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Stepping Up: New Times Square TKTS Booth Finally Opens
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 17, 2008
Modified Oct 17, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 17, 2008
Modified Oct 17, 2008
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After years of work, the Theater Development Fund unveiled the new TKTS Discount Booth in the heart of Times Square yesterday. A glowing red glass amphitheater-style staircase, designed by John Choi and Tai Ropiha, is the centerpiece of Father Duffy Square (Broadway & 47th Street).
The rest of the structure is a fiberglass shell; the ticket booths, which are under the stairs, now take credit cards. There's also one booth for plays only, "where there is rarely a wait for tickets to non-musical productions." As has been widely reported over its nine years of construction, the project wound up costing eight times more than initially thought. But it has silver linings: Not only does it give people a chance to buy theater tickets at 50% off but also allows them an amazing view of Times Square from the top of the steps—16-feet above street level—for free.
The NY Times describes it as "a kinetic panorama: the perfect picture-postcard angle on the colossal sluice of entertainment, commerce and humanity that has bedazzled Americans and bemused foreign visitors for more than a century." And the NY Post, which calls it a "Boffo Revival," has this quote from the Times Square Alliance's Tim Tompkins: "New Yorkers are always trying to get somewhere and you see the tourists standing around. Now there is someplace to stop and have a look at the other great show - Broadway and Times Square."
TKTS Times Square booths are open: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 3pm to 8pm for evening performances, Tuesdays from 2pm to 8pm for evening performances; Wednesday and Saturday from 10am to 2pm for matinee performances; and Sunday from 11 to 3pm for matinee performances and 3pm to 7pm for evening performances. There are also TKTS booth locations in the South Street Seaport and downtown Brooklyn.
Tagged
broadway
discount theater tickets
Father Duffy
Theater Development FUnd
Times Square
tkts
TKTS Times Square
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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