Live theatre brings people together for entertaining, educational and often times emotional experiences. It’s a great way to get out of the house, escape real life for a few hours and broaden your artistic horizons. Even people living a frugal lifestyle shouldn’t miss out on a night at the theatre once in a while.

If it isn’t obvious, theatre is a huge passion of mine. I believe that it is extremely important to support the arts so that they are always available to us. I could drone on for hours about why, but instead (luckily) I’m going to talk about how to do this on a budget. Here are some ways I’ve come up with to see quality theatre cheaply, whether you want to stay close to home or travel to the Big Apple.

1. Community Theater: As an avid community theatre performer in the Boston area, I have to put this tip at number 1. Many community theaters are hidden gems where great, quality, underrated and underestimated work is done. So many people have singing, acting and/or dancing abilities, but not all of these people decide to pursue a life or career in the theatre. These people, like yours truly, have decided to do theater in a more extracurricular way. They do this by keeping a steady job during the day and rehearsing for/performing in a show by night.

   Community theaters exist all over the place. Some get a bad stigma simply for being “community,” but there are so many different types of community theatres that it is unfair to judge them as a whole. They range in size from small groups led by individuals that perform in borrowed spaces to large, permanent companies with well-equipped facilities.

   Prices for community theatre productions vary, but in the New England area, they rarely exceed $30. Use the internet to check out community theatres in your area. How long has the theatre company been around? Are there any shows in your area being performed that you’re dying to see? You can also look up reviews to get a better idea of production quality.

   Community theatres may not have Broadway budgets, but you may find huge amounts of talent, creativity and entertainment for a reasonable price.

2. Universities/Schools: Performing Arts schools are all around the nation and within them are tons of talented theatre students who will go on to pursue theatrical careers. I’ll use my alma mater as an example. At Emerson College, not a weekend goes by without some form of performance. There are big budget Emerson Stage shows that are put on in the elaborate Cutler Majestic Theater (where much professional theater is performed). Tickets to these performances are typically around $20. There are also student directed projects (which are some of the best theatrical productions I’ve seen) that run either for free or $5-$10. Check out your local university’s website to see if there are any interesting upcoming productions.

   Most high schools (and some middle schools) put on plays and musicals once, if not a few, times a year. There is also outstanding talent hiding in these places, and once again, you’ll find free if not cheap ticket prices to attend these events. An added bonus: you’ll also be supporting your local community’s arts programs! Check out this great article to see what great benefits there are to keeping and supporting theatre in schools.

3. Student/Children/Senior Citizen’s Discounts: If you are a college student, a grad student, a law student, etc. with a student ID, you will almost always be able take advantage of student discounts in theatres. In Boston, they have student rush tickets at most of the major theatres in the area. All you have to do is show up an hour before the show and you receive $25 tickets for seats that have not yet been claimed or bought.

   Younger children are also often discounted or are able to go to the theatre for free. So if your little one has a good attention span, a trip to the theatre might be a fun, frugal venture for them. Seniors also often get discounts to the theatre, so bringing older parents or grandparents to a show might be a nice, affordable present.

4. Broadway Rush, Lottery and Standing Room Tickets: If you are Broadway bound, there are definitely ways you can get affordable theatre tickets. These policies were implemented to make tickets more affordable to theater goers who are willing to get up early, wait in a line or stand during a show. These options aren’t for everyone, but they are well worth it if you are willing to put in some effort.

   Rush (for students with student IDs) and Lottery (for non-students with photo IDs) tickets are usually sold the day of the performance as soon as the box office opens to the public. For popular shows, a wait is usually inevitable. Broadway box offices typically open around 10am (noon on Sundays), but I recommend getting to the theatre at least an hour before the box office opens. Grab a coffee and chat with a friend or family member while you wait. On a nice day, the wait really isn’t that bad. You can get seats ranging anywhere from the front row to rear mezzanine. Rush and lottery tickets generally cost $20 to $40.

   Standing room tickets work in a similar way except they will only be sold if a show is sold out. There are designated standing spots (usually as big as a theatre seat) located in the back of the mezzanine. This is worthwhile only if you don’t mind spending a few hours on your feet.

5. TKTS : TKTS discount booths are located in the heart of Times Square in New York City. These booths offer tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows for up to 50% off the original ticket price. The booths offer same day tickets only. They are open from 10am-2pm for matinee shows (11am-3pm on Sundays) and 3pm-8pm for evening shows (2pm-8pm on Tuesdays, and 3pm until one half hour before latest curtain time on Sundays).

   One of the best things about TKTS is that you don’t have to have a specific show in mind when you go get tickets. Going to TKTS is like going to a ton of theatres’ box offices in one place. They have a board that displays what shows are available for what discount prices. They also have employees that walk around with flyers and information about shows. So if you’re interested in seeing a show but you’re not sure which one, these helpful employees will assist you and/or your group in making a great decision.

6. Discount Websites: Planning ahead will almost always save you money. If you know you will be seeing a show when you are in New York (or you’re going to see a National Tour) there are some sites you can check out for deals.

   Theater Mania is a great site that keeps you updated on Broadway and touring shows. It keeps you informed about discounted tickets and you can even sign up for their insider club which offers discounted tickets and monthly giveaways.

   BroadwayBox.com also offers featured discounts on Broadway shows. Subscribe and you can be the first to know about the best offers and discounts.

   Playbill.com is also a great theatre information source that offers great discounts. There’s also free membership available to the Playbill Club for access to exclusive tickets and discounts.

7. Offer to Usher: This is a great way to see theatre for free. Not all theatres offer this option, but it is worth looking into if you don’t mind doing a bit of easy work before the show. For example, the Blue Man Group is an extremely popular show. They allow theatre patrons to sign up to usher (hand out programs and direct people to seats) in exchange for free tickets to the show afterward. You have to call ahead of time and check availability, but this is a great option to take advantage of. Before you go to the theater, try calling to see if ushering is an opportunity.
8. Become a Subscriber: If you see a lot of shows at one particular theatre, become a subscriber to save money. You’ll often get the best seats in the house, access to tickets before they go on sale, and discounts off of single ticket prices. You might even get discounts at local restaurants or businesses. Theaters tend to have between 4-10 shows per season. So check out a theatre’s season online, see if you can make a commitment to see all of the shows and then consider subscribing!

So as you can see, there are many ways to support the arts, have an enjoyable theatrical experience and not break the bank. Whether you’re looking for a fun family activity or a unique date night, get out there and see a show now that you’re armed with the information you need to spend less at the theatre.

Photo credit: Geneveive Elise