Theaters don’t advertise it, but there are cheap seats to be had for some of the best shows in town.

Goldstar Events offers discounted tickets for live entertainment; sign up for free weekly e-mails of what’s available at goldstarevents.com. Goldstar does charge a service fee and doesn’t have tickets for every show every night, but tickets are often half-price.

The Cultural Alliance’s TicketPlace, at 407 Seventh Street in Northwest DC, offers half-price day-of-show tickets. It’s open Tuesday through Friday 11 to 6, Saturday 10 to 5. Tickets for some events can be purchased online at ticketplace.org.

Many theaters offer discounts for seniors, students, and those under age 25. Some, including Round House in Bethesda and Woolly Mammoth in DC, offer pay-what-you-can nights. Arena Stage invites its neighbors in Southwest DC to buy $20 tickets for a Friday performance in each production.

There are last-minute deals. Signature Theatre offers $10 rush tickets if a show isn’t sold out; they go on sale 30 minutes before curtain. Two hours before a show, Woolly sells $15 “stampede seats” for the side balconies. Shakespeare Theatre Company offers standing room spots for $10 cash at sold-out performances; they go on sale an hour before showtime, and there’s a limit of two to a customer.

Related:
Great Theater Bargains for Young People
Bargain Happy Hours
Free Summer Concerts in Washington
(More) Ways to Have Fun in Washington for Free
Theater Dining 

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