Tickets for the festival, intended to draw new audiences to the New York State Theater, are $25 for every seat. The first night, September 8, includes highlights from the 2005-06 schedules as well a performer by pop singer Rufus Wainwright. On September 9, actress Cynthia Nixon introduces a performance of Puccini's
Madama Butterfly.
According to NYCO, when the box office for the festival opened on August 22 at 10 a.m,, the line of ticket buyers extended partway around the exterior of the New York State Theater. By yesterday afternoon, the performance of Madama Butterfly was sold out. Some tickets remained for the September 8 concert.