Friday, June 29, 2012

But for a small fee, anyone age 62 or older can join the parent organization, TDF (Theatre Developme




Many boomer and senior travelers know about the TKTS booth in Times Square, where they can line up to buy half-price deep discount hotel rates or discounted tickets to Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off Broadway shows on the day of performance.
But for a small fee, anyone age 62 or older can join the parent organization, TDF (Theatre Development Fund), and order reduced-price tickets as much as six weeks in advance for selected stage shows, musicals, drama productions, opera, classical music, jazz, the Big Apple circus and more.
Younger people must belong to a group such as an alumni association or union in order to join TDF.org. But unaffiliated older people are welcome. For New Yorkers, the annual fee is $30. For those living 100 miles or more from New York, it is $12. Anyone 62 or older who joins online must mail a copy of proof of age, such as a drivers license, to TDF.
For most TDF members, available shows are displayed for upcoming dates along with a price, often less than half face value. Members use a credit card to order online. A service charge of a few dollars is typically added. For dates less than 7 days away, buyers get an e-tix confirmation they can print and bring to the box office of an event or show 30 minutes before showtime to exchange for the actual tickets.
Drawback for some because seats are heavily discounted, TDF says they usually are not in preferred seating locations. deep discount hotel rates TDF does not tell members where seats they purchase are located in the theater, club or stadium, although sometimes a listing will specify balcony seats only. Only when tickets arrive by mail, or confirmation forms are presented 30 minutes before the show at the box office, do members learn where the seats are.
For theatergoers who are hard of hearing or deaf, low vision or blind, who cannot climb stairs, or who require aisle seating or wheelchair locations, TDF gets special seating according to need. There is no annual fee, but prospective members must send evidence of eligibility.
In addition to getting orchestra tickets at a 50% discount, TDF Accessibility Members can take advantage of services such as open captioning, sign language, audio descriptions and wheelchair seating for select shows and events. These members can obtain tickets by mail rather than go to the box office.

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