CHICAGO, June 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In anticipation of this year’s Tony Awards®, Vivid Seats, the largest independent online ticket marketplace, today releases its list of top theater cities and helps theater fans find the best prices to the most popular Tony Award-winning productions nationwide. The company also reveals the most affordable day and time to go to the theater based on three years of historical ticket sales data.
“While most people think of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles as iconic places to see a play or musical, our data shows theater-enthusiasts can find great productions across the nation,” said Jeanenne Tornatore, Senior Editor for Vivid Seats. “The top-10 theater cities span from west to east and everywhere in between, including towns from the nation’s heartland like St. Louis and Kansas City taking center stage.”
Top Theater Cities 20171
According to Vivid Seats data, following are the top 10 cities based on the number of live theater productions this year, along with the average ticket price for shows in each city:
| Top Theater Cities 2017 | |||
| Ranking | City | Average Ticket Price | |
| 1 | New York | $332 | |
| 2 | Chicago | $184 | |
| 3 | Los Angeles | $199 | |
| 4 | Las Vegas | $117 | |
| 5 | Washington, D.C. | $146 | |
| 6 | San Diego | $112 | |
| 7 | Philadelphia | $131 | |
| 8 | Denver | $156 | |
| 9 | St. Louis | $64 | |
| 10 | Kansas City, Mo. | $101 | |
- Shows in New York and Los Angeles have the highest average ticket prices at $332 and $199, respectively.
- Missouri’s two largest cities, Kansas City, Mo. and St. Louis, offer the lowest average ticket prices at $101 and $64, respectively.
Most Affordable Day and Time to Attend the Theater2
According to three years of historical theater ticket data from Vivid Seats, Thursday matinees provide the most affordable day and time to attend a theater performance.
| Average Prices for Daily Matinee and Prime Theater Performances | ||||
| Day | Avg. Price (Matinee) | Avg. Price (Prime) | ||
| Tuesday | NA | $251 | ||
| Wednesday | $283 | $241 | ||
| Thursday | $149 | $243 | ||
| Friday | $225 | $238 | ||
| Saturday | $217 | $230 | ||
| Sunday | $207 | $153 | ||
Highlights:
- For the best value, theater enthusiasts should consider Thursday matinee shows, when average prices are $149 and 90 percent less than the most expensive day and time to attend a production (Wednesday matinee).
- Theater goers looking to attend an evening performance will find Sunday evening shows offer the most affordable price at $153 on average.
Top 2017 Theater Performances by City3
Based on Vivid Seats ticket sales data, following are the most popular productions in the top 10 theater cities.
| Top 2017 Theater Performances by City | ||||||
| New York | Chicago | |||||
| Rank | Production | Avg. Price | Production | Avg. Price | ||
| 1 | Hamilton | $ | 609 | Hamilton | $ | 299 |
| 2 | Hello Dolly | $ | 386 | The King And I | $ | 129 |
| 3 | Dear Evan Hansen | $ | 337 | Les Miserables | $ | 166 |
| Los Angeles | Las Vegas | |||||
| 1 | The Book Of Mormon | $ | 124 | Phantom Of The Opera | $ | 104 |
| 2 | Hamilton | $ | 588 | Absinthe | $ | 171 |
| 3 | Jersey Boys | $ | 87 | Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson ONE | $ | 179 |
| Washington, D.C. | San Diego | |||||
| 1 | Sound of Music | $ | 144 | The Book of Mormon | $ | 102 |
| 2 | The King and I | $ | 160 | The Bodyguard | $ | 86 |
| 3 | Rent | $ | 150 | American In Paris | $ | 147 |
| Philadelphia | Denver | |||||
| 1 | Wicked | $ | 152 | Frozen | $ | 212 |
| 2 | Motown – The Musical | $ | 120 | The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | $ | 96 |
| 3 | Saturday Night Fever | $ | 93 | Rent | $ | 159 |
| St. Louis | Kansas City, Mo. | |||||
| 1 | Jesus Christ Superstar | $ | 60 | Jersey Boys | $ | 83 |
| 2 | Mamma Mia! | $ | 93 | Mamma Mia! | $ | 101 |
| 3 | Newsies - The Musical | $ | 51 | Grease | $ | 75 |
Highlights:
- Hamilton continues to dominate as one of the most popular shows and also is the most expensive production across cities. “Familtons” eager to see the show with a less-hefty price tag should consider visiting Chicago where tickets average $299, compared with $609 in New York and $588 in Los Angeles.
- Las Vegas attracts legions of visitors to this show-stopping city with its lineup of more unconventional theatrical productions, including long-running variety show, Absinthe, and Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson ONE featuring world-class acrobatics set to the legend’s iconic music.
For tickets to see great theater performances, visit: https://www.vividseats.com/theatre/.
Vivid Values for Theater Fans4
Vivid Seats makes it easy and affordable to be a loyal fan with Vivid Values. Check out all the great offers for theater aficionados.
- Broadway Baby: See two different theater events in New York City and receive a $25 eGift Card to use toward a future purchase.
- Fan 4 Everything: Fans who attend any four different events within a 12-month period are rewarded with a $50 credit toward their next purchase.
- A Perfect 10 Group Discount: Fans who bring a group of 10 or more to see their favorite artist or show are rewarded with 10 percent off a future purchase.
INFOGRAPHIC AVAILABLE: To view and embed the “Vivid Seats Top U.S. Theater Cities” infographic, visit: https://www.vividseats.com/blog/top-theater-cities-most-affordable-days.
1Vivid Seats’ Top Theater Cities based on total event count in each city between 5/22/17 and 12/31/17. Average prices based on Vivid Seats theater tickets sold in each city as of 5/22/17, for events between 5/22/17 and 12/31/17.
2Vivid Seats’ Most Affordable Day and Time to Attend the Theater based on theater tickets sold each day as of 5/22/17 (for events between 5/22/17 and 12/31/17). Theaters generally do not offer Monday performances or Tuesday matinee shows.
3Vivid Seats’ 2017 Top Theater Performances by City based on Vivid Seats theater tickets sold in each city as of 5/22/17 (for events between 5/22/17 and 12/31/17).
4For full terms and conditions on these offers and to become a member of Vivid Values, visit Vividseats.com/vivid-values.
About Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats is the largest independent secondary marketplace for tickets to live sports, concert and theater events. Founded in 2001, the Chicago-based company offers industry-leading affordability across one of the widest selections of premium tickets and event packages. Vivid Seats supports all confirmed orders with a 100% Buyer Guarantee and an in-house customer service team to ensure the safest and most convenient purchase experience. Fans who want to sit closer and see more of their favorite live events can order directly on vividseats.com or by phone at 866-848-8499.
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