Tickets for shows in NYC
 

I'm planning on a mother/daughter trip to NYC next month for my daughter's 21st birthday, and I'm having trouble getting tickets to Broadway or TV shows. I'm willing to pay a little extra but I'm reluctant to pick randomly off the Web. Does anyone know of any reliable ticketing agencies where I can buy tickets to sold out shows?

What shows are you interesting in seeing? There aren't that many that are selling out, especially non-weekend performances. <BR>As for ticket agencies, New York state does have an anti-ticket scalping law, and agencies operating in the state are limited to what they can legally charge. (Of course, that doesn't mean that some of them won't try to charge more!) I'm not sure what the limits are. Perhaps someone out there can fill you in.

In California, there are ticket brokers where you can get tickets to just about anything for the right price. Are there no such brokers in NY? <BR> <BR>I tried getting tickets to The Producers (I just saw an photo in the paper of the huge line of people waiting every morning to get the 6-8 tickets available the day of the performance), Aida and Lion King. Are there any plays that aren't so popular that you might recommend?

You can always do tkts when you get into town, they are same day have price tickets at 42nd street and also wall street area. I will tell you what I tell every theatre going I read about on this chat room. Consider seeing a ballet or Opera. Not sure if anything is up for August but a performance at Lincoln center is heads and shoulders above most bway productions. On Bway they put out those shows like hot cakes. Many tour bus companies by up the seats and everyone is employed for a time. Lincoln center does everything with grace, beauty and a shear arts sense. This is where NYC's true cultural capital gets it’s reputation from. Go and see what I mean. You won't be disappointed. Splurge on the best seats.

Since this is our first trip to NYC, I was totally focused on Broadway. I didn't even think of the ballet or the opera. I think my daughter would love it. Thanks for the tip!

To check on what operas, ballets, etc., will be performing at Lincoln Center, go to www.lincolncenter.org. I believe you can also order tickets there. <BR>As for show to see, I would assume you were trying for weekend performances, as I believe that some Aida tickets are available for early or mid-week performances. <BR>As for other shows, how old is your daughter? If she is, say, over 18, there are plenty of choices of musicals that are not sold out. These include (in no particular order): The Fully Monty, Kiss Me Kate, Chicago, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, 42nd Street, Contact (only if you like dancing) and Cabaret. If your daughter is a young teen, then perhaps Annie Get Your Gun or The Music Man. <BR>Tickets are definitely available for all of these shows, some at the TKTS half-price booths. Or check out the Playbill website (www.playbill.com), become a member (no charge and it's not a gimmick) and you're eligible to get discount tickets for some shows. <BR>As to you question about getting tickets for "anything at the right price," yes, you can in New York. It's just not legal! (If you want tickets for The Producers, you'd pay 2, 3, 4 or more times the face value of $100 per ticket.)

PS: I just noticed you said you daughter was going to be 21, so forget my question about her age!

Nancy I have lived in NYC for 15 years and only discovered Lincoln Center in the past 2 years. I was so blown away by the quality. I have frequented the West End in London and Bway here in NYC and these rarely come close to what yo will see at Lincoln center. You can sit in balcony for cheap but as I said earlier the splurg is worth it.

Carnegie hall is impressive and they have a tour, balcony also cheap here. Oh year if you hear an opera at Lincoln center they have a digital read out in english right in front of you so that you know what is going on in english. If you are coming from far away and have enough time don't miss a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One of the most important art galleries in the Western Hemisphere. Ok I will stop have fun.

I had my hotel's concierge purchase the tickets for me and it was great. Hassle-free and they know the theaters so they can pick out good seats for you. I don't really think there was a surcharge.

Nancy, <BR>Took my daughter there about a year and a half ago and got a package deal through my travel agent that included Bway theater tickets. We saw the Lion King, stayed at the Millenium Broadway hotel and had a dinner at Tavern on the Green for around $5-600. Travel agents can get tickets when the rest of us can't.

Is there any hope of getting tickets for The Producers?

Frank, here are your options for getting tickets for The Producers: <BR>1. Order them for a 2002 performance. <BR>2. Buy a chair and go sit/wait in line at 8 a.m. at the theater. Either you'll luck in and get tickets by performance time that day or you'll get standing room tickets. <BR>3. Check out ebay. <BR>4. Find a scalper and play at least $250 per ticket. <BR>PS: I'm not joking about any of the four options.