NYC Highlight: Broadway Shows

Hey everyone! As I’m writing this, we just got back from Spring Break at Barnard and I am just getting back into the normal routine. My name is Jessica Moreira, I am a Senior at Barnard and I am majoring in Economics and minoring in Education. School most of the time can feel stressful and overwhelming and having a break and taking care of yourself is completely necessary. Fortunately, at Barnard, we are located in New York City and here, there is always something fun to do or check out. After some time that you have been in the city, it is normal to find some hobbies and things you like to do in your free time around the city - this helps to alleviate the stress that the school can build up. 

For me, one of my favorite hobbies is going to Broadway shows. I am a low-income student at Barnard and believe me, I could not afford the standard $90 Broadway tickets. However, there are affordable ways to go to Broadway - even for free - and that is what I want to share with you today. 

For those of you who like me enjoy getting very great Broadway seats for cheaper prices, I would recommend entering the Broadway lotteries that are available online. Some of the best ones that I have been entering and have already won before are Broadway Direct and Lucky Seat. With these lotteries, you might pay between $30 and $40 dollars for a ticket to watch a very great Broadway show in the heart of NYC. You can also enter to run for up to two tickets and in that way, you can go with a friend and have lots of fun together. 

Another great tip that many Barnard students do not know about but that you should keep in mind is the club Urban New York. This is a club at Columbia that takes students for Broadway shows and other events around the city for free. Yes, you read it right - for free! Once you become a student at Barnard, you can get tickets through them to go to these great events. They have lotteries for Columbia students, but every event there are students who do not show up to the trip and these are allocated to students in the stand-by list. Barnard students can enter the stand-by list and get a chance to win these tickets. I have won a few times and seen very amazing performances such as The Wicked and Moulin Rouge for free. 

Thus, if you want to explore Broadway shows, it is completely possible to do so in your budget - by entering lotteries online and the stand-by lists of Urban New York. So, cross your fingers and best of luck with the draws!