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How to See the Best for Less in New York
by Leon Schwarzbaum
For the majority of visitors to the Big Apple, a "Broadway show" is at the head of the "things-to-see" list. But the visitor to New York City, reading the theater directory published each Sunday in The New York Times, easily becomes confused by the listings.
On one recent Sunday, 39 productions were listed under "Broadway" but only five of these theaters are on Broadway. Under "Off-Broadway", 53 productions were listed. Of these theaters, five are on Broadway and one is in New Jersey, more than 30 minutes by car from Broadway. And under "Off-off Broadway" other plays, dance recitals and concerts in churches, public buildings and small theaters are advertised. There are more than 200 theaters in New York where live actors and actresses, dancers, singers, musicians and other entertainers perform. Forty-two theaters are "Broadway theaters" although most are on cross streets, within a block or two of Broadway. They all contain 500 seats or more and, under a contract with the unions to which the performers belong, are entirely unionized. Even the stage hands, electricians and set carpenters belong to unions.
Tickets for performances of such productions as "Titanic", "Chicago", "Miss Saigon", and "Ragtime" cost between $35 and $75, with some even higher. With initial production costs running into the millions of dollars, even a popular show may not show a profit for months, if at all.
Approximately 60 theaters are classified as "Off-Broadway". These contain between 100 and 499 seats. Because many are operated without profit by arts, educational or religious organizations, special arrangements with the unions permit them to pay lower salaries. "These are the theaters that bring the new playwrights and performers into the public's eye," says a representative of Actor's Equity, the performers' union.
And scattered throughout the city, in former warehouses, garages and loft buildings, theaters with less than 100 seats provide an opportunity to unknown writers, composers and performers to practice their arts before live audiences. Most of the participants are volunteers and income from ticket sales is used to pay the cost of maintaining the theater.
For many of today's stars, Off-off Broadway was the first step up the ladder of success. But YOU don't have to pay those high prices to see Broadway shows. Savvy New Yorkers know many of these productions have seats available, selling tickets at steep discounts shortly before curtain time. The Theatre Development Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to, as its title indicates, the development of theater arts, maintains two booths where same-day tickets are sold, ranging from 50% to 75% of box office prices. The booth at 2 World Trade Center (Mezzanine), a tourist "must", is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m., selling both matinee and evening tickets.
The famous "TKTS" booth at 47th Street and Broadway is open for evening performance tickets from 3 PM to 8 PM (curtain time at most theaters), Mondays through Saturdays. For matinee performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the booth is open from 11 AM to 3 PM and for all performances on Sundays, from 11 AM until all tickets are sold. In many instances, theaters call in available seats immediately prior to closing time, and patient latecomers may be rewarded beyond their expectations as "house seats" become available.
At the other end of the spectrum, Off-off Broadway houses sell seats for as little as $12, in advance. On West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues, a row of restored buildings house small theaters where resident theater companies present drama, dance and musical theater that sometimes receive rave reviews. At 486 West 42nd Street, "Ticket Central" sells ticket for a group of these "Theater Row" productions; the rest will happily sell tickets at the box office. Your hotel concierge has free magazines and brochures listing these and other theaters and the major newspapers carry listings, as well.
Off-Broadway theaters frequently offer productions starring well-known actors (in theater parlance, "actor" is used for either sex) who find the material stimulating or challenging. For ticket in the $20 to $35 price range, some of the most entertaining plays and musicals are offered to the knowledgeable patrons who scan the theater listings. Many of the current Broadway productions began in Off-Broadway theaters.
Astute readers will note I have spelled "theater" as preferred in the Oxford English Dictionary. For reasons that escape me, almost all the "Broadway" houses are "Theatres", while about half of Off-Broadway houses are "Theaters". Off-off Broadway, we find "Playhouse" used frequently. But don't be misled - these, too, are theaters.
Restaurants in the vicinity of theaters understand their patrons' need to be in their seats at curtain time, and a word to your server that you have theater tickets will usually speed up service. Another little tip, one New Yorkers already know: Even the most popular restaurants "turn over" their tables just prior to curtain time, and diners willing to wait until after 8 PM can usually book reservations and dine in a relaxed, quiet environment.
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