How long would one expect to stand in line for Broadway musical tickets (4) on Dec. 7th - I am trying to get tickets to Mamma Mia, Oklahoma, or any teenage friendly muscial - would prefer a night show?

Busiest time of the year so it can be up to two hours. Also depends on what time you go. Go to the Southstreet Seaport TKTS office for a shorter wait.

Keep in mind that Saturday evening is the busiest time for the theater, so you may have limited choices. Mamma Mia will definitely NOT be available at TKTS, but you have a chance with Oklahoma.
Waiting time, obviously, will depend on when you get in line. TKTS opens at 3 p.m. for evening performances. If you get there by 2, you should not have to wait more an a half hour after it opens. As for figuring the length of your wait once you're on line, each block-long length will take 20-30 minutes waiting time!

Charlotte, here are the shows that were available for sale at the TKTS booth as of yesterday (copied it from their website). You're not going to find popular sold out shows like Mama Mia. Also, be aware that you must pay by cash or traveller's checks only. Good luck.

BROADWAY
42nd Street (25% off)
Aida (50% off)
Beauty and the Beast (50% off)
Cabaret (50% off)
Chicago (50% off)
The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (50% off)
The Graduate (50% off)
Hollywood Arms (50% off)
Into the Woods (50% off)
Jackie Mason: Prune Danish (50% off)
A Man of No Importance (50% off)
Metamorphoses (50% off)
Oklahoma! (50% off)
Phantom of the Opera (50% off)
Proof (50% off)
Rent (50% off)
Say Goodnight, Gracie (50% off)

OFF BROADWAY
Betty Rules (50% off)
Bill Bailey: Bewilderness (25% off)
Bing Cherries (50% off)
Blessing in Diguise (50% off)
Blue/Orange (50% off)
Comedy of Errors (25% off)
Criss Angel: MINDFREAK (50% off)
De La Guarda: Villa Villa (25% off)
Debbie Does Dallas (50% off)
Def Poetry Jam (50% off)
The Donkey Show: A Midsummer Night's Disco (25% off)
Exonerated (25% off)
Forbidden Broadway (50% off)
Goy Vey (50% off)
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (50% off)
Jolson & Company (50% off)
Little Ham (50% off)
Love, Janis (50% off)
Menopause the Musical (50% off)
My Old Lady (50% off)
Naked Boys Singing! (25% off)
Perfect Crime (50% off)
Poor Beast in the Rain (50% off)
Stomp (50% off)
Temporary Help (50% off)
The Vagina Monologues (25% off)
The Water Coolers (50% off)

Charlotte, just for planning purposes keep in mind that when a show is at TKTS for 50% off, that is usually 50% the higher priced seats - you'll not find the lower priced seats at half off. Have a wonderful time and let us know what you saw when you get back!

Definately go to the TKTS booth at the South Street Seaport. It opens much earlier than the Times Square booth (around 10 or 11 am) and I have found the lines to be at least 50% shorter than at Times Square. I've often waited under 20 minutes, which is unheard of in the early afternoon at the Times Square location.
Although you are looking for an evening performance, for future reference you should be aware that the TKTS at South Street Seaport sells matinee tickets the day before the performance. That is not the case with the Times Square location, where it is day of only.

The later you go the shorter the wait. At 6pm and later there is generally no wait or a 5 or 10 minute wait at most. Of course, at the later hour show choices may be limited. On a Saturday, however, I would get there earlysince fewer seats are usually available for most shows. A note on the South Street Seaport location - their allotment of tickets is smaller fo the shows posted. If you are going to be in the city on Friday you might consider a matinee since matinee tickets can be purchased on Friday at the South Street Seaport location.

We've been through the TKTS Times Square vs. Seaport thing before. The Seaport's allotment is NOT smaller. And the waits are much more tolerable. Do not fear going there! Enjoy, and good luck.

http://www.tdf.org/programs/tkts/TKTSFAQs.html

if you're in doubt....please read the faqs above from TKTS.

I've been this route before and got shut out after waiting in the long line for tickets to Beauty and the Beast. You might want to consider having the tickets before arriving in NYC. It really makes things so much easier! I got $100 face value tickets on ebay for $85. each. Big Deal, even if I didn't get 50% off, it is well worth it to me. If you want tickets for sold out performances like Hairspray, Producers, Movin' Out, Lion King they have these type tickets too (some at or close to face value, some more depending upon the seats). It really makes for better peace of mind in my opinion.

This is high season for the theatre, that being said, theatre attendence is lower so you shouldn't have a problem getting tickets at TKTS. Also go to the South St. Seaport, and if you get there early in the am, get the tickets and head up to Chinatown for lunch (dim sum).

As for shows, I would HIGHLY recommend Into the Woods. They will love it. The first half of the show is about fairy tales and the second half is the adult version of the children's fairy tales. Some great lines, Prince Charming saying "I was brought up to be Charming not sincere", brings down the house every performance, lol. Some wonderful music and a great story line.
Go see it.

Have a great time while you are here.

tweedy

I assume "J" is referring to the following when he states "The Seaport's allotment is NOT smaller"

Are the same shows sold at both tkts booths?
• Yes! Our ticket systems are computerized and both tkts booths draw from the same pool of tickets released by the shows’ box offices throughout the day.
The above only states both draw from the same pool. I know for a fact the Seaport allotment is smaller. Went there for tickets and while the show I wanted was listed when I got to the booth I was told tickets were not available. The ticket seller suggested I go to the Times Square booth to see if they had tickets available. They did have them.

Just returning from the city I found the easier way to get tickets without standing in a line is to go to this website playbill.com
Subscribe to playbill alert and every day a list of available plays with discounts will come up at good prices. You can print the play you want and pick up tickets at the boxoffice at least an hour before performance time. There will also be an 800 number that you can call and order the tickets. We went to see 42nd Street and Cabaret. The performance of 42nd Street is excellent.

Just an FYI, the Seaport location sells tickets for the matinee performances 1 day in advance of the show, and the Seaport location is not open as late as the Time Square ticket booth. On Saturday, the Seaport location closes about 3pm.