At The Theatre
What to Expect
So you’ve bought your tickets, flown yourself to New York, checked into your hotel room — and it’s finally time to head to the show!! That’s awesome!
But what exactly happens when you get to the theatre? Here’s our 10 Point Plan on having a successful first-time at a Broadway theatre! (…because I know you don’t want to look like a newbie… who would?)
(LATEST REVISION December 1, 2023)
Ten Things to Expect at your First Theatre Outing
1. Make sure you know where the theatre is
First and foremost, know where you are going ahead of time. Leave yourself enough time to get there (Hopefully just walking from your Times Square Area hotel). Use Google maps on your smart phone for turn-by-turn walking directions.
2. Know where your tickets are!
So you’ve either been mailed your tickets, printed them at home, have them on a ticketing app on your phone (like Ticketmaster or SeatGeek), or are going to pick them up at the theatre Box Office — and if you’re seeing a few shows over a weekend, you may have a different delivery method for each show. Just be sure you know!
If your tickets are being held at the box office, I highly recommend going earlier in the day to fetch them. (Box offices generally open at 10am daily, and Sundays at noon.)
If you don’t get a chance to go earlier in the day, allot yourself an extra 5-10 minutes to pick them up at showtime as there can be a queue. You will likely be asked to show either ID or the credit card you charged the ticket order on, so have both with you in case you’re asked.
3. Be Ready for a Long Line and a Security Check
Broadway theatres open about 30 minutes prior to showtime — and the first thing you’ll notice as you approach is a huge line out the door. (Yes, that’s sadly the ticket holders line!) Do make sure you’re getting in the proper queue since 4 or 5 Broadway theatres are often side-by-side on the same street and their lines tend to overlap ( just ask the person ahead of you). You don’t need to be waiting in line for the wrong show!
As you approach the door, you will go through a small security check before entering the theatre. This isn’t an airport-stye pat down, but a brief bag-and-pocket check. Don’t bother bringing a large bag, suitcase, or even a big backpack — you might not be allowed to bring it inside the theatre. Have your purse or shoulder bag open and ready to show the security guard at the door.
Note: Most don’t allow outside food or drink (except water, and some don’t even allow that). Only a few theatres have a coat check anymore, and the space between rows of seating is tight, so travel light!
3a. COVID Protocols
4. Have your ticket In-Hand for the Ticket-taker
After the quick security check, an usher inside the lobby will scan the barcode on your hard ticket (or digital ticket on your phone) before allowing you into the theatre. Make sure not stack multiple tickets on top of one another, but rather fan them out with the barcodes exposed for the usher to quickly scan. If you have a digital ticket, make sure your phone is unlocked and the app open well before you reach the theatre entrance.
If there’s any problem with your ticket, you may be directed to the Box Office to fix the problem, but this is unusual.
5. In the Lobby
The lobby of every Broadway theatre is different, but with few exceptions, they are ridiculously small. Some theatres have only a small foyer with a larger lounge area on the lower level of the theatre, along with a bar and restrooms. In other theatres (like the Brooks Atkinson and Nederlander), this larger communal area is located on the Mezzanine level. (At the American Airlines Theatre, be sure to check out their huge 5th Floor lounge above the theatre — it’s massive and has a balcony overlooking the street!)
Most theatre lobbies will have a small area to buy merchandise from the show you’re seeing (tee shirts, mugs, hats, programs and the like), a bar, and a table where you can pick up Listening and/or Visual Assist Devices. (For a full list of services for the physically challenged available at each Broadway theatre, click here.)
6. Theatre Bars
You are allowed to bring cocktails and soft drinks to your seats in most Broadway theatres these days. Most theatres require you to take your drink (even bottled water purchased at the lobby bar) in a spill-proof cup — what I like to call the adult version of a kid’s “sippy cup” — which minimizes spills and messes. They also charge you extra for the privelidge although these cups can usually be taken home as a souvenir as well. A new trend at some plays is to not allow ice cubes in drinks as they rattle too much and distract the performers.
Drinks are expensive at the theatre, so don’t be surprised when the price of your “souvenir cups” with a couple of single-shot cocktails tops $50, and your small water bottle is $6 or more.
Most New York theatres are now doing what London theatres have done for decades: allowing you to pre-order a drink for intermission! If you’d like to have a beverage (alcoholic or not) waiting for you at the act break, you can pre-order/pre-pay with the bartender before the show starts, and your drinks will be poured and ready to go in a designated area of the bar during intermission. This is great way to avoid the rush/line and enjoy the act break at a more leisurely pace.
7. Find Your Seats
Once you’ve checked out the bar and merchandise, head into the main theatre and find our seats. (To understand the layout of Broadway theatre, click here). The ushers will guide you to your exact row and seat, and will hand you a copy of a Playbill program listing the cast, production crew, and other key information.
As you settle in to your seat, be sure to take in the theatre around you. Every Broadway house has a different look, style and feel; no two are exactly the same. The Playbill often includes a list of shows that have previously been performed at that theatre — learning this history is one of my favorite things to do before the curtain goes up!
8. In the Theatre and During the Show
Be sure to check out our Theatre Etiquette page for proper behavior in the theatre. But the top line is: be courteous, and remember you are not at home in your living room. Turn your phone off (don’t put it on “silent” or “vibrate” mode, but turn it off).
Don’t talk during the show (that includes singing along with the score — don’t do it!!).
Don’t rustle your candy wrappers or make noise that will disturb the people around you. If you know the show’s music, DO NOT sing along with the performers.
And whatever you do, don’t take photos or video, and don’t even think about texting during the performance! Enjoy 2 hours of a phone-free life!
9. Intermission
If you don’t feel like leaving your seat during intermission, it’s good to at least stand and get your blood flowing again. The bathrooms are small in Broadway theatres, so if you need to go, expect a slow line that might last the entire length of the intermission (which is usually 15 minutes). This is especially true of the Ladies Room.
Bars and merchandise counters will also be open during intermission (did you pre-order a drink? Go enjoy it!).
When it’s time to take your seats again, the house lights usually flash and you may hear a bell (or a xylophone) which announces 5 minutes until the curtain will go up for the next act. Make your way back to your seat promptly, especially if you’re in the center of the row.
10. Curtain Call
At the end of the show, please stay for the curtain call and show your appreciation to the cast with your applause. (Don’t be rude and scoot up the aisle during the cast bows.) Take the time while you’re waiting for the aisle to clear to exit and make sure you have all your belongings (bag, coats, souvenir Playbill, umbrella, etc.) and that you know the directions to where you’re headed next (hotel, meal, drinks, etc.).
Congratulations, you did it! You experienced your first Broadway show! Be sure to tell us all about it in the comments or in the Community Forums — especially if something was not exactly as you’d expected, or if you experienced something that might help our readers better enjoy their theatre-going experience.