Barnard on Broadway
So you’ve made it to Barnard and have a free evening to explore the city. One of your friends wants to go see a Broadway show, but you’ve heard they can be really expensive. Worried about breaking your budget? Don’t be! There are a number of options and opportunities to see Broadway shows more affordably- throughout my time at Barnard, I’ve never bought a ticket that cost more than $50. Here are a few of the ways you can see a Broadway show on a college student budget:
Barnard’s Student Engagement and Experience (SEE) Office: Barnard’s SEE office often holds events called B’Scursions, where a student leader takes a group of students to see a Broadway show at no cost to them! I’ve seen the recent Company revival and Kimberly Akimbo all through SEE, and they’ve also held raffles for tickets to shows like Hadestown and for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf (which was written by Ntozake Shange, a Barnard alum)! The office will often notify students when these B’Scursions are happening via email or social media beforehand, and you can sign up in person or digitally. If you’re chosen to come along, SEE will pay for everything from your MetroCard there and back to the ticket itself. It’s a great way to meet fellow Broadway-loving Barnard students and attend a Broadway show for free!
The Lottery: The Broadway lottery is held by each theater every single day that there’s a show, and ticket cost falls between $30-50. Every single show on Broadway has a lottery, and you can find the link to enter each show using this website. From there, you can find your show’s lottery platform and enter online. You’ll just have to enter your name and contact information and you’re in! Much like the normal lottery, the Broadway lottery does not guarantee you tickets, but I’ve found that I have much better odds when it comes to Broadway. Generally, if you keep entering the lottery for a show every single day, you’ll eventually be able to win tickets. The seats you get from the lottery are random- you could be in the rear mezzanine (far from the stage) or the front orchestra (closest to the stage). I’ve received first-row seats on multiple occasions. However, you’ll have the time of your life wherever you are!
Rush/Standing Room Only: Sometimes Broadway shows get super popular, whether they’ve gone viral online or star a famous actor. If you can’t win the lottery but you’re desperate to see a show, “rushing” might be a good option. To rush, you’ll visit the theater’s box office the morning of the performance. You’ll want to get there early because there’s a limited number of rush tickets. After waiting in line, you’ll be able to purchase a ticket for around $30-50. Some shows also have digital rushes you can do at a certain time each morning. Much like the lottery, your seats are also random. If you missed the rush, you can try to get a standing-room-only ticket. Theaters usually only offer these if a show is completely sold out, and you will be standing for the entire show. These tickets range from $25-45.
TKTS Booth: Our final (and most expensive) option for day-of tickets is the TKTS booth, with locations in Times Square and Lincoln Center, both accessible from the 1 train line that stops right next to campus. The TKTS booth offers tickets for up to 50% off of their face value, which means prices could be anywhere from $45-150. Also, shows can choose whether or not they want to sell tickets through TKTS, so there’s no guarantee of your favorite show being offered there. However, you can check what they have the day of at this link.
Those are just a few ways you can see Broadway shows on a college student budget! I know I’ve loved Broadway since I first listened to the Hamilton cast recording in 2017, and being able to see the music I’ve listened to for years performed in person is an incredible experience. Living in NYC is a fun time, especially as a college student, and there are a lot of different opportunities out there that make Broadway shows affordable.
—Abby Jack ‘24