It all started with Rent, which, at the peak of its popularity, sold all seats in the first two rows of orchestra for $20 to whomever would get to the box office in time on the day of the performance. Naturally, students embraced the opportunity and lines formed at dawn. Since then, Broadway has offered rush and SRO tickets to encourage an enthusiastic theatre community.

Rush and SRO tickets are sold on the day of the performance, usually as soon as the box office opens, unless otherwise specified. Many policies are restricted to students and require student IDs. Seat location varies with different shows, from front row to real mezzanine. The wait in line is usually inevitable. For more popular shows, it’s reasonable to anticipate a wait spanning at least a couple of hours. Also, most box offices only accept cash for rush and SRO tickets.

Standing room patrons stand in numbered spaces that are the width of a regular seat. They are usually located at the back of the orchestra. SRO tickets are trickier to get because they are only available if the show is sold out. There’s no definite way to predict in advance whether a performance will sell out, without actually calling the box office a few hours before curtain time. Shows that sell out often include Hairspray, Mamma Mia, The Lion King, and The Producers. Also, it is likely that any show will sell out very early in its run. Unless otherwise specified, one SRO ticket is sold per person.

Here are the rush and SRO policies of different Broadway shows. Also included are shows whose regular tickets are similarly priced.

Note: This feature is updated periodically. 42nd Street
Type: Student Rush
Price: $21.50 per ticket
Time: 8pm evening shows are sold 4:30-5:30pm
2pm Wed. and Sat matinees are sold 11am-12
3pm Sun. matinees are sold 12-1pm
Amount: 1 ticket per person (22 tickets available)
Location: First row
ID: Full-time student ID and other government-issued picture ID (i.e. driver’s license)

Aida
Type: Student Rush
Price: $25 per ticket
Amount: 2 tickets per person
Location: Usually first and second rows
ID: Student ID
Type: SRO
Price: Mezzanine $15, Balcony $10

Avenue Q
Type: Lottery Rush
Price: $21.25 per ticket
Special Conditions: You will have to print your name and number of tickets you want on a card, which will be available starting at 5:30pm for 8pm shows; 11:30am for the 2pm Saturday matinees; Noon for the 2pm Sunday matinees; and 5pm for the 7pm shows. Cards will be placed in a container. Daily drawings will be held at 6pm for 8pm shows, 12 Noon for the Saturday matinees; 12:30pm for the Sunday matinees; and at 5:30pm for the 7pm shows. After the names have been drawn, the eligible ticket buyers will line up at the box office window to show proper identification and buy their ticket(s).
Amount: 2 tickets per person
Location: First two rows

Beauty and the Beast
Type: SRO
Price: $25 per ticket

Caroline, or Change
Type: SRO
Price: $26 per ticket

Chicago
Type: General Rush
Price: $26.25 per ticket
Amount: 2 tickets per person
Note: Not available for Saturday performances.
Type: SRO
Price: $21.25 per ticket

Fiddler on the Roof
Type: Student Rush
Price: $25 per ticket
Amount: 2 tickets per person
ID: Student ID

Frozen
Type: Student Rush
Price: $25 per ticket
Amount: 2 tickets per person
ID: Student ID

Golda’s Balcony
Type: Student Rush
Price: $26.25 per ticket
Amount: 1 ticket per person
ID: Student ID

Hairspray
Type: Lottery Rush
Price: $25 per ticket
Amount: 2 tickets per person
Special Conditions: Lottery takes place daily, and begins at 5pm for evening performances, 11am for Wed. and Sat. matinees, and 12 for Sun. matinees. There is no need to arrive early. Each person may enter only one name into the lottery. The individual whose name has been entered must be present to purchase tickets. There are 25 tickets available.
Location: Rear mezzanine
ID: Photo ID
Type: SRO
Price: $20 per ticket
Amount: 2 tickets per person

I Am My Own Wife
Type: Student and Teacher Rush
Price: $20 per ticket
Amount: 2 tickets per ID
ID: Student/Teacher ID

Little Shop of Horrors
Type: General Rush
Price: $26 per ticket
Amount: 2 per person
Location: First several rows. May be partial view.
Type: SRO
Price: $21 per ticket

Mamma Mia!
Type: Student Rush
Price: $30 per ticket
Amount: 2 tickets per person
Location: Mezzanine
ID: Student ID
Note: Wednesday matinee and evening, Thursday and Sunday evening only.
Type: SRO
Price: $20 per ticket
Time: 2 hours prior to curtain
Amount: 2 tickets per person (25 tickets available)

Movin’ Out
Type: Student Rush
Price: $30 per ticket
Time: 10am – 11am
Amount: 2 tickets per person
ID: Student ID
Note: Tues, Wed, Thurs. performances only
Type: SRO
Price: $20 per ticket

Rent
Type: Lottery Rush
Price: $20 per ticket
Time: Two hours prior to curtain
Amount: 2 tickets per person
Location: First two rows of orchestra
Special Conditions: Lottery drawing held at the theater.
Type: SRO
Price: $20 per ticket

Sight Unseen
Type: Student Rush
Price: $26 per ticket
Amount: 2 tickets per person
ID: Student ID

Sly Fox
Type: Student/Senior Rush
Price: Orchestra, Box Seats and Front Mezzanine: $46.25 per ticket; Rear Mezzanine: $36.25 per ticket
ID: Student ID or seniors’ proof of age

The Boy From Oz
Type: Student Discount
Price: $30.25 per ticket
Amount: 4 tickets per ID
Location: Rear mezzanine
Note: Available for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday performances only. Sold no more than one week in advance.

The Lion King
Type: SRO
Price: Orchestra $20, Mezzanine $15
Amount: 1 ticket per person (22 tickets available)

The Phantom of the Opera
Type: SRO
Price: $20 per ticket (28 tickets available)

The Producers
Type: SRO
Price: Tues-Fri. evenings $26, Wed. matinees $21, Sat. and Sun $31
Time: Two hours prior to curtain
Amount: 2 tickets per person

Wicked
Type: Lottery Rush
Price: $25 per ticket
Time: Two and a half hours prior to curtain
Amount: 2 tickets per person (28 tickets available)
Special Conditions: People will have their names placed in a hat, and drawn 30 minutes later.
Location: Front row

Wonderful Town
Type: Student Rush
Price: $25 per ticket
Amount: 2 tickets per person
ID: Student ID
Type: SRO
Price: $26 per ticket