BroadwayGirlNYC: Cheap Seats - HipTix!

This past Saturday I saw Everyday Rapture on Broadway, and brought my friend John who almost never goes to the theatre.  It isn't that he doesn't enjoy it – in fact, he came out of the show this weekend raving.  His excuse, like so many others, is that Broadway tickets just cost too much to rationalize.

For John's sake, and the sake of so many other friends (online and off) who ask me "how do you afford to see so many shows?!," I am going to periodically dedicate my column to secrets of saving money on Broadway tickets.  I call this feature Cheap Seats.

Today, I'm celebrating the organization that helped me convince John to break out his wallet for Broadway this weekend – HipTix, a service of the Roundabout Theatre Company.

HipTix was created by RTC in recognition of the fact that while so many young people can't afford to pay full price for Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets, young patrons are vital to the life and survival of a theatrical community.  In order to encourage burgeoning theatre fans, HipTix was born especially for ticket-buyers between the ages of 18-35. 

Here's how it works:

• You must be 18-35 years old to be a member of HipTix.
• Members are eligible to buy two tickets at $20 each to every production Roundabout puts on.
• There is no requirement to buy any tickets, ever – see the ones you want, skip the ones you don't.
• Members are invited via email to free special events, including catered parties and cast meet-and-greets!
• You do NOT have to be a student; you do NOT have to stand in long day-of rush lines; you do NOT have to cross your fingers in hopes of scoring lottery tickets.  Tickets can be purchased in advance, and are available to EVERY performance.
• Join by phone at 212-719-1300 or online at www.hiptix.com.

As if $20 tickets weren't enough of a reason to join, on special occasions the HipTix deals get even better.  For example:

On Saturday July 3rd, HipTix offered tickets to Everyday Rapture for only $11.50 each. This, my friends, is remarkable. Toy Story 3 at the Regal Movie Theater (right across the street) costs $13 per ticket, or $17.50 in 3-D.  Realizing this, I almost choked with gleeful laughter as I handed the usher my $11.50 ticket to Everyday Rapture.  Talk about entertainment in three dimensions!  There is nothing so exciting as a live show on Broadway.  And when the ticket doesn't cost you a week's salary – or in this case, even as much as lunch! – the enjoyment is that much greater.

(Saturday was only one of several recent "special" days for HipTix members.  Over Memorial Day weekend, tickets to Sondheim on Sondheim were offered at $11.50 too!)

What can you see coming up at the Roundabout this season with your $20 HipTix?  Check out this remarkable lineup:

• A Brief Encounter by Noel Coward – September 2010
• Cherry Jones in Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw – September 2010
• The Language Archive, a new play by Julia Cho – September 2010 (Off-Broadway)
• The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde – December 2010
• Olympia Dukakis in The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore by Tennessee Williams – January 2011 (Off-Broadway)
• Sutton Foster in Anything Goes by Cole Porter – February 2011

Joining is free. Tickets are $20. The shows are hot and the stars are big and it's all on the sparkling stages of Broadway.  So, what are you waiting for?!?!?!?

www.hiptix.com

****For the record: I have no personal affiliation with The Roundabout Theatre Company or with HipTix, except as a member.  They offered me no compensation or reward for writing this column, nor did they even know I was writing about it in advance!