How to Get Rush Tickets to a Broadway Show

There is nothing like the experience of seeing a Broadway show, but show tickets can be very pricey. Some people cannot afford a normal ticket, so the theaters created "rush" tickets. These low-cost tickets are awarded either through a lottery process or on a first-come, first-served basis. Follow these steps to snag an affordable seat to a Broadway performance.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• ID
• Cash
• Comfortable shoes

1. Decide what Broadway show you want to see and which day you will try to get tickets. Call the box office and inquire about the theater's rush policies. Some theaters sell rush tickets only to students and require a valid student ID card.

2. Find out if the tickets are given out in a lottery or on a first-come, first-served basis. If the theater has a lottery, find out when the box office starts giving out the rush lottery cards. If it is first-come, first-served, find out when the box office opens.

3. Arrive at the Broadway theater box office 15 minutes before they hand out lottery cards. For first-come, first-served, ask the box office what time you should arrive to get a good place in line.

4. To enter the rush lottery, write your name and the number of tickets you want on your card. You will be given only one card, and you can buy up to two tickets.

5. Cross your fingers. If it is a rush lottery, the drawing will be held about 30 minutes after cards are given out. If you are one of the lucky names drawn, you will then line up at the box office window to buy your tickets.

Tips & Warnings

• You can only get accurate times by calling the theater box office. However, in most cases the rush lottery cards are distributed about 2 1/2 hours before the show.
• Call the box office to verify, but most Broadway box offices open at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday and noon on Sunday.
• Most rush tickets can only be purchased with cash.
• Don't show up extra early or camp out for rush lottery tickets, because everyone in line has the same chance of winning tickets.
• Don't forget that rush tickets are only available on the day of the show; you can't purchase them in advance.

Resources

• Learn more about rush tickets at Talkin' Broadway.
• See a current list of Broadway shows at Playbill.

[eve19]

on 3/28/2009 Why do you recommend "arriv[ing] at the Broadway theater box office 15 minutes before they hand out lottery cards"...? 15 minutes before the drawing itself is sufficient. I've never seen cards "run out" though some shows say they might (e.g., Shrek, though that's one of the easiest lotteries out there). It just doesn't make sense to recommend standing around for 45 minutes waiting for the drawing when that's completely unnecessary!