Summer Is the Season…for Broadway!!

Visitors to New York City this summer will have a lot of activities on their lists. From the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building to the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the cultural wonders of the Big Apple could literally keep you busy for months. However, summertime is a special time in the City for one more reason: the end of the Broadway show season means discount tickets.

Why Everyone Should Go to Broadway at Least Once

You don’t need to be Rachel Barry or even know who she is to appreciate the cultural wonder that is the American Musical Theatre. Whether or not you can stand random breaks into song, it’s worth it just to see the storied theatre spaces themselves that grace the Great White Way.  This includes the Gershwin on West 51st Street, the Imperial on West 45th Street, and the Marquis Theatre on Broadway itself.

However, not all Broadway shows are musicals besides and going to Broadway in the summertime gives visitors the best opportunities to see some of last season’s hottest shows at a discount rate, before the new season begins in the fall.

A Special Hint

There is one, specific time when Broadway tickets are at their lowest: the first 10 days in July. For whatever reason (maybe Independence Day?) this period is the slowest every year. Theatre owners would rather fill seats than play to near-empty house, leaving ticket discounts of up to 50% for pre-purchases.

For an added bonus, those willing to go to a theatre on the day of a performance may be able to snag rush and standing room only tickets for as low as $25-$35 and still get decent seating because of the lull in audiences. Students (with a valid ID) are actually subject to more rush ticket opportunities – definitely a path worth considering.

What’s Hot This Summer

For the summer of 2012, there are many great shows playing in New York that are worth seeing. A personal favorite, Wicked, is currently at the Gershwin. For those less inclined to music Tennessee Williams’ perennial hit A Streetcar Named Desire is at the Broadhurst. Other favorites, both old and new, such as Phantom of the Opera (Majestic), Mama Mia! (Winter Garden) and The Book of Mormon (Eugene O’Neil) are all great bets as well.