Rushing Broadway Tickets in NYC: An Ultimate Guide

Is it even a trip to NYC without seeing a Broadway show? During my years of living in New York, I’ve been able to see countless Broadway shows, for a fraction of the box office price. How? Rushing, of course! Some of the highlights of my rushing endeavors include scoring a $10 front row ticket to Hamilton, a $30 ticket to The Lion King, a $35 ticket to Come From Away, and so many more! In fact, I can only think of one time that I paid full box office price for a Broadway show, and that was when a friend was on a short visit and we wanted to ensure we got a seat. Rushing is easy to do, if you know how to do it. Here’s my ultimate guide to rushing Broadway tickets in NYC!

What is “Rushing”?

Rushing is the art of snatching up cheap Broadway tickets the day of a performance. NYC theaters will sell day-of unsold tickets at a heavy discount in attempts to get a butt in every seat. The term started when Rent was on Broadway and they offered a promotion where patrons could literally – rush – to the box office to score cheap seats to that day’s show. The plan worked, and thankfully still to this day almost every show on Broadway offers some kind of rush or lottery ticket.

Each show and theater has their own system, so it’s important to check the policies ahead of time. Some still offer in-person rushes where you wait in line at the theater earlier that day, while others offer digital online lotteries where you enter the morning of a show. Both have their pros and cons, and there are always alternatives if you strike out.

Keep in mind that rushing is a gamble, and you may lose. There are also tradeoffs to scoring such a cheap seat, such as not always getting to choose where you sit. Often times, these unsold seats are in random spots across the theater and you get whatever is available. If these drawbacks aren’t dealbreakers for you, then rushing Broadway tickets in NYC is for you!

Digital Lotteries

The easiest and most convenient way to snag cheap tickets is to enter digital lotteries. These have become much more common in recent years, and it makes for a really easy way to enter to win same-day theatre tickets. The catch is, because it’s so easy, there are significantly more people entering so your chances of winning is lower. However, you shouldn’t let that discourage you. I’ve actually “lost” digital lotteries, and then received an email about an hour later saying I won, when the first wave of winners didn’t claim their tickets.

My absolute favorite resource for all digital lotteries is BroadwayForBrokePeople.com. BFBP is all around a great resource for all cheap Broadway seats, but is especially convenient as it links to all the digital lotteries for each show. Click the links in the last column and enter your information on the morning of the shows. Pay careful attention to times though- make notes of when the links open and close, so you can make sure to get your entry in.

Should you win, you’ll receive an email shortly after the lottery closes. Make sure you’re keeping a close eye on your email during the day, because often times you must confirm and purchase tickets within a tight time frame! Some shows will only give you an hour, and if you don’t claim them in that window they are given away to the next person in line.

Some high-demand shows require entry via another app. TodayTix is a popular one and is completely legitimate, and Hamilton even has its own app for lottery entries.

In-Person Rushes

While they are less common than digital lotteries, some shows continue the tradition of in-person rushes. The concept is the same as the digital lotteries, but these require you to be physically present at the box office. There are a couple types of in-person rushes that I’ve experienced.

The first is the typical box office rush. This would require you to stand in line and wait for the box office to open. They then open the doors and one-by-one, you’ll approach the window to buy your tickets. You’ll want to be in the front of the line however, because once they’re sold out, that’s it. If the show you’re trying for requires an in-person rush, check online to see what time that box office opens, and plan to arrive earlier than that to wait in line. The benefit to in-person rushes is often times you have your pick of seats among those that are available. The ticket agent can give you choices on a map and you can snag up the best available for the same price.

The second is an in-person lottery, which is just like the digital ones only more annoying because you have to be present to enter and win. I’ve personally never had success with these, but I know a lot of people who have. It’s all about luck! Box offices will open for in-person lottery entries for a window of time the day of the performance. To enter, all you have to do is show up and fill out an entry form. You can then leave and come back for the drawing that is typically an hour or two later. If they call your name, you can go right into the box office and buy your ticket. I will admit, the thrill of them physically drawing names is exciting, but it’s a big time commitment.

Make a Plan & Manage Expectations

Rushing and doing online lotteries are quite literally, a gamble. You may end up striking gold or striking out. It’s important to remember this and manage your expectations from the start. Scoring a rush ticket is special, and definitely doesn’t happen every time! If it did, wouldn’t everybody just do this then?

Take some time to develop a plan before you go and don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Try ranking your top shows that you’d like to see, and prioritize accordingly. Enter all the digital lotteries before the cutoff time, and know what your end game is. If your #3 show comes through, should you jump on it? Or rather hold out for your #1 show and risk losing both? Plan for these kind of circumstances, because they may happen!

When All Else Fails…

You’ve struck out online and you’ve waited outside the box office only to be told they’re completely sold out. You feel like you’ve failed, but that’s not always the case. Hold on to hope! There are more secrets to rushing Broadway tickets in NYC!

Try visiting the box office a few hours before a show and ask if they have “any rush tickets available.” They may laugh in your face, or you may luck out with a cancellation. It’s happened to me and is far from impossible! When my family was in town one time, we were dying to see the Spongebob Squarepants musical, but struck out on every platform we tried. On a whim, we walked into the box office and asked if they had anything available for us. Turns out, the producer’s guests could no longer make it that night and 4 tickets opened up in the best seats in the house. You never know unless you try!

If you strike out again doing that but are determined to get in, hang out outside the theatre about an hour before curtain. Let the box office know you’re still looking for tickets and to please call you over if any become available. You may not hear until moments before curtain, but it’s worth a try! You could also try to ask if any SRO (Standing Room Only) tickets are available. Not every show offers these, but it’s a good card to keep in your back pocket if you’re willing to stand for a few hours.

More Tips and Tricks

Avoid TKTS. TKTS is a booth in Times Square on 49th street, and attracts hundreds of people every day who think they are getting a bargain on cheap Broadway tickets. That simply is not the case. They may be paying slightly less than the box office, but the savings is not nearly as great as rushing. If you strike out on all your lottery and rush endeavors and it’s your last day in the city, this may be a good last resort. But don’t bee-line it straight here like other tourists.

Get in line early. For in-person rushes, get there well before the box office opens. Lines often form 30-60 minutes before opening time, and maybe even longer for popular shows.

Be prepared to split up. Often times, the only tickets left over to rush are single seats. If you’re in a group of 2 or more, your chances of scoring cheap seats increase dramatically if you’re willing to sit alone. You can’t talk during the performance anyway, so why not split up and catch up at intermission!

Know your bottom line. Sometimes a deal is just not as good as you thought it would be. Establish your bottom line ahead of time and stick to it if you need to. There are always going to be more performances and chances to score a cheap seat, so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work out perfectly and you have to walk away.

Read More: Do This, Not That: Guide to New York City

Megan’s Top Shows

Not a single soul asked, but I’m going to tell you anyway!

If you get the chance, Come From Away has quickly risen to the top of my favorite shows. It will move you to tears in many ways- including laughter! Plus, the music will be stuck in your head for days. The soundtrack is straight fire.

Dear Evan Hansen is a newcomer to the scene, but has made quite the impact. The topic is a heavy, but the story, acting, and singing are beautifully done.

The Book of Mormon is a show I could see over and over (and I have). It’s an instant classic!

When in doubt, classics such as The Lion King and Wicked will absolutely not disappoint, and Hamilton is still worthy of the hype even after all these years.

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