Planning a trip to see a Broadway show? Check out the Top 10 most affordable getaways
Everybody (well, most everybody) loves a Broadway show but ticket prices and travel arrangements can often be extravagantly priced. Help is on the way as new research has revealed the most affordable musicals to visit on Broadway this March and April, if you’re up for a visit to the city that never sleeps. The data, compiled by theatre tickets company SeatPlan, looked at three different metrics to give the shows a score rating out of 100, including:
- the average price for the cheapest ticket- which can change daily-,
- the cost for one night in a local hotel within a kilometer, and,
- the number of available seats for the least expensive tickets.
The metrics were then scaled and weighted, revealing a score out of 100 for each show.
And, of the Top 10 choices, research shows that of the most affordable musicals to visit on Broadway this March and April, Days of Wine and Roses comes out as the best choice for those looking to take a trip see the city lights.
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#1 Days of Wine and Roses
The study revealed that Days of Wine and Roses was named the cheapest total trip, with a score of 90.8 out of 100. The musical, which opened at the end of January in the Studio 54 Theatre and has a limited run on Broadway, has an average price of $220 per night for a hotel room and had an average of $70 dollars for the cheapest tickets. The show finishes its current Broadway run on April 28th. The show is an adaptation of the 1958 teleplay and 1962 film of the same name. Kelli O’Hara and Brian d’Arcy James currently star in the musical that tells the story of two people falling in love in New York, although the show involves heavy themes of alcoholism as the two fall into despair.
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#2 Spamalot
Ranking as the second cheapest trip out is Eric Idle’s Spamalot, playing at the St James Theatre, which received a score of 85.2 in the index ranking. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award nominated Josh Rhodes, the show earned its place here thanks to its average cheapest ticket price being $74. Alongside this, the average nearby hotel price costs just $219 per night. The show is based on the classic 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail and originally opened on Broadway in 2005 but closed in 2009 before being revived last year. Currently, stars include Chrstopher Fitzgerald, Alex Brightman and Leslie Rodriguez as well as soon-to-be Wicked film star Ethan Slater.
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#3 The Lion King
Next on the list is the iconic The Lion King, playing at the Minskoff Theatre. The show is well established, having been on Broadway since November 1997, and receives a score of 75.2 in the rankings. Surprisingly, the show currently has one of the lowest median hotel prices, with prices currently around $207 per night for one room for two adults, although the cheapest tickets will set you back $172 for a seat.
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#4 The Book of Mormon
In fourth place is The Book of Mormon, with a score of 69.9. Written by the creators of South Park, the nine-time Tony Award winning musical is playing at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre and features performances from Kevin Clay, Cody Jamison Strand, and Kim Exum. The adult musical, which won a Grammy for best musical theatre album in 2012, opened in 2011 and has since had much success. The cheapest tickets are currently priced around $97 and nearby hotels cost an average of $222 per room per night.
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#5 Wicked
Certain to find a renewed popularity this year following its film adaptation, Wicked comes in fifth place. The show, playing at the Gershwin Theatre, has found a large following since its opening in 2003, so far having been seen by over 65 million people across 16 different countries. The musical gained its place as fifth on the list thanks to its average price point for the cheapest tickets being $129 and this, paired with an average price of $250 for a nearby hotel, landed it a score of 68.9.
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Top 10 Affordable Musicals to see on Broadway, Ranked below
| Rank | Show | Average of cheapest tickets | Cost for one night in a hotel | Score |
| 1 | Days of Wine and Roses | $70 | $220 | 90.8 |
| 2 | Spamalot | $74 | $219 | 85.2 |
| 3 | The Lion King | $172 | $207 | 75.2 |
| 4 | The Book of Mormon | $96 | $222 | 69.9 |
| 5 | Wicked | $130 | $250 | 68.9 |
| 6 | Sweeney Todd | $89 | $340 | 63.9 |
| 7 | Moulin Rouge! The Musical | $92 | $358 | 60.7 |
| 8 | MJ the Musical | $112 | $392 | 55.4 |
| 9 | & Juliet | $114 | $373 | 52.8 |
| 10 | Hamilton | $172 | $363 | 41.0 |
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#6 Sweeney Todd
Sixth most affordable is the recently revived Sweeney Todd, playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, with its music and lyrics written by the late Stephen Sondheim. The musical gained a score of 63.9 in the rankings. Presently, Grease: Live and Les Misérables actor Aaron Tveit is starring in the titular role alongside musical legend Sutton Foster and Heartstopper actor Joe Locke. The cheapest tickets are priced around $89, with local hotels costing on average $340 for a room.
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#7 Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Another film-turn-musical adaptation, Moulin Rouge! at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre comes in seventh place, receiving a score of 60.7. The average price of the lowest priced tickets currently stands around the $92 mark with nearby hotels offering stays for roughly $358 per night.
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#8 MJ the Musical
With a score of 55.4, MJ the Musical comes in eighth place. The musical, set during Michael Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour, playing at the Neil Simon theatre, set records after it made then-Michael actor Myles Frost the youngest-ever Tony Award winner for best actor. Cheaper tickets can currently be found averaging $112 for the show, with local hotels costing around $392 per night.
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#9 & Juliet
In ninth place is the jukebox musical & Juliet with a score of 52.8; the show is playing at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre currently. The musical, which is one of the newest on the list, opened in November 2022 and visitors can grab cheap tickets for around $114.
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#10 Hamilton
Rounding off the list is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s iconic Hamilton with a score of 40. The hip-hop musical, based on the founding father Alexander Hamilton, is currently playing at the Richards Rodgers Theatre and fans can grab cheaper tickets for an average of $172.
Ben Jackson, CEO of SeatPlan, commented on the findings: “Musicals can appeal to a broad range of people, and it is key that many get to experience the exciting atmosphere of top shows with reasonably priced tickets. The research revealed not only that larger-scale productions like The Lion King, Hamilton, and Wicked offer budget-friendly entertainment, but also highlights the allure of newer and emerging musicals as great options for a Broadway outing. As the prestigious Tony Awards approach in June, seizing the opportunity to witness decorated classics or explore potential award-winning shows could make for an enriching experience.”
“It is no surprise that the musical theatre industry struggled post-pandemic resulting in more expensive ticket prices. But it is reassuring that many shows still have affordable seating so a variety of people can treat themselves and their friends and family to a special day or night out on Broadway.”
Many of Ace News Today’s readers are also Broadway aficionados. If you have any suggestions for saving a few dollars when visiting NYC for a show, please drop a comment below.
And if you’re not familiar with the incredible story behind “The Days of Wine and Roses,” check out the video below.
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(Source and all Images: SeatPlan)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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