit a lottery entry in person. The theatre will announce the results 30 minutes later. These tickets are similarly priced to rush tickets. I would encourage attending at least one in person lottery, as it’s a very fun experience.

Book of Mormon in person lottery

5. Digital lottery

To save a trip to the in person lottery, daily digital lotteries were introduced, so you can submit an entry online. Your chances of winning the digital lottery are directly proportional to the number of people entering. For a popular show like Hamilton, your odds are not great. Trust me, I’ve entered everyday for 2 years. However, for a show like Spongebob, many of my friends have won the lottery.

6. Standing-room only tickets

Standing-room tickets are the cheapest options. They’re usually only available for sale when all of the seats are occupied. You can purchase them by going to the box office in person when it opens. This is how I got to watch Dear Evan Hansen for only $42.

Great views from standing-room only tickets

7. TKTS

The Theatre Development Fund operates three TKTS discount booths, where you can purchase same day Broadway tickets at a discount. They won’t be as cheap as rush or lottery tickets, but they are cheaper than the box office. For the most popular shows, the discount booths will not carry those tickets.

8. TodayTix

This is an online website that sells discounted last-minute tickets. Tickets are more affordable than purchasing directly from the box office.

9. Cancellation line

For any given performance, there are almost always cancellation tickets available at the box office before a performance begins. These tickets are sold at face value, and usually are great seats. I waited in the cancellation line for Hamilton on a Tuesday morning, and managed to grab two tickets for $229 each. It might sound pricey, but it was by far cheaper than the resellers’ price.

Hamilton 6th row Orchestra cancellation tickets


Theatre seating

A Broadway theatre is typically arranged into 6 sections.

  1. Centre Orchestra: Ground level, and center relative to the stage. The best seats in the house. The first two rows might be a bit too close to comfort, so they’re usually offered in the lottery/rush tickets.

  2. Side Orchestra: Ground level, and left/right relative to the stage, respectively. If you’re too far left or too far right, the seat might be labelled partial view, so you’ll miss parts of the show.

  3. Front Mezzanine: The lowest balcony of the theatre. Seat in the center front mezzanine are desired.

  4. Rear Mezzanine: A higher balcony than the front mezzanine. Usually the cheapest tickets in the theatre.

  5. Box seats: Small separated seating area that floats on each side of the stage. Usually partial view.

  6. Standing-room only: Spaces where you can stand. They’re located behind the furthest Orchestra seats. Views might be good sometimes!

Rush and lottery tickets are usually the less desirable seats such as partial view, rear mezzanine, or standing-room only. However, it really depends on the theatre, as I’ve gotten rush tickets that were in the side orchestra and had a full view.

Broadway theatre arrangement. PC: Broadway World

My tips

For all 14 shows I’ve watched so far, I purchased the tickets at a substantial discount relative to their actual price. Here’s a list of tips I have for you to get cheap tickets:

  1. Submit the digital lottery for every show, every day.
  2. Find a Broadway buddy to double your chances because rush and lottery tickets can be purchased in pairs.
  3. Go to in person lotteries on a weeknight rather than the weekend.
  4. Tuesday mornings are great for rush and cancellation tickets.
  5. Monitor the price of tickets on reseller website. There is a possibility the price drastically drops right before the show starts.
  6. Read about the cancellation/rush/standing-room only thread on Broadway World. For example, this thread was super useful information when I tried to get Hamilton cancellation tickets. Or this thread for Dear Evan Hansen standing-room only tickets.

Resources