Guides
Broadway buying, in plain language
Evergreen explainers for the parts of Broadway ticketing that confuse everyone — written once, kept current. No upsells, no "premium tier" nonsense — just the neutral take.
Broadway ticketing is more transparent than people think and more confusing than it needs to be. There are roughly six legitimate ways to buy a seat — official box office, TodayTix, the show's own lottery, in-person rush, the TKTS booth, and the resale market — and for any given performance, the smartest of those changes depending on the show's popularity, the day of the week, your flexibility, and how much time you're willing to spend lining up or refreshing a page. These guides are how we explain each route in enough detail that you can pick the right one for your trip.
Each guide is written to stand alone — start with whichever question is on your mind. The full how-to-buy playbook is the cornerstone if you want the ranked, route-by-route comparison. The rush and lottery explainer covers the cheapest-but-most-uncertain options, with every current one we track. The TKTS booth demystified is for same-day Times Square buyers. And how to read a Broadway seating chart is the seat-selection companion — the difference between front-orchestra and front-mezzanine isn't what most people assume.
-
Free Broadway in NYC — what's actually free, and when it happens
The genuinely free ways to see Broadway performers in New York: Free Shakespeare in the Park, Broadway in Bryant Park, Broadway by the Boardwalk, Stars in the Alley, Broadway Barks, the Earth Day and Juneteenth concerts, Road to Broadway, and the stage door. What each one is, and how to get in.
-
How to read a Broadway seating chart — orchestra, mezzanine, balcony and partial views
A plain-language guide to Broadway seating charts: what orchestra, mezzanine and balcony mean, how to read a partial-view warning, and where we think the value is.
-
Broadway resale platforms compared — StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, Ticketmaster Resale
A neutral side-by-side of four Broadway resale platforms — fees, buyer protection, mobile delivery, and how to find the cheapest total for the show you want to see.
-
How to buy Broadway tickets — every legitimate route, ranked
The neutral guide to every way to buy a Broadway ticket — box office, TodayTix, rush, lottery, standing room, TKTS, and resale, with the real tradeoffs.
-
Broadway lottery and rush tickets, explained — with every one we track
Every Broadway lottery, rush and standing-room sale EvenAisle tracks, with prices and platforms, plus how each one works and why entering every day matters.
-
The TKTS booth, demystified — hours, discounts, and TKTS vs TodayTix
What the TKTS booths in Times Square and Lincoln Center sell, when they're open, how the discounts and TDF's service charge work, and when TodayTix or the show's own seller is the better buy.