By Mercedes Vizcaino, ZEALnyc Contributing Writer, November 16, 2016
Living in New York and exploring all the wondrous cultural opportunities the city offers can satisfy even the most voracious appetite for entertainment; yet, it can also deplete your bank account in the process. As millennials' spending power continues to rise, purveyors of the performing arts are becoming in-tune to their increasing consumer cravings for meaningful outings and experiences. The most renowned theaters--on and off Broadway, museums and concert venues are complying to fulfill their cultural and affordable tastes. We've compiled a list of arts institutions in all the various genres that will appeal to this demographic, as well as their collective wallets and pocketbooks.
BROADWAY AND OFF-BROADWAY
Lincoln Center
Forget those rush lines! LincTix gives access to stellar Broadway performances for those aged 21-35. Lincoln Center's youth-oriented program courts patrons in this age group - to purchase $32 tickets to EVERY performance with a limited number of LincTix tickets. Invites to exclusive post-show parties are included and the program encourages members to socialize with fellow theatregoers. It's free to join. Membership stays active until December 31st - following your 36th birthday. Don't miss their current lineup: The Babylon Line, The Harvest, Oslo, and The Glass Menagerie. See their full schedule here.
Manhattan Theatre Club
The Manhattan Theatre Club 30 under 30 program is ready to delight your heart and wallet, with a free membership you can purchase two $30 tickets to any show. Additional perks include post-show parties with food and drink, special reading series and giveaways; plus, an opportunity to meet fellow theatregoers that share your love for plays. Once you've reached the age of 30, The MTC offers a Young Patrons Program (for donors ages 18 - 39) to enjoy their continued love and support of theatre. Check out their current season: Heisenberg, The Little Foxes, Linda and The Cost of Living. View their schedule here.
Manhattan Theater Club advertising for '30 Under 30' campaign.
2econd Stage Theatre
2econd Stage theatre has their own version of the 30 under 30 program with discounted $30 tickets, unlike some other theaters, 2econd Stage limits one ticket per person and not all productions are available in the program. Membership is free and after-parties are included with food and beverage, a live DJ and the chance to meet cast members! Their current lineup includes: Notes from the Field, Man from Nebraska and Somebody's Daughter. Check out the full details here.
Roundabout Theatre Company
The RTC's Hiptix program offers up to two $25 tickets for theatregoers aged 18-35, per production. The Program is free to join, each production has one after-party to mingle and network with fellow patrons, while sipping on cocktails and eating hors d'oeuvres. Perfect opportunity to forego the expense of a week's worth of lattes to see the RTC's current season which includes: The Cherry Orchard, Holiday Inn - The New Irving Berlin Musical at Studio 54, Kingdom Come, Love, Love, Love, On the Exhale, and newly released: Marvin's Room. Check the website for specific showtimes here.
Another great program at the Roundabout is ACCESS Roundabout®, which offers a multitude of ticketing opportunities to shows (and these offers are not just for the "under 30" crowd), so check it out here.
Guests at a Roundabout Theatre Hiptix event.
Playwrights Horizons
The free membership to the Playwrights Horizons 30 and under program is geared to cultivate the interests of young theatre patrons. $25 gets you one discount ticket - as well as a $35 guest ticket per show. Perks include: Young Member Night parties and advanced booking notifications with complimentary drinks, food and a photobooth to take pictures with other patrons. Their new schedule features: A Life, Rancho Viejo, The Profane and Bella: An American Tall Tale. For more info click here.
Theatre for a New Audience
The Theatre for a New Audience has New Deal Tickets for theatregoers 30 and under, or full-time students of any age, priced at $20; you can purchase up to two tickets (a valid ID needs to be shown for each New Deal ticket purchased). Theatre for a New Audience offers $20 tickets as part of their New Deal Program. Tickets can be purchased online or by phone with the promo code: NEWDEAL. No after parties with snacks or drinks, but plenty of award-worthy plays to keep you entertained. Check out their current season: Servant of Two Masters, Happy Days, Skin of our Teeth and Measure for Measure. For more info click here.
MCC Theater
The Manhattan Class Company (MCC Theater) provides a limited number of $30 tickets for ticket-buyers 29 years old or younger. Tickets can be purchased online with code ATWU30 for the play: All The Ways and code CYCU30 for Ride the Cyclone. Maximum of two under 30 tickets can be purchased. The Rush Program: includes the "Under 30 Rush" for available tickets beginning 2 hours prior to each performance. "$20 Student Rush" - based on availability, students can purchase one ticket 20 minutes prior to curtain. Check out future performances here.
Irish Repertory Theatre
The Irish Rep Theatre knows the plight of the young, theatre-loving working professional. That's why they offer their Greenseats program--a program designated to provide affordable theatre seats for those under 35. At $25, you can see incredible off-Broadway productions. Membership is free. So sign up and you're in! One ticket per production is permitted and advance performance notifications perks included. Current performances: Finian's Rainbow, Afterplay, The Pigeon in Taj Mahal, among others. To see their full schedule click here.
DANCE
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The dance company's Young New York program kicks off their first event on December 1st with the world premiere of Deep, the critically acclaimed Awakening, A Case of You and Revelations performances. At $25 for every seat in the house, you can't miss this! Other exciting December events, pre and post performances, geared towards patrons aged 21 - 30 include: The First Drink's On Us, Get Fit with Ailey, Meet, Greet and Snap and a Pre-New Year's Eve Party. More events are slated for the upcoming New Year! Check out their calendar for exact dates and times here.
