Some people wonder about the difference between all of the different types of theater performances available in New York. When people say "New York City" they automatically think of Broadway or 42nd Street. While Broadway is known for its fantastically imaginative and entertaining shows, there are other types of theater that a visitor to the metropolitan area might want to experience. Here's the difference between types of theater: The three categories of theater in NYC are: Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Performing Arts.

Broadway Theater

Broadway is known for holding venues such as The Producers, 42nd Street, Lion King, Rent, Chicago… the list goes on. Usually, these theaters seat between 500 and 2000 people. The shows are often enormous in scale, and have big budgets that cover the extravagant costumes and spectacular sets. One example, is the current show at The Gershwin Theatre, "Wicked". The set may seem familiar, and rightly so if you are one of the millions of people that have seen "The Wizard of Oz". The show is described to be about the untold story of the witches of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch. The sets and costumes are completely magical and are well worth the price of the tickets.

Prices/Seating: Broadway tickets usually run between $40.00 and $900.00. This depends on the time of year and seating. When purchasing tickets, you might want to pay close attention to the seating chart. Seats that are all the way in the left or right aisle (especially in big theaters) or front rows (especially in the Mezzanine or Balcony) have lighting equipment or other visual obstructions that may obstruct views. Mezzanine seating is the best seating for the big theater shows (you get to see more of the action on the stage). Look for seats in the 100's (101, 104, 129, and etc) as they are usually in the center section with the best views.

Locations and Dates: Most Broadway theaters are located between 41st Street and 52nd Street and between Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue) and 8th Avenue. Show times vary since theatres constantly add or subtract show times. Some shows now have two performances on Sundays instead of the usual matinee. Some shows used to have matinee performances on Wednesdays but have cut down to just the evening performance. For a better idea of the times and days, you should check the schedule for each play.

Dress: In the past, tuxedo's and evening gowns were the usual sight at Broadway shows, but recently, they are not necessary. Formal dress is usually only found at show openings. A simple suit or dress pants will suffice and many people go business casual.
Attention Teachers: If you are a teacher and you wanted to do a different kind of field trip, consider joining the thousands of other teachers and their students in several scheduled theater workshops and matinee performances of some of the most famous Broadway productions, i.e. Chicago, Rent, Phantom of the Opera, etc. Contact our group department at 800-250-1942 or fill out the Group request form. Book ahead. Tickets go very quickly.

Off-Broadway Theater

The second category of theater is Off-Broadway. Tickets Off-Broadway is known for previewing Broadway shows before they get to the larger Broadway theaters, for example "Rent" played off Broadway for years prior to "moving up" . The theaters vary. Theaters range from being large, and not-for-profit to smaller experimental spaces. You may find that the larger theaters may also have been former factories or warehouses. An example of this is The Zipper Theater located on West 37th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue. The theater was originally a zipper factory. Inside you will be amazed at what the management decided to do when it came to design. Most of the seats for the audience are former car seats… We mean seats that you would sit on if you would drive a car. The bathrooms are also definitely not traditional.

Prices and Locations: Because of the usually non-traditional atmosphere of the Off-Broadway theaters, tickets are usually not as expensive as Broadway shows. Ticket prices vary between $10.00 to $100.00. The shows are usually non-musical but you may find a musical here and there. These theaters can be found all over Manhattan but a majority of them will be in midtown Manhattan west of 5th Avenue and west of East Village. Show times and performances vary. Venues change quite often at these theaters. Specific shows sometimes might last a week or a month or a year. So keep up with what each of the theaters is featuring.

Dress: Attire is casual. You would not be looked at in an odd way if you were nice jeans and a shirt.

Performing Arts

is basically the type of venue that is considered the "other". This includes dance, classical and jazz music, and other performance art. Tickets This type of performance is sometimes called "off-off Broadway". (If they are play oriented) This is the type of venue to go see if you are interested in ballet, opera, orchestra music, or improve. There are several venues to consider. If you're interested in seeing a dance performance, you can go to the American Ballet Theater, Joyce Theater, or Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. If you are interested in classical music or opera, you can go to Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall (New York Philharmonic), or the Metropolitan Opera House. If you are interested in a variety of performances, you can visit Lincoln Center, City Center, or even the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem. Prices, and attire are going to vary depending on the location and type of the performance. You can spend anywhere from $20 to $250. The types of shows change constantly so you are better off booking ahead of time.

Places To Stay

Looking for a Hotel near a Broadway, Off-Broadway or Performing Arts performance? There are several hotels that we recommend. The choice depends on location/area where you want to stay and how much you're willing to spend. The following are several hotels recommended depending on the venue that you are going. Click on any of the links to find out more information about either the venue or the hotel. Or seach all New York Hotels.