Maybe you’re in town at the last minute, maybe you just like to fly by the seat of your pants, but either way, you want to see a Broadway show…fast. Never fear! Even with only hours to spare, you can still get great seats to a range of Broadway shows. No matter your budget, we’ll tell you how to score last minute cheap Broadway tickets, or even get the best seats in the house! We'll detail how use rush and lottery tickets, how to get into sold-out shows, and what services to utilize to get great seats. Here's how to get tickets:
Guide to Last Minute Broadway Tickets
Last Updated on: Mar 16, 2024
Rush Tickets
Rush Tickets are discount tickets reserved for same-day ticket buyers and sold first-come, first-served. Some shows offer these tickets at the box office while others allow guest to join a digital queue. Here are some of the most popular rush tickets being offered right now:
& Juliet
& Juliet is a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, asking the question: what if Juliet didn’t die at the end of the story? Filled with pop songs like “Larger Than Life,” “Oops!...I Did It Again,” “I Kissed a Girl,” and “I Want It That Way,” this jukebox musical is fast becoming a Broadway hit. Entertainment Weekly called it “nakedly joyful…a star-crossed night of violent delights.” Rush tickets are available on the TodayTix App.
A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical
A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical is a jukebox musical following the life and career of Neil Diamond. Songs include, “Sweet Caroline,” “America,” and “Cracklin’ Rosie,” and Variety said the musical is “Impressively sung and acted by Swenson in a manner that is Diamond-inspired and immersive without mere impersonation.” Get in-person rush tickets for $45 each - these tickets aren't advertised, but ask for them at the box office. Subject to availability.
Kimberly Akimbo
Kimberly Akimbo transferred to Broadway’s Booth Theatre after a hit run at the Atlantic Theater off-Broadway. This new musical with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori follows Kimberly, a teenager with an aging disorder, as she navigates friends, school, and her dysfunctional family. In-person rush tickets are available at the box office for $40 each, subject to availability.
The Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon offers a digital rush tickets for $45 each. Tickets are available through the TodayTix app and become available at 9am each day. Limit 2 tickets per person, and seating is at the discretion of the box office. The Book of Mormon has become a long-running hit after opening in 2011 and winning nine Tony Award including Best Musical.
Lottery Tickets
Lottery Tickets are discounted tickets chosen by drawing. Historically this has been done in person at the theater, but most shows now offer online lotteries. Here are some of the most popular:
Aladdin
Aladdin, based on the classic Disney film of the same name, plays at the New Amsterdam Theatre and has all of your favorite songs including “One Jump Ahead,” “Friend Like Me,” and “A Whole New World.” Digital lottery tickets are available for $35 each.
Back to the Future
Back to the Future, based on the beloved film of the same name, plays at the Winter Garden Theatre. With new music in addition to the classics you know from the movie like The Power of Love, Johnny B. Goode, Earth Angel, and Back in Time, Variety called it “a live entertainment triumph” and “a great night out.” Digital lottery tickets are available for $45.
Hadestown
Hadestown won Tony Award for Best Musical in 2019 and follows the myths of Orpheus, Eurydice, Persephone, and Hades. The New York Times called it “gorgeous,” “sumptuous” and “hypnotic.” Digital lottery tickets are available for $47.50 each.
Hamilton
Hamilton won eleven Tony Awards including the Tony Award for Best Musical and plays at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. This theatrical blockbuster about Alexander Hamilton and America’s founding fathers offers $10 lottery tickets. See Hamilton for a Hamilton!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child takes place 19 years after the events in the book series and follows Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy as they begin their first year at Hogwarts. Digital lottery tickets are available for $40 each.
Kimberly Akimbo
Kimberly Akimbo transferred to Broadway’s Booth Theatre after a hit run at the Atlantic Theater off-Broadway. This new musical with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori follows Kimberly, a teenager with an aging disorder, as she navigates friends, school, and her dysfunctional family. Digital lottery tickets are available for $50 each.
MJ the Musical
MJ the Musical is a jukebox musical following Michael Jackson as he prepares for his iconic 1992 Dangerous World Tour. The Hollywood Reporter called it “captivating and hard to shake.” Digital lottery tickets are available for $49 each.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical!
Moulin Rouge! The Musical! won ten Tony Awards including the Tony Award for Best Musical and runs at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. This jukebox musical based on the film by Baz Luhrmann includes hit songs like “Lady Marmalade,” “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” “Come What May,” and “Roxanne.” Digital lottery tickets available for $47.50 each.
Six
Six by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss runs at the Lena Horne Theatre (formerly the Brooks Atkinson Theatre) and tells the story of the six wives of Henry VIII. It was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won two, including the Tony Award for Best Original Score. Digital lottery tickets available for $45 each.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street has music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. This production directed by Thomas Kail stars Aaron Tveit as Sweeney Todd, Sutton Foster as Mrs. Lovett, and Joe Locke as Tobias. The New York Times called it “ravishingly sung, deeply emotional, and strangely hilarious.” Digital lottery tickets available for $30 each.
The Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon comes from the creators of South Park and follows two Mormon missionaries as they try and spread their faith in a village in Uganda. Time Out New York said it is, “brimming with cheerful obscenity, sharp satire and catchy tunes. The Book of Mormon is a sick mystic revelation, the most exuberantly entertaining Broadway musical in years.” Digital lottery tickets available for $45 each.
The Lion King
The Lion King recently celebrated its 25th anniversary on Broadway. Running at the Minskoff Theatre, this blockbuster is a hit with families and theatergoers of all ages. Digital lottery tickets available for $35 each.
Wicked
Wicked, based on the book of the same name, has become a global blockbuster. Telling the story of Glinda and Elphaba before the events of The Wizard of Oz. Digital lottery tickets are available for $54 or $64 each, depending on the performance.
Other Ways to Score Last Minute Broadway Tickets!
Standing Room Only (SRO) is a way to see a hit show even when it’s sold out. Available at the box office only on days when the performance is sold out, SRO ticket holders stand at the back of the orchestra to see the show, even when every seat has been sold. And don’t worry – it’s more comfortable than it sounds, most theaters have a place to lean against while watching. And it’s a good way to be first to the restroom or bar line during intermission. & Juliet, Chicago, Six, and Hadestown all offer SRO tickets at the box office for sold-out performances.
TKTS is one of the most tried and true methods to get last minute discount Broadway tickets. Underneath the red steps in the heart of Times Square, just look for the digital sign advertising what shows are on sale and join the line. If you find yourself a little further north, there is also a TKTS booth at Lincoln Center on West 62nd Street that offers the same deals for a cheap ticket.
Secondary Marketplaces: If there is a sold-out show you really want to see, check platforms like StubHub and other resale sites.
Concierge Services: If you’re staying in a New York hotel with a concierge, they can often help find hard-to-get tickets to hit shows in a variety of seat locations. Just be aware you may be paying a premium.
American Express: American Express cardholders can get exclusive access to blocks of tickets through the Card Member Access program.
Broadway Shows on Now
Looking to buy theater tickets to a Broadway performance right now? Check out our article on the Top Broadway Shows playing today! Or check out our Broadway Week article for more information about what times of year you can get 2-for-1 tickets and other ways to save!
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