The Theatre Development Fund has announced that the redesigned TKTS booth will accept major credit cards in addition to cash and travelers checks for tickets to day-of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.
The news comes as welcome relief to theatregoers who have been hoping the midtown location would, like its counterpart booths located in downtown Brooklyn and South Street Seaport, accept credit card payments.
"We're thrilled to be able to improve our service for patrons and productions with this added feature at the new TKTS booth in Duffy Square," said TDF's executive director, Victoria Bailey in a statement. "This has been a goal for some time and we've been working out the logistics of accepting credit cards at TKTS. It turned out to be much more complicated than it might appear on the surface, but by working closely with Telecharge, Ticketmaster and The Broadway League, we've been successful in developing systems that will serve the many productions whose tickets we sell 365 days a year, while maintaining the transaction speed necessary to keep the lines moving quickly. We've been accepting credit cards at our South Street Seaport and Downtown Brooklyn TKTS Booths as a trial and I'm happy to report that the trials have been successful."
The brand new TKTS booth is part of a multimillion-dollar redevelopment of Duffy Square, the island located in the northern part of Times Square. Featuring an illuminated red glass staircase, the new TKTS booth, which has increased its box office from ten to twelve windows, will officially open at 3 PM on Oct. 16.
TKTS Duffy Square hours of operation follow: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 3 PM–8 PM for 8 PM performances; Tuesdays from 2 PM–8 PM for 7 PM and 8 PM performances; Wednesday and Saturday from 10 AM–2 PM for 2 PM matinees; and Sunday from 11 AM–3 PM for matinee performances and 3 PM–7 PM for evening performances. Since 1973 theatre lovers have been flocking to the booth, which offers discounted tickets for Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, music and dance events. Over 50 million tickets have been sold at TKTS locations in Duffy Square, South Street Seaport and the latest addition in downtown Brooklyn, accounting for upwards of $1.4 billion in revenue for productions.
