Two of the oldest ways into a sold-out Broadway show are also two of the least known: standing room for anyone willing to stay on their feet, and student prices for anyone with a valid ID. Neither is available everywhere, and both come with rules worth knowing before you plan an evening around them.
What standing room is
Standing room is a set of places at the back of the orchestra, behind the last row of seats, usually with a padded rail to lean on. Each spot is numbered, so you have your own space for the whole show. The view is often better than the price suggests: you are on the orchestra level, looking straight at the stage over the heads of the audience.
Not every theater can sell it. The number of standing places depends on the building, and some houses have none. Whether a show sells standing room at all is the production's decision, and it can change during the run. Our rush and standing room page lists every show that offers it now.
When it goes on sale
At most theaters that offer it, standing room is sold only when every seat for that performance is gone. It is sold at the box office on the day, often from opening time, sometimes later once the house is confirmed sold out. For a sold-out hit, arrive early and ask at the window. For a show that rarely sells out, standing room may never be offered at all; buy a cheap seat instead.
What to expect
- You stand for the whole show. Allow for two and a half hours or more on your feet, with a break at intermission.
- You cannot move into an empty seat. Ushers check, even after intermission, even if the seat stays empty.
- Wear comfortable shoes and leave large bags at home; there is nowhere to put them.
- Limits are tight. Usually one or two places per person, paid for on the spot.
For many shows the trade is worth it: a sold-out musical from the orchestra level for a fraction of the regular price. For a long play you have been looking forward to, think twice about doing it standing.
Student tickets
Many shows set aside a few seats each performance for students at a low fixed price. The details vary from show to show, and they come in a few forms:
- Student rush at the box office on the day, with a valid student ID shown at purchase.
- Digital student offers released through an app, with the ID checked when you collect the tickets.
- Discount programs. The Theatre Development Fund runs a membership with discounted tickets for students and several other groups, and some nonprofit Broadway companies run cheap-ticket programs for younger theatergoers.
The rules are strict in the same ways. The ID has to be current and in your name, the limit is usually one or two tickets per ID, and both tickets may need a student. High school and college IDs are generally accepted; check the show's own policy if you are unsure. Each show's lottery and rush page on this site lists its student price and how to get it.
A plan for a cheap night out
- Enter the lotteries for the night you want, for two or three shows.
- If you lose, check which shows have student or rush tickets on tonight's page.
- For a sold-out hit, go to the box office early and ask about standing room.
- As a final fallback, try the TKTS booth.
Policies change during a run, sometimes with little notice. Every policy on this site shows the date we last checked it, and the box office always has the final word.