Ellen

Read an article recently that said there are now places you can buy NYC theater tickets online. Does anyone know what they are and which is the best.

Donna

www.playbill.com lists all the shows. Within the description of each show is how to buy tickets. Tickets for nearly all shows can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or Telecharge (one or the other, depending upon the show). You can sign up (no charge) as a Playbill member whereupon you will receive regular e-mails of "news", along with reduced ticket price offers. These offers are generally sent from one-three months ahead of the show dates and are valid for a certain period of time. If there are specific shows you want to see and you'll be in NYC only a few days, it's always best to get tickets way, WAY, ahead of time. It's a good idea, if you can, to follow the "news" as to what is opening and when. New shows are generally a "smash" or not. The best time to look for tickets is after the initial reviews have been published (while the show is still in "previews" and before it has "opened" and the word has spread). Tickets for any show that is a "must see" will be difficult to get immediately. Prices go up through "other" resources when the Tony nominees are announced and again when the Tony awards are presented. When Tickemaster and Telecharge are sold out for your dates, there are lots of other resources: see http://www.citidex.com/940.htm You can also wait until you arrive and head for the NYC Visitor's Office or the TKTS booth.

Ellen

Thanks

Statia

I've bought from Ticketmaster.com with no problem. Just be sure to bring along the exact credit card that you use to purchase on line.

Madge

Statia, you raise an interesting point about bring the exact same credit card. What if you're buying the tickets as a gift for someone else? How would that work?

Statia

Madge:

I honestly don't know. I suppose I would call Ticketmaster if that were the case. I have shown up with the wrong credit card before, however, and my tickets were eventually found. It took some time, though. I guess the gift recipient having just the credit card number might work, but I'd still check Ticketmaster by phone.

madge

Thanks for your response, Statia.

Donna

You don't need the exact credit card unless, when ordering, you have your tickets held at "Will Call", rather than having them sent to you. They've never asked to see my credit card. But, it probably depends upon the box office, and they might. When purchasing tickets for others, do this by phone, as opposed to ordering them online. My dad has never had a problem picking up tickets at "Will Call" with just his name.

Patrick

I have been asked to see the credit card when I've picked up the tickets. Once they refused to give them to me insisting that it wasn't the card used to charge them. In a moment of desperation I pulled out my business card which did match their records. I'm not sure why I had charged them on that card -- just a mistake. But clearly if you are picking the tickets up, you may need to have the card with you.

Sam

By the time you pay all the ticketmaster fees (approximately $7.00 per ticket), I've gotten much better seats for the same amount of money by using ebay.com If you live in the NYC area, going to the box office is certainly the best. I live in Pennsylvania though so going to the box office is not possibe...I try to buy only good seats and with my luck, usually only the last row of the balcony is available. I have had very good success buying hard to find tickets on ebay at prices of 1/2 what some of the ticket sites charge. I can't relate to the "will call" situations as I always have my tickets in hand prior to the performance. Some swear by the 1/2 price NYC ticket booths but I haven't had very good luck (guess I'm shopping for the wrong plays)., plus I HATE waiting in lines!! I think it all will depend on what play you're interested in.