Theatres and Seating for Newbies

THEATRES and seating for newbies

I was recently talking to someone who was excitedly planning her first Theatre Weekend. During the conversation, she asked where the best value tickets were in a theatre. When I answered, “Check out the Mezzanine or the Balcony,” she replied: “Aren’t they the same thing?” So it dawned on me that while Broadway theatres and seating might be super-obvious to an experienced theatre-goer, that’s clearly not the case for a theatre newbie. So let me help you try to make some sense of it! You’ll be a total pro in a few minutes — I promise!!

And once you’ve understood a Broadway Theatre layout and bought your tickets, be sure to check out our tips for what to expect at the theatre.

Understanding the Theatre’s Layout

Choosing which tickets to buy can actually be stressful if you’re not familiar with the layout of a Broadway house. Tickets are priced by section, and there is a variant of pricing within each section. So let’s have a quick look at how the theatres are generally laid out.

Take a look at the Seating chart below. The three primary seating sections in a Broadway Theatre are: The Orchestra (green section), The Mezzanine (in blue), and The Balcony (purple). Let’s break down each section…

Orchestra Section

Considered the best tickets in the house, these seats are on the main level of the theatre and offer the closest seating to the stage. The Orchestra is usually divided into 3 sections with a left and right aisle (though this can vary from theatre to theatre). Seat numbers on the side sections are divided into two-digit odd and even numbers, and the center section uses a 3-digit seat number starting at number 101.

“Premium” Orchestra Seats versus Standard Orchestra Seats

Within the Orchestra section, you’ll often find “Premium Seating,” which Broadway producers consider the best-of-the-best seating. These seats can cost as much as double as other Orchestra seats, but are purported to offer the very best views of the stage. Standard Orchestra seats are also fantastic, and will be the 2nd highest tier of pricing in the house. Take careful note when booking Orchestra seats, though, because you may find standard-priced Orchestra seats situated literally next to Premium Seats — for much less money and offering essentially the same sight-lines of the stage.

Seats toward the back of the Orchestra section will have yet another price drop from the front of the section (there can sometimes be two or three lower tiers of pricing at the very back). They may be designated as “Rear Orchestra” in some houses, but more than likely are just called “Orchestra” with a lower price tag.

Limited or Restricted View Orchestra Seats

Conversely, seats situated at the extreme sides of the Orchestra section may have limited views of the stage, but are often steeply discounted. (You may not be able to see the action at the extreme sides of the stage — but for most shows where the action takes place center stage, it may not matter!) Any time you buy a seat without a 100% clear view of the stage, it should be indicated as “Obstructed View” (or “Restricted View”) during the online booking booking process; it should also be printed on the ticket. (Check out our seat review links below!)

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Mezzanine Overhang of the Orchestra Section

Note that our Seating Chart example above indicates where the Mezzanine overhangs the Orchestra seats (in our example above, it’s at Row H). It’s important to note this as the acoustics are not always as good when sitting under the Mezzanine, and the sight-lines are more restricted by the overhang the further back one sits. This usually does not affect the enjoyment of the show, unless the set it very high and/or the play action takes place on the higher portion of the set (which is unusual).

Standing Room

Just behind the Orchestra section, there is often an area for Standing Room where patrons can buy tickets to stand and watch the show in designated, numbered positions. These tickets are usually sold at a very reasonable price (and usually only sold on the day-of-the-show), but there are no chairs at all (hence the name) so you’ll be on your feet the whole time.

(A side note: in British theatres, “The Orchestra” section goes by a different name — it is referred to as “The Stalls.”)

The Mezzanine

The first of two elevated sections just above the Orchestra is the Mezzanine. (Note: in some smaller Broadway theatres, this might be the only elevated section.) The front rows of the Mezzanine are often priced similarly to the Orchestra as they offer spectacular views of the production. The front of the mezzanine can also feel quite close to the stage, as well (as in our Seating Chart example above, the front of the Mezzanine overhangs the 8th row of the Orchestra — not bad!) Sight-lines — and prices — diminish the further back you sit, but can offer great value depending on the theatre and the show.

Be sure to check the Seat Review links below as the Mezzanine leg room in some older Broadway houses is extremely limited, especially in the front row. I sat in the front row of the Mezzanine recently which offered fantastic views — but I literally sat with my knees jammed against the front rail the entire time (and I’m just average height at 5′ 9″). So be sure to check to seat reviews.

(Also note: in British theatres, the “Mezzanine” level of the theatre is referred to as the “Dress Circle” or the “Royal Circle.”)

Box Seats

Several Broadway theatres offer a rather regal seating experience in an elevated Box Seat. These boxes are usually limited to about 4 free-standing chairs which can be positioned at-will, and which can feel quite exclusive. That being said, the boxes are on the extreme sides of the theatre — so while being quite pricey tickets, they may not offer a complete view of the stage. Check out reviews before buying (see links below).

Balcony Seats

At the very top of the theatre are the Balcony Seats. In many theatres, these can still offer great sight-lines of the stage and, more importantly, offer the best value in the house. Granted, some balconies can feel very high, and the seating rows are sharply staggered: if you are uneasy with heights or have trouble walking a steep staircase, these may not be the seats for you. There is rarely an elevator to the Balcony level, so you must also be prepared (and physically able) to walk up several flights of stairs to even access your seats.

But for a mere fraction of the cost of Orchestra seats, you can enjoy a fantastic Broadway show — and with contemporary sound design, there’s little degradation of audio even this far back and up.

(Note: In a British theatre, this level may be referred to as “The Gallery” or “The Balcony.”)

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Accommodating Special Needs

Most Broadway theatres can accommodate patrons with special needs. These include specially designed seating areas for wheelchairs, aplified listening devices, audio descriptions of the production, Open or Closed Captioning, Autism-friendly performances, etc.

For a show-by-show listing, click the icon below for the full Theatre Access NYC web site.

Theatres and Seating for Newbies