The New York City Ballet
Supports the 30 under 30 initiatives - their theatre counterparts encourage. For day-of performances, patrons 21 - 30 can see select fall, winter, spring repertory productions. A maximum of two $30 Rush tickets can be purchased at the box office window. Other restrictions apply. Check details here.
American Ballet Theatre
While not a direct "ticket discount," ABT does offer the opportunity to join their Junior Council, which is a group of young professionals, between the ages of 21-40, dedicated to the celebration and support of ABT's world-class artistry. Membership in the Junior Council helps ABT continue to present the highest caliber of dance and to expand ABT's audience to younger generations - ensuring the future of classical ballet. Membership begins at $600 per year (payable in $50 a month increments), but then offers the ability to buy $30 tickets for the company's Spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House, along with lots of other perks. For more information click here.
Young professionals enjoy American Ballet Theatre Junior Council event.
MUSIC AND OPERA
New York Philharmonic
It's a great time to be 35 or younger. The New York Philharmonic promotes the MyPhil subscription to members 35 and younger. Apart from your ears thanking you after listening to amazing performances, benefits include a series of three concerts or more for the year priced at $35 each. Advance notice and special offers for Philharmonic events, special discounts to Lincoln Center-area restaurants are added bonuses in the membership. Additional Programs: Free Fridays - 100 free tickets available to young people aged 13 - 26 every Friday evening during a subscription concert. Student Rush - limited number of $18 tickets up to 10 days before a performance. More information here.
Symphony Space
This eclectic multi-disciplinary international performing arts center has something for everyone - from literature to dance to film and comedy performances. The Symphony Space houses extraordinary talent that does not disappoint. To top it off: 30 and under deals are available! Membership is not necessary. For $15 - $25, you can purchase tickets to their live shows. Check out: "ALMA NYC Presents: HOMAGE: An ode to dance and music," "Selected Shorts: The Best of the Harvard Lampoon: 140 Years of American Humor," "NT Live: Hamlet" (Encore). See their full schedule here.
The Metropolitan Opera
Although not exactly promoted as an Under 30 or 35 program, The Metropolitan Opera offers student discounts to their performances to undergraduate and graduate full-time students at any age. Registration to the program is free. Tickets are $35; limit of four tickets per performance. At the Met now: Aida, L'Amour de Loin, Il Barbiere de Siviglia and Don Giovanni. View schedule for complete season list here.
MUSEUMS
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Guggenheim offers a weeknight event geared towards the 30 and under crowd called: Art After Dark, an after-hours private viewing of current exhibitions to that is free to members with the Individual Membership level ($85) - includes admittance to 1 Art After Dark party or Dual Member level ($140) admittance to 2 Art After Dark parties. Non-members pay full ticket price. Art After Dark begins once the museum is closed to the general public. For info click here.
French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF)
FIAF promotes First Tuesdays to membership patrons 35 and under. Every first Tuesday of every month, the museum hosts a night full of wine, conversations in français and screenings of French films. Members are encouraged to bring guests and meet fellow Francophiles. Young Patrons is an exclusive membership for individuals aged 21 - 45 ($200 - $350). The membership includes access to cocktail parties, behind-the-scenes tours, and special talks. View their calendar here.
The American Folk Art Museum
The museum's Young Folk program is designed for members in their twenties and thirties. Young Folk is comprised of a community of that explores folk and self-taught art through dynamic programs, private collections, blowout parties, artist studio visits and engaging in social media with other like-minded patrons. According to the museum's Communications and Marketing Director, Kate Merlino: "Young Folk are inspired by the diversity, craftsmanship, and originality of these art forms, Young Folk is much more than a "fresh take on folk art." It is redefining the way in which twenty-and-thirty-somethings engage with art and museums through its low membership fee ($150) and out-of-the-box programming." Check out their program here.
Japan Society
Creativity and relaxation. This is the motto behind Japan Society's Happy Hour/ Free Gallery Admission program on select "Free Fridays" through January 2017. The organization is committed to attract the under 35 crowd to unwind at the end of a long work week - for stimulating conversations with music and liquid Zen from the bar while viewing specific artworks featured in Japan Society's fall line-up (Simon Starling: At Twilight) and future exhibitions. Premium Japanese Sake is served compliments of SOTO. RSVP is recommended but not required. View details here.
The Frick Collection
The Frick Collection Museum promotes the Young Fellows program to patrons aged 21 - 45. It is comprised of dynamic individuals who enjoy insider access to invitation-only gallery talks, curator-led tours, special evening viewings, and the highly anticipated Spring Garden Party and Young Fellows Ball - the ball is an event that benefits the Frick's Education Department serving students in all the five boroughs. Membership to join is ($500). Upcoming exhibitions: "Pierre Gouthière: Virtuoso Gilder at the French Court" and Cagnacci's "Repentant Magdalene": An Italian Baroque Masterpiece from the Norton Simon Museum." View program here.
The New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden's Bar Car Nights program caters to the 35 under crowd with a current after-dark viewing of the Holiday Train Show as the centerpiece. While sipping on libations and mingling with fellow garden patrons, the show features a journey through station stops and pop-up acts featuring popular street performers. Holiday Train Show fees: Members ($25), Non-Members ($35) Membership for individuals ($85), Dual Membership ($110). For the current calendar, check here.
Box Car Nights at New York Botanical Garden
_________________________________
Mercedes Vizcaino, a Contributing Writer with ZEALnyc, writes about lifestyle and cultural events in and around New York City.
For more features from ZEALnyc read:
For all the news on New York City arts and culture, visit ZEALnyc Front Page.