Is the TDF National Membership worth it?

[thisisu]

Hi! I've always watched this board but never posted, but I thought perhaps you would help me on this?

I'm from California and I'll be going to NYC for the second time this December. I've been saving up my summer job money for this, so I want to see as many shows as I can possibly afford. Last time I came in the summer and I rushed/lotto for about 5 out of the 7 shows I ended up seeing. But because it's the holidays I'll be arriving in so I'm not sure I'll have the same luck that I did before.

I can't afford spending about $150 per show, so I've been looking at other alternatives. For those that have TDF memberships, is it worth it? I'm hoping that if I get the national membership I'll be able to purchase tickets soon for performances in late December/ early January. Also what shows are currently available?

Shows I'm thinking of seeing: Once, Newsies, Bare and Edwin Drood, but I'm also open to any suggestions :)

[muscle23ftl]

I don't think it's going to work out for you, because it's not very likely to be able to select exact dates on TDF.
I think you're better off with lottos and rush tix.

Suggestion: Skip Once and see Nice Work If You Can Get It.

[Quiche2]

I agree with muscle, TDF often won't give you the option for exact dates. But as for shows, I hated ONCE. NICE WORK was good, but if you really wanna see something great, I'd go either BOOK OF MORMON, WICKED, or PHANTOM. Those are some of my favorites.

[macnyc]

That is not true that TDF doesn't give you options for exact dates. There is a drop-down menu for each show that allows you to pick among the available dates.

I think what the previous posters mean is that if you are in town for a particular date, some shows will be available and some won't. And of course not all shows are available on TDF either. If you aim to be in town midweek, that will increase the number of offerings, both on TDF and TKTS.

National membership is only $12 a year, so it's a bargain even if you see only one or two shows!

Assuming you're under 35, have you looked into the discount programs designed to attract younger audiences? For Drood, for example, you can join Roundabout's Hiptix program. It's free to join, and you can buy $22 seats (they will be in the mezz or balcony, I can't remember). If you upgrade to Hiptix Gold, you can get $20 orchestra seats. And other Roundabout shows are available.

[aasjb4ever]

Holy **** do not miss ONCE, especially with the OBC. I left the show deeply moved by the amazing theatricality of a very simple, beautiful story.

[gfaustswa]

I say go for it and buy the membership. I live in Nashville and joined a few months ago. I have only used it once since joining. I bought two tickets for my son and me to see Ghost. The membership more then paid for itself with that once purchase. It's worth the $12 risk that you will be able to buy even one ticket. Something else to think about is buying tickets in the last row of balcony. There are many times that those seats are less expensive then even the TDF price (which I think has gone up to a total of $49 per ticket). However, you are then guaranteed being in the back of the theatre. With the TDF tickets you don't know where you are sitting until you pick up the tickets.

[macnyc]

I'm usually very happy with the location of my TDF tickets. More often than not, they have been in the side orchestra sections.

Also, you can use TKTS for half-price tickets. That has cost me about $75 a seat, but I bet you can get cheaper if you don't mind sitting up high.

[secondstar2theright]

You *MUST* watch Peter and the Starcatcher!! It was amazing. I went in with not knowing what to expect and with just my love for Peter Pan and came out of the theater completely blown away. The set and lighting are amazing and the show is hilarious! Don't miss it!

[thisisu]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I signed up for HipTix like you all said and have now bought my Edwin Drood ticket

I'll be in the city from Dec. 24 through Jan. 4. I think I'm going to sign up for the TDF membership and give it a go. I'll probably buy 2 more tickets in advance and then rush/lotto the rest, but I'm assuming they'll be packed.

Either way, the hiptix suggestion was exactly what I was looking for! Thank you

[macnyc]

Great! Have a blast! You're in town long enough to see lots of fantastic shows.

[LuminousBeing]

I agree that you should not miss "Once!" One of my favorite theatrical experiences (and I've seen about 200 shows).

Another option for perhaps another trip is LincTix. If you are under 30, you can sign up with your e-mail address (it's free) and buy cheap tickets for any LCT production. It's one-time use per show. I used LincTix to see "War Horse" back when it was the hottest of hot tickets, and sat in the very front row for $30. Dazzling.

http://www.lct.org/linctixMain.htm

My one TDF story is that I got tickets to "The Scottsboro Boys" at the Lyceum before they posted their closing notice. My friend and I got dead-center first-row mezzanine seats. An absolutely ideal view for this show, and more than worth the $12 membership and $45 ticket price, since full-price tickets for that location were something like $179. And seeing it that close up was sublime.

[sadephram]

I have another question about Hiptix Gold.
I did everything they said on the website and received a confirmation that I became a "friend" of Roundabout but I don't know how to access those $20 orchestra seats, whenever I type in "Hiptix", the usual rear mezzanine seats appear.
Has anybody here ever bought those seats online ?

THANKS!

[macnyc]

Did you pay for Hiptix Gold?