For serious playgoers, the number to remember is 12. That's the magic number over the beloved "Play Only" window at the TKTS Discount Booth in Times Sqaure.
And now that one of the most exciting and play-heavy non-musical seasons in many years is really getting going, both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, the "Play Only" window is getting busier than ever.
"We have found that the 'Play Only' window has been of great service to New Yorkers and tourists who enjoy seeing the newest plays on and Off Broadway, but are sometimes daunted by the lines at TKTS when we first open in the afternoon," said Victoria Bailey, TDF's executive director. "Having a ticket window just to sell dramas and comedies has proved a win-win situation for both the customers and the productions."
With the current influx of so many non-musical productions, a record number of shows have been available at this dedicated ticket window. Last week alone, Window #12 offered patrons the chance to walk up and buy half-price tickets to seven Broadway plays, including Chazz Palminteri in A Bronx Tale; Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner in Cyrano De Bergerac; Alison Pill and F. Murray Abraham in Theresa Rebeck's Mauritius; Claire Danes and Jefferson Mays in Pgymalion; Brian Cox, Rufus Sewell and Sinead Cusack in Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll; Hank Azaria in Aaron Sorkin's The Farnsworth Invention; and Rosie Perez and Kevin Chamberlin in The Ritz. There were nearly 20 Off-Broadway plays available at the Play Only window, including Edward Albee's Peter & Jerry, the runaway hit My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy, and Charles Busch's Die Mommy Die!
How can you use the "Play Only" window at TKTS Times Square? When you get to TKTS, check the board that displays what shows are on sale. Any show with a "P" next to the title is also Available at the "Play Only" window. Walk up to Window #12, where a sign reads "Play Only," and get your tickets.
Of course, you can buy a play at any TKTS Discount Booth window, but why wait if you don't have to?
TKTS Times Square hours are
Mon.: 3-8 p.m.
Tues.: 2-7 p.m.
Wed.: 10-2 p.m. (for matinees); 3-8 p.m. (evening performances)
Thurs.: 3-8 p.m.
Fri.: 3-8 p.m.
Sat.: 10-2 p.m. (for matinees); 3-8 p.m. (evening performances)
Sun.: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (for matinees); 3 p.m.-7 p.m. (evening performances)
For a shorter wait for all shows, check out TDF's Lower Manhattan TKTS Booth at South Street Seaport (corner of Front and John Streets). Hours for this location are:
Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. for evening performances
Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for evening performances
Matinee performances are sold only on the day before the performance at this location (i.e., Wednesday matinees sold on Tuesday, Saturday matinees sold on Friday, Sunday matinees sold on Saturday).
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