Why theatre tickets are the best holiday gifts

Tickets to theatre and live entertainment encompass a wide-ranging array of shows for everyone on your list, and they don't require mall shopping or shipping.

Gillian RussoOctober 26, 2023, 04:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year — and the busiest. We've all been there: You're planning your holiday dinner, you're worrying about what to buy or make for everyone’s Christmas parties, and you're wondering when you're going to have time to go shopping for gifts for your family, friends, and the Secret Santa exchange at the office. While can't help with the dinner or party planning, we have a simple solution for all your gifting needs: theatre tickets.

Theatre tickets are a great gift for anyone and everyone, and there are plenty of shows in New York for you and all your loved ones. And the best part? You can get tickets online on New York Theatre Guide, so you don't have to wait in long store lines or gift-wrap dozens of boxes. Here are 10 reasons why you should get theatre tickets for everyone on your list this year.

Get tickets to New York shows on New York Theatre Guide.

You don't have to deal with crowds or lines at stores.

Holiday shopping is stressful. It seems like every store has a never-ending line at checkout (or even just to get in!) from Black Friday through Christmas Day, and by the time you're at the front, the store is sold out of what you want. Getting theatre tickets as a present is a great way to avoid all that.

You don't have to wait in line to get them — you can buy them from your phone or computer, wherever you are. If there are no tickets left for a certain day, no sweat; you can see all the days with available tickets on our booking calendar and choose another.

You don’t have to worry about shipping delays.

Remember the global supply chain crisis a few holiday seasons ago? It was just another reason to stress about holiday gift giving. With the gift of theatre, you won’t have to worry about shipping delays or damages. When you buy tickets here, you’ll either receive e-tickets on your phone, or you can pick them up at the box office the day of your show. So rather than spending time worrying about shipping, you can spend that time, say, making fun cards for your recipients or planning a holiday party.

You're not just gifting an object, but an experience.

New York locals especially know that there's only so much space in a small apartment to store lots of stuff. If you'd rather not stocking up your wardrobes or kitchen with more clutter, give the gift of an experience. There will be no landfill after a night at theatre — just the memories of a special night out with the ones you love. Not to mention that an experience, rather than an object, is much eco-friendlier!

You can combine tickets with another theatre-themed gift.

The above being said, we know it can be exciting to unwrap a physical gift on a holiday. So why not do both? Get your bookworm friend a copy of the Wicked novel along with tickets to the stage show. Wrap a bottle of French champagne with Moulin Rouge! The Musical tickets. Put a pair of Little Shop of Horrors tickets in with a beautiful potted houseplant. The possibilities are endless.

Theatre is a live, communal experience.

After a year and a half of isolation, many of us became more eager than ever to spend time with other people in person, rather than being stuck at home on the computer all the time. Theatre is a special place where you can make a memory with family, friends, and a larger community again. You might even make new friends with the people near you!

A theatre ticket is like a gift for yourself, too.

The general public aside, theatre lets you bond with your loved ones over a shared experience. If you get theatre tickets for a date night with your significant other or your whole family, it's like you're getting yourself a present, too! And you come away with a shared memory that can bring you closer with family and friends.

You can make a whole adventure out of a day at the theatre.

Sure, you can buy some tickets, meet your friends or family at the theatre right before the show starts, and leave right afterward. Or, you and your show-going crew can make a whole day of it, especially if you're traveling to New York and don't get to visit often.

If you're attending an evening performance, for example, get in early and spend the day sightseeing and enjoy a pre-show meal together. You don't need a theatre outing as an excuse to do those things, of course, but it is a pretty good one. The ticket becomes a gift that keeps on giving.

Theatre tickets are a great option for people who have everything.

We all know those people: the ones who seemingly have everything they want, so they're hard to shop for. Instead of getting them a gift card for the fifth year in a row, you can get them tickets. The best part is that, since there are always new shows in New York, you can get theatre tickets every year while never getting them the same gift twice.

There's a New York show for everyone.

Theatre isn't just glitzy Broadway musicals or centuries-old Shakespeare plays. Live entertainment is extremely diverse, encompassing musicals, plays, operas, concerts, circuses, cabarets, comedy shows, and so much more. Even someone who "doesn't like theatre" may just not like a specific type of show, and that's okay! Like movies or music, not all of it is the same.

If your parents aren't familiar with new plays or musicals, get them tickets for a revival of a classic show. Take your music-loving friend to a jukebox musical with pop songs they'll recognize. Go to a live comedy act with your roommates for a change of pace from the Netflix stand-up specials you watch together. Plan a day during the kids' winter break to see a Disney show or a circus as a family. There is so much entertainment to explore in New York, and no two options are the same.

Get Broadway tickets and more on New York Theatre Guide.

Perhaps the best reason to get theatre tickets this holiday season: You're already in the right place to get them. If you've been thinking about getting a ticket for someone you know or even treating yourself to a little holiday gift, check out our listings of Broadway shows, Off-Broadway shows, holiday and Christmas events, and more to find the perfect one for everyone you know.