TKTS booth
 

We are a group of six trying to get tickets to some shows during our visit to New York. Here are a few questions for the experts on the TKTS booth(s).<BR><BR>1. Is it possible to buy SIX tickets to a show? We don't need to sit together. Anyone have experience buying more than one or two tickets?<BR><BR>2. Are the seats any better than if I just buy what's available now (two weeks ahead)?<BR><BR>3. Is the line so much shorter at the downtown location that it would be worth our time to go there instead of Times Square, considering we're staying in midtown?<BR><BR>We're thinking since we're a large group we could take turns standing in line, while the rest of the group does shopping, etc. We'd LOVE to see Movin' Out, or we'd be happy with Cabaret, Chicago, Thoroughly Modern, etc. I've found their website listing what they've sold recently. Looks like Saturday evening performances are pretty rare, but we'd be happy with a matinee or Sunday evening performance.<BR><BR>Thanks for your input!

I believe that you can only purchase 4 tickets per person, so you will want 2 in line when it comes time to buy.<BR><BR>The seats are not usually better than what you would get from the box office. The seats are generally "left over" seats that haven't sold as of the day of the performance.<BR><BR>The line usually is much shorter and quicker downtown. However, there is a smaller quantity of tickets sent to that destination and you may not get what you are looking for.

Thanks for your quick reply, Philip! I was under the impression from their website that both booths sell from the same pool of tickets via their computer system. I know, though, that downtown you need to buy matinee tickets for the NEXT day. Good info to know there is a four-ticket limit. We have to give this some thought.

I went to TDF's website and read their facts about their computerized system. I guess my question is if there system is computerized then why does the booth in Times Square not open until 3pm? Maybe someone else can give a second opinion on that point.

I suggest you check out the Playbill website (www.playbill.com). Join its club. It's free and not a gimmick. Once you're a member you're "eligible" for discounts on some shows.<BR>I believe that Chicago and Cabaret are two of its current offers. The prices aren't quite as cheap as TKTS, but you save time by going directly to the box office with a printout of the offer.<BR>Otherwise, you have a chance to get tickets for those two for a Saturday or Sunday matinee. Note that there are no Sunday evening performances of those shows.

They haven't always been great, but on average, I have had better seats from TKTS than when I contacted the box office well in advnace and paid fun price.<BR><BR> Keith

I would seriously doubt that you could get tickets at the last minute for Movin'Out. It is really a fantastic show from what my neighbors have told me and tickets are becoming very much in demand. I just bought mine and my performance was already 2/3 sold out.

I've just seen two shows this week using the TKTS in the Seaport. This was for Tuesday evening (Millie) and Wednesdsy matinee (Urinetown). All of the shows you mentioned except Movin' Out (which is just opening after previews) had tickets available. Do not waste your time at the Times Squate TKTS. The Seaport has little or no lines, and since it opens earlier, better choice of tickets---all tickets are the same. I was orchestra for both shows---front row for Urinetown. Have fun!

J,<BR><BR>I enjoyed the Seaport whne I visited it about 20 years ago. Is is still worth visiting? Anything new?<BR><BR> Keith

The SEaport location gets a smaller allotment of tickets than the Times Square location. It is possible the show you are looking will not be on the boards if you arrive well after the booth opens. THe lines at the seaport are shorter but when you factor in travel time going and returning elapsed time might be longer than simply waiting in the uptown location. If you combine sightseeing downtown with the purchase of tickets the Seaport both is a good idea. One further note - credit cards are not accepted, only cash

I'm afraid I know the answer already BUT...has anyone gotten tickets to Dance of the Vampire (Michael Crawford) recently at either of the TKTS booths? We'll be going to NYC in 2 weeks. Thanks, Candy

Candy, have a look at the TKTS website:<BR><BR>http://www.tdf.org/index_default.html<BR><BR>They have a listing of shows they've sold tickets for. Also, the website says the downtown location has the same pool of tickets to draw from as the Times Square location, but this seems to not be common knowledge, perhaps partly accounting for the shorter lines downtown. X, you hit the nail on the head regarding my concern that traveling to downtown would take just as long as standing in the Times Square line. Perhaps we will plan to do our downtown sightseeing around our visit to the TKTS booth.<BR><BR>On another note, I got half price tickets to Les Mis for a Monday night, using a coupon at nytheatre.com. FYI to Candy and others.

To check what's available on TKTS see newyork.citysearch.com/feature/34843/ or www.curtainup.com/tkts.html. In addition to PLaybill.com advance sale discounts can be found at theatermania.com and hitshowclub.com/ All require registration but it's free.

That's a big help....thanks for posting these good web sites!

tops

You people saying that the Seaport office has a smaller group of tickets or whatever are just plain wrong!!! <BR><BR>Both locations are plugged into the same computer and the seats and shows are identical at both. In fact, it is sometimes the case that just as the agent will offer you some seats, the other office sells them out from under you and your agent has to try again for other seats. Of course that only happens if agents at both offices are trying to sell the same show at the same time.

I assume you know this but -- just in case -- and unless things have changed -- the TKTS booths only take cash or travelers' checks. I would hate for someone to wait in line w/only credit cards and not enough cash to purchase multiple tkts and find out the horrible truth when it's your turn to buy!

I went to NYC with my mother, aunts, and cousins and went to TKTS in Duffy Square for Sunday's matinee. We got there at 10, the booth opened at 11, and we were outta there by 11:10 with 5 tickets to Chicago at half price. There was no problem for us buying 5 tickets. He had the tickets in a stack with a rubber band and flipped through them to see what was available. We were able to sit in the orchestra, all together. We could have sat even further up if we could split up and sit in two groups, one behind the other. The show was absolutely fabulous!! I have not seen too many shows, but my mom and aunts have seen many of the old standbys over the years and said this was their favorite