Did you know there’s a rewards program for Broadway? One of Sharon and my favorite trips is going to New York to see Broadway shows. We have our favorites, like Hamilton, The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q, but we also try to see some new shows as much as possible. While we love seeing any productions, I also make sure we earn points every time we go to the theater.
Audience Rewards is a loyalty program for Broadway. When you buy tickets for most Broadway shows, you just need to include your Audience Rewards number on the reservation and you’ll receive your points after you’ve seen the show. You can enroll in the program for free at the Audience Rewards website.
Earning Rewards
When you sign up for Audience Rewards, you can choose what type of rewards you want to earn. You can earn ShowPoints, which is the name of Audience Rewards points, or you can choose to earn points and miles in other programs, as well.
The current partners with Audience Rewards are:
- Amtrak
- American AAdvantage
- United MileagePlus
Points earning varies depending on the show. If you choose Audience Rewards ShowPoints, the typical earning rate is two points per dollar spent. If you choose to earn points in any of the other programs, the rewards start at 100 miles or points per show. For specific shows or performances, there may be specials offering bonus points in any of the member programs.
You’ll definitely earn more points if you choose to earn ShowPoints, but what can you use them for?
Using ShowPoints for Theater Tickets
Audience Rewards ShowPoints can be redeemed for several Broadway related items. The most obvious one is using the points to get free theater tickets. The more popular the show, the more points you’ll need to use.
Say that you want to see Aladdin:
You can redeem 7,000 ShowPoints and $84 for a single ticket. Looking at the Aladdin website, tickets would normally cost between $100 to $150. So that means you’re saving anywhere between $16 and $66 dollars depending on the show and the seats. You need to be careful that you’re not wasting a bunch of points just to save a few dollars.
Other Uses For ShowPoints
Merchandise
There’s a bunch of Broadway themed merchandise available to purchase with ShowPoints. While I usually say using points to buy things is not a good idea, they have some items you typically can’t find for sale anywhere else.
Like a signed Avenue Q poster for 7,500 ShowPoints:
Experiences
There are also Broadway experiences that are available like this Sardi’s restaurant tour for 2,000 ShowPoints:
Get the inside scoop on Sardi’s, the epicenter of Broadway life since 1921. Explore the place where famous shows started, classic movies were filmed, and iconic caricatures were drawn.
This tour includes a behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant, covering everything from the deals that were closed at the bar to the caricatures that were stolen by rabid fans. All tours are led by a longtime Sardi’s staffer, which means your guide will have a few eyewitness stories that you won’t hear anywhere else.
Final Thoughts
The ability to earn points for going to Broadway shows is great for us. I’m sure there are some people who will rather earn the 100 frequent flyer miles per ticket, but if you’re able to spend ShowPoints, you’ll get more value per dollar spent.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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