August 29, 2025
The lights of Broadway have never shone brighter. The 2024-2025 season was a historic triumph, with the industry grossing a record $1.8 billion and marking a full recovery from the COVID shutdowns. This monumental success story is only possible thanks to countless tickets purchased by eager audiences willing to pay for the unparalleled magic of live theater. But behind that magic lies a pricing structure that leaves many fans wondering: how much does it really cost to see a show on Broadway?
While the average ticket price provides a starting point, the reality is that two people seeing the same show on the same night can pay vastly different amounts. From the type of show you see to the day of the week you attend, a multitude of factors influence the final number. This guide will break down those key elements so you can understand the market and navigate your next ticket purchase—or resale—with confidence.
According to the latest report by the Broadway League, the average ticket price for the 2024/2025 season was $129.12. This figure takes into account all performances for the season, from previews to long-running hits, and provides a useful snapshot of what audiences are paying. That being said, prices can vary widely by performance and seat type.
Let’s take a closer look at the different factors that impact the price of Broadway tickets.
Production type is one of the most significant factors determining your ticket's cost. Contrary to what one might assume, the lavish spectacle of a musical is not the top price category. For the 2024/2025 season, plays commanded the highest average price at $141.03. Musicals followed at $126.49, while other special engagements (often limited-run or solo performances) were considerably more affordable, averaging $86.97.
This pricing structure makes sense in light of audience demand, which tips dramatically in favor of musicals. Musicals sold over ten thousand tickets and grossed almost $1.5 billion in 2024/2025. Plays, by contrast, admitted a much smaller audience of approximately three thousand. With a shallower pool to spread production costs across, producers of plays may set a higher average price to turn a profit. Furthermore, the 2024/2025 season was somewhat outstanding for the number of stars that appeared on Broadway (including figures like George Clooney and Denzel Washington).
How popular a show currently is has a major impact on the cost. Right now, premium seats on a Saturday in the Mezzanine for Maybe Happy Ending are listed for over $600, a price that reflects viewers’ love of the 2025 Tony Award winner for Best Musical as well as one of its biggest stars (Darren Criss). People are racing to grab the final tickets to see Criss, who is leaving the show soon. We may see prices drop once he leaves.
Similarly, Hamilton tickets for a Saturday evening go up to about $500 for a seat close to the stage as the performance approaches its ten year anniversary. So while one show is almost ten years old and the other has only been running for a year, both command high prices thanks to their popularity.
As Hamilton reveals, long-running, much beloved shows can stay pricey for a long time. At the time of publication, you can watch The Lion King up close on a Saturday for around $300, which is a relatively low price for the performance thanks to the tourist season winding down. New shows, by contrast, can sometimes offer better deals since they have room to gain in popularity.
When you choose to see a show is a significant factor in how much you'll pay for admission. Evening performances, particularly the prime weekend evening slots, are the most in-demand and therefore command the highest prices. Conversely, you can often find better deals for weekday nights and weekday matinees (afternoon shows, often held on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays depending on the show). Weekend matinees can be pricier because they are popular with older theater-goers, but it never hurts to look for deals.
Planning your theater trip for one of these off-peak times is one of the most effective strategies for securing a more affordable ticket. Prices also tend to fluctuate around tourist habits. For example, if you plan your theatre trip near a holiday, expect prices to be higher
Everyone knows that you have to pay for the best seats. But on Broadway, that cost can be 2-3 times as much as the average ticket (or even more). At the time of this article, you can score Orchestra seats for Hadestown from anywhere between $126 and $276 depending on whether you opt to sit on the sides or in the middle (respectively).
There are a variety of ways to score last-minute ticket deals for Broadway. The oldest and best known method is visiting a TKTS booth, which sells same-day Broadway tickets at a discount. There is one in Times Square and also at Lincoln Center.
Standing in line at a TKTS booth is the traditional way to get up to 50% off Broadway tickets, but it does come with some challenges. Lines can be as long as two hours, and the booths have limited availability of top 10 Broadway shows as well as seats that are together. You can avoid standing and waiting by looking for Discount Tickets online, but availability can also be an issue with these tickets as well.
Another great way to find Broadway ticket deals is through resellers that offer a price-paid guarantee like the Theatr app. Our app is an online platform for people who need to resell their theater, musical, or other show tickets. If your plans change, and you can’t make a show you already bought tickets for, reselling on Theatr lets you recover some of the money you spent. In order to sell with us, however, you must list your ticket for price paid or lower, meaning no scalping.
For buyers, that means platforms like Theatr can be a place to find great deals on last-minute Broadway and other tickets. You also have a better chance of finding seats for a top 10 performance than you do at the TKTS booth.
If the average ticket price seems too high, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to see a Broadway show for under $100. The tips we listed above for finding last-minute deals are a great place to start. If you download the Theatr app, go to the Marketplace, and sort by “cheapest” tickets, you’ll find some amazing deals (though you may have to be quick). In a recent listing, $31 tickets to Hamilton sold out on our platform in 4 minutes. But there are lots of performances in the $50-$100 range that are less competitive.
It’s also possible to purchase Broadway tickets directly for under $100 depending on what show you see, what time the performance starts, and where you sit. For instance, you can currently see Mamma Mia! for under $100 if you go in the afternoon in the middle of the week and sit farther back.
To summarize, the best ways to find Broadway tickets for under $100 include
Finding yourself with tickets to a show you can no longer attend doesn't mean you have to lose your investment. Reselling them on a trusted platform is a great solution, but it's important to do so responsibly and in line with platform policies. Our platform prioritizes a fair and ethical marketplace for all theatergoers, meaning all tickets must be listed at price paid or less.
So, how do you determine the right price? For the hottest shows, start with the original price you paid, including any service fees. This number is your absolute maximum listing price. In addition, when you list the tickets, Theatr provides an advanced pricing recommendation engine that takes historical data and suggests an optimal price that helps you sell while ensuring you maximize your return. If you want to make your listing more attractive and ensure a quicker sale, consider pricing them below price paid.
Ready to experience the magic of Broadway without the premium price tag? Download the Theatr app today to effortlessly browse, compare, and secure the best deals on tickets for every show so that your next night at the theater is both unforgettable and affordable.
