Canceled Shows
 

With so many shows closing lately is there a problem with buying discounted tickets online for three weeks away? It would seem that they would announce closings further out than that. We are interested in In the Heights and possibly Avenue Q or August: Osage Country

Pay for the tickets with a credit card and you should have no problem getting your money back in case the show folds.

You're fairly safe with those two shows.
However, should be unexpected happen and either or both close, you'll have no problems getting your money refunded. You would contact the source from whom you bought the tickets.

Many of the legitimate discount sites (Theatermania etc) actually just list the discount codes and then direct you to the official ticket seller for a show (like Ticketmaster).
In those cases, you have no problem getting a refund, except of course they do not refund any service charges.
What service did you use?

Thanks so much for your help. I haven't yet booked the tickets, but usually use either Broadway Box or Playbill. It seems like there is really no need to be concerned.

One general word of caution ANY TIME you buy tickets. Hold onto the receipt that you get with the tickets.
Because of the Broadway theater strike last year, I had to exchange some tickets. I didn't have the receipt and I was given a hard time at the box office because I didn't have the receipt to prove that I was indeed the person who bought the tickets. Eventually, I was able to get the new tickets, but I had a few anxious moments bedforehand!

Yes, definitely keep your receipt. The hard time Howard describes is probably due to an ever-increasing caution on the part of the box office to be sure tickets are legitimate.

IF you purchase tickets through Telecharge or TicketMaster, should the show close, you'll receive automatic credit.

HOWEVER, if you purchase tickets through some brokers, you are refunded only the base ticket price and NOT the markup or booking fees.

On one recent trip to NYC, two of my shows I had bought discount tickets through Telecharge or Ticketmaster were cancelled. I was going to wait to get home and try to get my refund, but they were automatically credited in full to my credit card they were charged on. I didn't have to do a thing.

I seem to recall that if a show is canceled, you get a full refund including service fees.

I agree that the legitimate discount sites and also Telecharge and Ticketmaster carry only minimal risk.

The problem is buying from a ticket broker/scalper. If you pay a large premium for seats (as opposed to buying premium seats directly from the snow) and the show is cancelled, it may be significantly more difficult to get all your money back.