UYC’s Guide: 5 Ways To See NYC Theater For Free
I learned early on in my life as a New Yorker that if I wanted to see theater on more-than-an-occasional-basis, I was going to have to get a little creative. Sure, there’s tons of free shows performed outside during the summer, but what about the rest of the year?
After poking around a bit, I discovered that many of the theaters allow you to see shows for free in exchange for being an usher. The time commitment is only an hour pre-show which is spent stuffing Playbills and politely pointing folks to their seats, and then a quick 5 minutes after to collect any straggling programs or plastic cups of wine left behind. Here’s a few theaters I’ve volunteered at over the years, along with info on how to become involved:
New World Stages 340 West 50th Street To volunteer as an usher, choose the show you would like to see and email to volunteer@newworldstages.com, including your full name, the shows you are interested in seeing, and at least three dates you are available to usher. The Joyce Theater 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street To volunteer as an usher, call 646.792.8355. Second Stage Theatre (2 locations) 307 West 43rd Street or 2162 Broadway To volunteer as an usher, email the House Manager at JSchleifer@2ST.com, including your full name, phone number, and the productions in which you are interested in ushering. York Theatre Company 619 Lexington Avenue To volunteer as an usher, email the House Manager at ushering@yorktheatre.org, or reach him at 212.935.5820. Note: This theater also offers free readings that are open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. You still get the same great production, sans the costumes and scenery. A list of upcoming readings can be found here. The Roundabout Theatre Company (2 locations) The American Airlines Theatre 227 West 42nd To volunteer as an usher, stop by the box office Monday through Friday between 10am and 6pm and sign up for the date you’d like. or Studio 54 254 West 54th Street To volunteer as an usher, stop by the box office on Saturday between 5pm and 6pm to sign up.
While these are the theaters I have personal firsthand experience with, there are a plethora of other theaters that would be happy to have you as a volunteer usher…just reach out and ask! (Editor’s note: So far in my research the only Broadway theater that allows volunteer ushers is the Roundabout, listed above. You’ll get the most luck reaching out to Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway theaters.) You don’t need any special talents or skill sets to usher…just black dress pants, black shoes, a white button down shirt, and a friendly personality! (Although this is New York…the latter is debatable.)
What theaters have you been a volunteer usher for? Please leave info in the comments section below!
By: Jessica Tiare Bowen
LOL I used to volunteer as an usher here at the Riverside Studios. They even gave me a free supper, which, when I’d just graduated was a great way to get a good meal! Needless to say I saw some fab shows and ate well!
Fiona Maclean recently posted..Boqueria Tapas Bar Brixton – Review
Oh, LOVE that you got free dinner AND a free show! NYC needs to step it up to London standards!;-)
What a great tip! I would totally be an usher if I lived in New York!
Cari @ MeetMyHusband recently posted..A Newlywed’s Life: Sex Power
Thanks Cari!:-)
That’s such a cool idea! I think being an usher would be a blast anyway, free shows are just a bonus!
The Time-Crunched Traveler (Ellen) recently posted..The Perfect 3-Day Weekend: Las Vegas (beyond the casino!)
It’s one of those quintessential New York experiences, for sure!
This is actually amazing! I wonder if they do this in my town… I’ll be investigating! xxx
Scarlett recently posted..Tales of the Surreal.
Ohh, please do! Let us know:-)
The first time I visited NYC was with a chartered tour. As we drove through the nighttime glitz and glamor of Times Square, I asked if we could disembark and see a show. The guide said they were too expensive so the buses kept moving. Too bad I wasn’t armed with the information in your post. Of course, two busloads of volunteer ushers may have been a bit much.
ClinicalPosters.com recently posted..How Polls Improve Blog Content
Haha, you guys would have been able to staff all the theaters that night!;-)
Thanks Jess! Another great post for those incomely-challenged amongst us.
Sure thing! Glad you enjoyed it, Suzy!:-)
I was wondering how the non Wall Street workers were able to afford the theater in NYC. I’d surely volunteer one hour of my time before and a few minutes after.
I agree you must get creative to get anything you want in life. You might want to amass all your wonderful tips and make a quick, low cost PDF of How the Intrepid Survive the NYC…I bet you’d make a bundle
Bravo!
Linda Esposito recently posted..Narcissism on Steroids: When You’re a Legend in Your Own Mind
Fabulous idea, Linda! I’ve certainly learned a lesson or two about how to enjoy the city on a budget!:-)