Willing to Work for Your Ticket?
Several theaters use volunteer ushers, including most Off-Broadway theaters. In exchange for seating paying guests and, in some instances, cleaning up after the show, you get to see the performance. Call the telephone numbers below for information on ushering at a particular theater but, unless otherwise noted, you'll need to visit the box office to reserve a spot as an usher. Don't see a theater you're interested in on our list? Call and ask if they have volunteer ushering. This is just a place to start.

Broadway Theaters

The American Airlines Theater
The Roundabout Theatre Company produces shows here. Current production is The Constant Wife .
• 227 W 42nd St.; 212-719-9393; roundabouttheatre.org

Astor Place Theater
Where to catch the long-running Blue Man Group.
• 434 Lafayette St.; 212-254-4370; blueman.com

Century Center Theater
Past shows include The Play about the Baby and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).
• 111 E 15th St.; 212-982-6782, ext. 11

The Cherry Lane Theatre
The theatre is home to workshops, readings, and mentoring programs for emerging playwrights. It's a mix of Off-Broadway classics and provocative new works.
• 38 Commerce St.; 212-989-2020; cherrylanetheatre.com

Irish Repertory Theater
Presents works by Irish and Irish-American writers. Call to reserve a spot as an usher.
• 132 W 22nd St.; 212-255-0270; irishrepertorytheatre.com

The Joyce Theater
Hosts high-caliber dance companies from around the world. Call and leave a message on the usher hotline at least two weeks prior to a performance.
• 175 Eighth Ave.; 646-792-8355; joyce.org

Lucille Lortel Theater
This 50-year-old famous theater has a full calendar of performances and workshops. Check the website for specific details on its ushering program.
• 322 Eighth Ave., 21st Floor; 212-924-2817; lortel.org

Manhattan Theatre Club
Plays that start here frequently wind up on Broadway. The 2005-2006 season includes Rabbit Hole with Cynthia Nixon.
• City Center: W 55th St. (between Sixth and Seventh Aves.); 212-247-0430; mtc-nyc.org.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW)
Notable for its innovative productions, NYTW was the original producer of the Broadway smash hit Rent.
• 79 E 4th St.; 212-780-9037; nytw.org

Playwrights Horizons
Produces new plays and musicals each season, with past productions including I am My Own Wife and James Joyce's The Dead. Don't expect to get a spot as an usher on the week of a performance. Call well in advance.
• 416 W 42nd St.; 212-564-1235. playwrightshorizons.org

Second Stage Theatre
Contact the House manager by email at JSchleifer@SecondStageTheatre.com or call the usher hotline and leave a message with the dates of the performance you can work.
• 307 W 43rd St.; 212-787-8302, ext. 216; secondstagetheatre.com

The Signature Theatre Company
Each season the Signature Theatre Company explores the works of a single living playwright. Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel was the 2004-2005 Playwright-in-Residence. (Depending on the house manager, ushers might even be treated to free coffee, tea, and hot chocolate!)
• 555 W 42nd St.; 212-244-7529; signaturetheatre.org

Julia Miles Theatre
Over the past twenty-five years, Women's Project has strived to produce and develop the work of women writers.
• 424 W 55th St.; 22-76-1706; womensproject.org

York Theatre Company
Stages musicals at St. Peter's Church.
• 619 Lexington Ave.; 212-935-5824, ext. 15; yorktheatre.org