To make tickets more affordable to students and other theatregoers on a budget, many Broadway shows have implemented rush, lottery, and standing-room-only (SRO) policies.
Anyone willing to wake up and get to the box office early, spend some time in a line, or stand during the show, can get greatly discounted tickets to the majority of shows on Broadway.
Rush and SRO tickets are sold on the day of the performance, usually as soon as the box office opens, unless otherwise specified. Many policies are restricted to students and require valid student IDs.
Seat location varies with different shows, from front row to rear mezzanine. A wait in line is usually inevitable. For more popular shows, it’s reasonable to anticipate a wait spanning a couple of hours. Also note that many box offices only accept cash for rush and SRO tickets.
Standing-room patrons must stand in numbered spaces that are the width of a regular seat. They are usually located at the back of the orchestra. SRO tickets are trickier to get because they are generally only available if the show is sold out.
There’s no definite way to predict in advance whether a performance will sell out, although shows that sell out often include Wicked, Mamma Mia!, The Lion King and Jersey Boys. Unless otherwise specified, one SRO ticket is sold per person.
All Student Rush ticket purchases require a valid and current student ID.
All Lottery Rush ticket purchases require a photo ID. Broadway box offices typically open at 10 AM (12 noon on Sundays) and close between 8:15 and 8:30 PM.