1. What is a Broadway show?
2. How many Broadway theatres are there?
3. Are any of the Broadway theatres actually located on Broadway?
4. How do I get to the Theatre District?
5. Where is New York’s Theatre District located?
6. What is the difference between Broadway and other theatrical performances?
7. What are Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway?
8. What different kinds of shows are presented on Broadway?
9. What is the Broadway Season? Aren’t shows in performance year-round?
10. How do I get tickets?
11. When are the best times to purchase a Broadway ticket?
12. What are the different types of tickets that I can purchase?
13. How much does a Broadway show tickets cost?
14. What are "Group Sales" tickets?
15. How do I get “Student” tickets (also referred to as “Student Rush”)?
16. What is “Standing Room Only” (also referred to as “SRO”)?
17. What is a “Rush” ticket?
18. When are performances held?
19. What are the different kinds of seats called?
20. Which are the best seats in the house?
21. How do I find out when a touring show is coming to my city?
22. Do Broadway shows offer translations into languages other than English?
23. Why do some shows stay on Broadway longer than others?
24. What happens if the show closes after I purchase a ticket?
25. How old do kids have to be to see a Broadway show?
26. How long are Broadway shows? Are there intermissions?
27. Why is photography prohibited during the show?
28. Is there a charge for a playbill or program?
29. Do I need to tip the usher?
30. Do I need to prepare in advance?
31. Can I bring my children to the theatre, and what shows are right for my kids?
32. How do I get to meet the stars?
33. What does "Live Broadway" mean?

1. What is a Broadway show?
Broadway refers to the plays, musicals, and special attractions presented in any of 39 designated playhouses in Manhattan’s Theatre District. Broadway shows also visit as many as 140 cities each year across North America on national tour.

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2. How many Broadway theatres are there?
There are currently 39 Broadway theatres in use in New York City.

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3. Are any of the Broadway theatres actually located on Broadway?
Yes, though the majority are on the side streets near the famous thoroughfare that slashes its way across the regular grid of Manhattan streets. The three that actually front the Great White Way are the Marquis, on Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets, inside the hotel of the same name; the Palace, entrance of which is located on the east side of Broadway just below 47th Street; and, of course, the Broadway Theatre, which sits on the corner of 53rd Street.

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4. How do I get to the Theatre District?
Many subway lines serve the Theatre District, including the 8th Avenue A, C, and E lines (42nd Street or 50th Street); the 6th Avenue B, D, F, and V trains (42nd Street and 47 through 50th Streets); the Broadway N, Q, R, and W lines (Times Square and 49th Street); the 7th Avenue 1, 2, 3, and 9 trains (Times Square and 50th Street); and the Grand Central shuttle (Times Square). Buses traveling through the area include the M6, M7, M10, M11, M20, M27/50, M42, and M104. For more information on public transportation, visit www.mta.info.

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5. Where is New York’s Theatre District located?
All but one of Broadway’s 39 theatres are located in the Theatre District, which occupies the midtown blocks between 6th and 8th Avenues from West 41st Street (Nederlander Theatre) to West 54th Street (Studio 54). The district stretches westward across 8th Avenue at 45th Street to include the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. A single Broadway playhouse, the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, lies outside the district. It is part of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, located on West 65th Street.

6. What is the difference between Broadway and other theatrical performances?
Broadway has traditionally been considered the pinnacle of live theatrical entertainment. For more than a century, Broadway theatre has been the home of America’s greatest playwrights, composers, lyricists—and the galaxy of star actors, singers, dancers, directors, designers, and choreographers who bring great plays and musicals to life.

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7. What are Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway?
These terms refer primarily to theatre size rather than location. Generally speaking, playhouses in Manhattan with fewer than 499 seats are considered “Off Broadway.” Playhouses with fewer than 100 seats are generally called Off Off Broadway. Off and Off Off Broadway theatres are located in various neighborhoods throughout Manhattan.

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8. What different kinds of shows are presented on Broadway?
The spectrum of Broadway shows in performance at any given time may include plays, musicals, and other genres. Plays may be comedies, dramas, thrillers, and even the occasional tragedy (e.g., Shakespeare and works from ancient Greece). They are generally spoken, with no singing. Add songs and you get the Broadway musical, one of America’s greatest art forms. “Book musicals” tell a story, while a “revue” is a more loosely-structured collections of musical numbers. There are also occasional dance shows and operas. Solo performances, sometimes referred to as one-person shows, might contain songs, stand-up comedy, dramatic or humorous monologues, or any combination of these elements.

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9. What is the Broadway Season? Aren’t shows in performance year-round?
Broadway shows perform all year round, and there are always many shows to choose from. That said, Broadway’s annual calendar begins and ends in the late spring with each year’s Tony Awards? There is generally a concentration of new shows opening in the spring and fall.

