The Back Stage Guide Broadway

by Robert Viagas

Geared toward tourists traveling to New York, but appropriate for residents as well, this book is an easy-to-use, nuts-and-bolts guide to enjoying theater in New York City. Lively and far more in-depth than a general tour book, it tells travelers how to pick a show, how to buy tickets, the best times to see shows, how to get tickets for shows that are sold out, how to get refunds in the event a trip is canceled, how to spot scalpers, and what to do if the show closes before a show date. Entire sections are devoted to discount tickets, how to use the subway and stay safe in New York City, where to eat, where to stay, and much more.



• A brief history of theater in New York

• A foldout map of the theater district

• A glossary of theater terminology

• Seating charts for all the Broadway theaters

• How to meet your favorite Broadway star

• Where to find discount tickets

• Best times of year to see theater in NYC

• Best times of the week to see theater in NYC

• How to get tickets for shows that are sold out

• How to get refunds in the event your trip is cancelled

• What to do if the show closes before your show date

• Where to eat (more than 60 restaurants reviewed)

• Where to stay (more than 20 hotels reviewed)

• How to use the subway

• Other things to see and do in the theater district

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Robert Viagas was an editor at Playbill, founder of Playbill.com and author or editor of more than a dozen books on the performing arts.