How To Choose a Broadway Show

The neon lights are bright on Broadway. Each season, more than 20 musicals and plays run in New York.

So from all of these choices how are you supposed to choose a Broadway Show? The themes are different, prices vary, theater capacities differ. 

There are many variables for one to choose from, so here are 5 tips to narrow down your options and choose which show to see. 

1) First, you want to make sure you know all the options you have. That means to know all the shows that are currently playing. 

The easiest way to do this is to go to check out what is currently playing on Broadway and browse through the options. View the show’s synopsis, photos, videos, and quality content.

2) From all the Broadway shows that have interested you, choose 5 to dig a little deeper. Go to their Instagram account, watch YouTube promotional videos, listen to some of the songs on Spotify.

3) Ask yourself some questions: do I like this story? Is it interesting? Do I like a musical with a lot of dancing, or do I prefer a compelling story? Is it age-appropriate?

By now you are familiarized with what are the shows about and you´re probably wondering “how much will this cost me?”

4) Don’t get ahead of yourself and buy tickets at broadway.com or whatever other sites you might have gone into.

The best way to check Broadway ticket prices is directly from the show´s website. Pick a date, check the availability, seating chart and ticket prices. Yes, they are expensive and here’s why.

By checking tickets availabilities and prices, you might now be considering only two or three shows, since one might be almost sold out or way over your budget. If you still want to get reasonably priced tickets, here´s how. 

Depending on how long you will stay in New York or how much are you willing to pay for that one ticket, you might want to consider getting in line for rush tickets in Times Square or entering a lottery. 

But if you want to make sure that you are going to watch the show you wanted to let’s move to the last step.

5) Buying tickets directly at the theater is the best cost-benefit option. First, you´re not wasting your money on sale taxes for other websites/companies, and you´re getting yourself a good-priced (sometimes even cheaper) ticket, you´re not wasting your precious New York minutes in mile-long lines and, you´re giving your money directly to the arts organization that put that show together.

How to choose a Broadway show is no easy task considering that all the options are well-crafted pieces of art. 

The best way to make your decision is by understanding what are you up for: show-stopping numbers, famous people on stage, compelling stories, well-known songs are some of the variables you need to consider before buying your ticket. Your money should be invested in what will make your Broadway experience memorable.