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10. How do I get tickets?
You can purchase tickets to Broadway shows over the Internet, via telephone, at the Broadway Ticket Center", or at the box office. In general, you will have to pay service charges for telephone and Internet sales; you can avoid these charges by visiting the theatre box office in person. For real-time Internet sales, you can link to each show’s official ticketing site from the show's page on this site. You'll be able to check availability on any date you choose, select your exact seat locations, and then purchase your tickets immediately. To order tickets by phone, call The Broadway Line甛\ toll-free at 1-(888) BROADWAY.

11. When are the best times to purchase a Broadway ticket?
In general, matinee and weekday evening (Monday through Thursday) performances have greater ticket availability than Friday or Saturday evening performances. It’s always a good idea to purchase your tickets well in advance of the performance date. Still, don’t assume any particular performance is sold out – additional tickets occasionally become available at the last minute!

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12. What are the different types of tickets that I can purchase?
Full price, Premium, Discount, Group, Student, Standing Room, Rush

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13. How much does a Broadway show tickets cost?
In New York, full price show tickets generally range from approximately $20 to $100. You can expect to pay higher prices for the best seats to hit shows on weekend nights. On the other hand, you can save money if you’re willing to sit in the mezzanine or be flexible about performance dates and times. Some shows even offer standing room tickets at a deep discount. Premium tickets (preferred locations in the theatre) are available for certain shows at higher prices.

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14. What are "Group Sales" tickets?
Shows sell blocks of tickets to groups of theatregoers attending the same performance. Groups usually consist of 20 (or 15) patrons or more. Check each show’s page to find out how to arrange group sales.

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15. How do I get “Student” tickets (also referred to as “Student Rush”)?
Some Broadway shows and touring Broadway venues have student rush policies. Typically, in order to receive a student discount, ticket buyer should show a valid student identification. Check the shows’ official websites for more information.

16. What is “Standing Room Only” (also referred to as “SRO”)?
Some theatres allow patrons to stand in designated spots at the back of the auditorium (main level or upper level, depending on the house). While standing-room tickets are relatively inexpensive, you will not get a seat. SRO tickets are not available in all theatres, and are generally only available when a show is otherwise sold out.

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17. What is a “Rush” ticket?
Some shows sell discounted tickets on the day of the performance for selected seats. These tickets may be available to students, or the general public. At some shows they are distributed by lottery.

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18. When are performances held?
In New York, evening performances generally begin at 8:00 p.m., though there are some exceptions. Many shows offer special 7:00 p.m. performances on Tuesdays. Wednesday and Saturday matinees generally start at 2:00 p.m., while Sunday matinees usually begin at 3:00 p.m. It's a good idea to check your ticket stubs carefully, and to confirm the time of your performance before you buy your tickets. Shows generally take one day a week off, but this day varies from production to production. Only a few shows perform on Monday, and Sunday evening performances are rare.

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19. What are the different kinds of seats called?
All Broadway theatres offer “Orchestra” seating on the main floor of the theatre, and “Mezzanine” seating one level up (the mezzanine at the Vivian Beaumont is called the "Loge"; at the Hilton Theatre it’s the “Dress Circle”). Many theatres offer seating in an additional level above the mezzanine called the “Balcony,” which is sometimes referred to as the "second balcony." A limited number of “Box Seats” may be available for some shows; these are on the sides of the auditorium, close to the stage. Finally, “Standing Room” tickets at the back of the orchestra or mezzanine are available in some theatres, though generally only when the show is otherwise sold out.

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20. Which are the best seats in the house?
Many theatregoers consider the center part of the orchestra, or ground-floor level, the best seats. Others prefer the first few rows of the mezzanine, one level up.

21. How do I find out when a touring show is coming to my city?
Call The Broadway Line at (888) BROADWAY or visit www.LiveBroadway.com.

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22. Do Broadway shows offer translations into languages other than English?
To see if a show offers translations, visit its page on this site.

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23. Why do some shows stay on Broadway longer than others?
Some shows are produced for limited runs. Others play as long as there is sufficient demand. The longest-running shows have played for nearly two decades!

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24. What happens if the show closes after I purchase a ticket?
Ticket refunds are processed at the place you purchased your tickets, e.g., at the Box Office, the Broadway Ticket Center, etc. If you used a credit card, you will automatically receive a credit.

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25. How old do kids have to be to see a Broadway show?
At most Broadway theatres, children under the age of four are not admitted.

26. How long are Broadway shows? Are there intermissions?
Most shows run between 90 minutes and slightly under three hours. To find out the running time of a particular show, visit the show’s page on this site. Longer shows have at least one intermission, and sometimes two.

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27. Why is photography prohibited during the show?
Photography (with or without flash) and recording devices of any kind are prohibited by law in Broadway theatres. They are distracting and potentially dangerous to the actors, as well as to your fellow audience members.

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28. Is there a charge for a playbill or program?
Every patron at a Broadway theatre is entitled to receive a free copy of Playbill magazine, which contains a cast lists and biographies. Some shows also offer souvenir programs for sale in the lobby.

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