Broadway Roulette | See a show in NYC without breaking the bank

Listen up. I am someone who LOVES a deal. $5 jeans from the thrift store? On it. Free entry day at the local museum? Bet your butt I’m there! As much as I love finding a great deal, I EQUALLY love telling everyone about it immediately. That is why I’m putting you onto one of New York City’s best kept secrets: Broadway Roulette.

I absolutely love spending an evening at Broadway.. But shows can be SO expensive these days. $200+ for Hamilton?! $120 for Lion King (times 5 tickets for the kids)?! A night out on Broadway for a family could end up running you easily $500. And if it’s Friday or Saturday night, you can add another $100. 

Broadway Roulette is your way to get guaranteed tickets to a Broadway show any day of the week for under $60. WHAT!? That is correct. This guide will tell you everything you need to know to spin the Broadway Roulette wheel and see an amazing show on the cheap.

Photo Credit: James Ting via Unsplash

Everything you need to know about Broadway Roulette

Broadway Roulette is exactly what it sounds like. You purchase your tickets, spin the wheel, and win tickets to a random show that is playing on Broadway on your selected date. 

It is a great and affordable option to see a Broadway show for well under $100 per ticket. Plus – the roulette is fun! You might get tickets for a show you’ve never heard of – and it will BLOW your mind. 

Broadway Roulette is a great option for those of us who have a hard time making decisions! Take a leap of faith and let the universe decide what show you are attending, guaranteed.

How does Broadway Roulette work?

First, pick your date and the number of tickets you want to purchase. You can book up to 6 tickets at a time up to four months in advance of your show date. 

Next, customize your spin. You can select ‘Musicals’, ‘Plays’ or ‘Both’. From the list of available plays on your selected date, you can cross off a number of shows that you do not want to see. Not feeling Bad Cinderella? Cross it off. Want to roll the dice with all options? Keep them all in there! For $10 more, you can cross two more shows off your list to narrow down your options even further. When your list looks good to go, submit your payment and spin the wheel!

Finally, get your tickets and head to your show! On the day of the performance, you will receive a text message with the name of the show that you won tickets to. Now, all that is left is to enjoy the show!

Photo Credit: Sudan Ouyang via Unsplash

What days of the week can I purchase tickets for?

Head to Broadway Roulette’s official website for your chance to spin the wheel!

What days of the week can I purchase tickets for?

Broadway roulette offers spins for every night of the week, except Monday. This includes both matinee and evening performances. Tickets on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday cost $49 – and Friday, Saturday and Sunday cost $59. This is due to a higher demand for tickets on weekends. 

How many tickets can I purchase on Broadway roulette?

You can purchase up to 6 tickets with one roulette spin. Groups under five people are guaranteed to have seats next to each other, but groups of five or six may have to split up. But Broadway Roulette will ensure that no member of your group has to sit alone. A the very least, you will have a buddy! 

All members of your party will absolutely be at the same show. No worries there. 

How much does a Broadway Roulette spin cost?

A Broadway Roulette spin starts at $49 per ticket. But a few add-ons and customizations may increase the cost a bit. Below is a breakdown:

  • Weekend show: +$10 per ticket (due to high demand)
  • Family friendly show: +$20 per ticket (due to the fact that family friendly shows drastically reduces the number of possibilities)
  • Premium spin for orchestra seats: +$30 per ticket (due to high demand and cost point for these seats).
  • Extra cross-offs: +$10 per ticket (increased likelihood that you’ll see a show you want)
  • Ticket protection: +$5 per ticket
  • Processing fee: +$9

If you want to enhance your spin, you may pay a little more. But the final cost is still well below ticket value. In my opinion? Weekend shows are worth the extra amount. But I would forgo the rest and let fate decide!

If you have kids, family friendly is certainly the move.

What shows can I see through Broadway Roulette?

All shows, both plays and musicals, that are currently playing on Broadway are fair game for a Broadway Roulette spin. Yes – this includes Hamilton. You can see the list of available shows are the time of your selected date on the Broadway Roulette website.

Note that shows may open and close suddenly, and that the list typically does not include shows that are currently in ‘preview’.

When do I find out my spin results?

Your tickets (and the show you won) will be texted to you the morning of your selected date at 11am EST! 

How should I dress for a Broadway show?

Although there is no formal dress code for a Broadway show, people tend to get a little dressed up for a night on the town. For men: a button down and nice pants would work well. For women: dresses, nice jeans or a skirt and top combo would work well. 

Is Broadway Roulette worth it?

UNDOUBTEDLY, YES! Broadway Roulette is one of my very favorite hacks I found living in the city. Essentially, it is like a guaranteed winning of an elusive Broadway lottery.

I’ve played the lottery four times with friends and won tickets to Kimberly Akimbo, Aladdin, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and Six. Some of these were shows I knew very little about and probably would not have opted to purchase full-price tickets to at $150 a pop. But I was BLOWN AWAY by all of these performances.

If you live in the city, Broadway Roulette is a wonderful activity to do with visiting friends and family. If you are traveling from out of town, then it is a great way to check a Broadway show off your bucket list without breaking the bank.

As an added bonus? It is SO FUN. There is an odd amount of anticipation and excitement when you are waiting to hear the results. 

Photo Credit: Andreas M. via Unsplash

That’s all, folks!

Broadway Roulette is the absolute greatest way to see a show on Broadway without breaking the bank on high ticket prices. Hopefully this guide convinces you to take your chances and give the wheel a spin!

Have you played Broadway Roulette before? Drop a comment below with the show that you won.