Where is the best place to sit for a Broadway musical? (2023)

Where are the best seats for a musical?

Orchestra Section

Considered the best tickets in the house, these seats are on the main level of the theatre and offer the closest seating to the stage. The Orchestra is usually divided into 3 sections with a left and right aisle (though this can vary from theatre to theatre).

Not usually because the stage floor will be too high to see all of the action, especially dancing in a musical. Usually, it is best to seat about 5 rows back where the rake of the audience begins. The exception is if you just want to be as close as possible to a celeb you want to see.

Most Broadway theaters have three sections, namely, orchestra, front mezzanine, and rear mezzanine. There are some smaller theaters, like the August Wilson, that have only two, orchestra and mezzanine. There are box seats on either side of most theaters too for patrons looking for a private theater viewing experience.

Where should I sit for a Broadway show? The best seats are at least 4 or 5 rows back in the center up to about the 12th row in the orchestra. Most seats in the front mezzanine are also quite good.

Rows D to G in the Center Orchestra are premium seats with excellent views of the stage. From this position, theatergoers aren't too close for comfort, but can still enjoy plenty of detail. Rows F and G in particular are great for getting a wider look at the stage and set pieces.

Both formal and informal clothing is accepted. From casual t-shirts, jeans and flip-flops to a cocktail dress or tuxedo, the spectrum of audience style is so broad that there is no specific dress code.

“Ideally the best place to sit in a theater is in the middle of the theater, in the middle of the aisle, giving you a nice, central view of the screen.

There is no law against walking out the door during intermission, but it can be a dilemma.

Most seats in Broadway theatres are about the same size of standard economy airline seats, which can be very painful to a tall person. Airlines allow tall people to upgrade their seat for a cost, but Broadway never really offers seats with more legroom for tall people.

Is it better to sit in mezzanine or orchestra?

Orchestra seats get you closest to the stage, but being in the mezzanine or balcony can give you a wider, fuller view of the stage from a little higher up, especially as compared to a section like the side orchestra, where you might be closer, but might not have a full view of one far side of the stage.

The closer you are to the stage, the more you want to be over to the center to avoid obstructed view situations. But don't worry if you're in the very last seat on the side of a row. If you're more than six rows back, you shouldn't have much trouble seeing everything.

For the best seat in a movie theater, sit in the center roughly two-thirds back from the front so that you view the screen at a roughly 38-degree angle. Buy your tickets ahead of time and go to a theatre where you can choose your seats to get the optimal viewing experience.

At most theatres, Balcony seats are the farthest away and are typically the cheapest Broadway tickets. At theatres with a Balcony and no Mezzanine, these are usually excellent seats. At theatres with both tiers, Mezzanine seats are always the better seats.

There is no dress code for Broadway theatres. For all performances, attire should be comfortable and appropriate for the occasion.

Timing your reservation to an hour and a half before the start of your show should give you plenty of time to eat. If your show starts at 8pm, plan your dinner for 6:30pm. If you are dining with a very large group or you are a particularly slow eater, allow for some extra time.

Broadway doesn't have a specific dress code (anymore). Some people go in jeans and others make a special night of it and dress up. As long as you've got a ticket they'll let you in the door. But that doesn't mean you should show up looking like you've just rolled out of bed.

Can you bring a backpack into a Broadway theatre? Yes. Just make sure it's small enough to tuck in under your chair during the performance.

The Race to the Restroom

There are still a few old Broadway theaters that have restrooms with just three or four stalls in them. Thankfully most theaters have upgraded their facilities by now, but the restroom line continues to be epic during Broadway intermissions.

Do you do your own makeup on Broadway?

A show's original actors do have a say in their make-up, just as they often talk with the costume designer about which costumes fit the character, and with the director about how to play the character. The performers apply their own make-up.

For a standard movie theater with exit rows on the sides (as opposed to down the middle, as some older theaters have), the best spot is as close to dead center as you can get. “I've always felt the obvious best spot to sit in a movie theater is in the center of the room, center with the screen.

Rows A to C of the Center Mezzanine are excellent for direct overhead views. From this vantage point, patrons can see the full sweep of a grand musical without having to look up at the stage for extended periods. Rows D and E are also good for cheaper seats.

Can I wear sneakers to a Broadway show? Technically sneakers are allowed, but I would avoid them if possible. Many people choose to wear dress shoes or boots, and sneakers can often look a bit too casual for the theatre setting.

New York City Audience Preferences

Manhattanites, on the other hand, favor weeknights for attending Broadway theater. Thursday night performances are the most desired, followed by Tuesday nights.

Arrive a little early

So arrive at least an extra ten or fifteen minutes ahead of when you would usually plan to get to the theater—especially if you want to buy concessions or go to the bathroom.

Head towards Times Square while constantly still refreshing—as showtime gets closer, you'll see prices slowly go down.

These are assigned by Broadway Inbound within a few hours after purchasing them. We can request a change of your seats if you can provide information outlining a general direction to move towards. This does not guarantee that a change would be possible.

While the back may be the safest option comfort-wise, experts say that the middle row has the best seating. According to Groupon, an ideal row in the movie theater is “the center row and the four rows behind it, which is about one-half to two-thirds back.”

Where to Sit. For the best visual experience, a 36-degree viewing angle is the best. For video experience, choose the farthest seat from the screen so that you don't strain your eyes while following the picture all over the screen. The farthest seat ensures comfort for the posture, the eyes, and the neck.

Is Dress Circle better than orchestra?

The Dress Circle is the tier located directly above the Orchestra, with a more intimate seating capacity of just over 450 seats.

Mezzanine seating can offer a more panoramic view and, if you're in the first row or two, you'll often be closer to the stage than you would have been in the orchestra. "I think that the front, center mezzanine is the best spot" says Elf Niece - "there you can see the whole stage without missing detail in the show."

Question and Answer

On stage, Noh actors generally work on the basis that the side of the stage on their left (right for the audience) is superior in rank. It is a general rule that a performer takes a step to the left when he moves from a stationary position, at the beginning of a dance, for example.

Be kind. This is hands down the most important rule in theatre. No matter how much you may hate your job or how much you dislike a co-worker, you must always always be kind.

Theater style seating is an arrangement of chairs in rows, arcs or circles that all face the same direction in the venue space. There are no tables, desks, or additional furniture used in theater style seating.