TKTS, a same-day discount ticket reseller for New York turns 38 on Saturday, June 25.

I first went to the TKTS booth in – let me think – fall of 1990. I had my heart set on seeing Les Mis or Phantom. We ended up seeing Forbidden Broadway. (And loving it, I might add.) Maybe it’s just my perception of it (I was still a callow youth), but growing up in Cleveland the TKTS booth was whispered between theatre geeks like a secret password. “You’re going to New York? You need to go to the TKTS booth.” Getting up early and getting in line was a rite of passage. It was also my very first point of entry to theatre in New York City. And I know I am not alone. I know that booth has been the gateway drug for many millions of people experiencing theatre in New York (Broadway or otherwise). While they don’t separate out newcomers, the numbers in the press release below about its birthday are astounding: 55.3 million tickets, and $1.68 BILLION in revenue. Through the years I have returned to the TKTS booth many times. (Finally did get my Les Mis tickets from the booth in 1995.) And although it took forever, and caused a great deal of finger-wagging in the press, I think the new “red steps” building is an absolute triumph and adds a necessary human, intimate, yet glamorous element to Times Square. In short: Happy Birthday TKTS!

Q: What do Neil Patrick Harris, Tori Spelling, Patrick Wilson and Kristen Wiig have in common with TKTS®?

A: Like TKTS®, they all turn 38 years old in 2011!

THEATRE DEVELOPMENT FUND’S PROGRAM WHICH REVOLUTIONIZED SAME-DAY DISCOUNT TICKET SALES IN NYC, DOMESTICALLY AND AROUND THE WORLD, TURNS 38 THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 25

TKTS HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 55.3 MILLION ADMISSIONS, REPRESENTING OVER 1.68 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE RETURNED TO THOUSANDS OF STAGE PRODUCTIONS

New York, New York, June 22, 2011 - TKTS, Theatre Development Fund’s program for same-day discount tickets, located in the heart of New York City’s Times Square, turns 38 years old this Saturday, June 25.

Open 365 days a year and situated “under the red steps” in Duffy Square at Broadway and 47th Street, TKTS has distributed over 55.3 million same-day discount tickets (50%, 40%, 30% or 20% off) to Broadway, Off Broadway, music and dance events in New York City since it opened for business on Monday, June 25, 1973.  These admissions represent over 1.68 billion dollars in revenue returned by Theatre Development Fund (the not-for-profit service organization that runs TKTS) to thousands of stage productions.

“TKTS continues to fulfill its original mission of attracting new audiences, providing affordable same-day tickets and encouraging a pattern of theatregoing, in addition to helping productions increase admissions," said Victoria Bailey, TDF's executive director.  "This year, we've been able to make the TKTS experience even more customer friendly with our TKTS Patron Service representatives, who are available to answer questions on Duffy Square, and the launch of our free TKTS app which lets you see what shows are available at the Booths."

TKTS admissions (from all three TKTS Booths combined) for this current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2011, are projected to reach over 1.67 million. From these ticket sales, TKTS will have returned $114.4 million in revenue to this season’s productions.

In addition to the main  TKTS Booth “under the red steps” in Times Square, Theatre Development Fund runs satellite TKTS Booths at South Street Seaport (at the corner of Front and John Streets) and in Downtown Brooklyn (in 1 MetroTech Center at the corner of Jay Street and Myrtle Avenue Promenade).

For TKTS hours and tips go to:  www.tdf.org/tkts.

HISTORY OF TKTS:

When Theatre Development Fund opened TKTS on June 25, 1973, with the support of Mayor John V. Lindsay, TDF’s Anna E. Crouse, The Shubert Organization and the Ford Foundation, they had no idea they were creating a phenomenon that would be replicated worldwide. After TKTS’s amazing success during its first years, TDF advised other arts service agencies on the development of their own same-day discount ticket booths.  Using TKTS as a model, TDF was responsible for helping to develop booths in Boston, Washington, DC, Chicago, Denver, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, London and Sydney.  TDF opened its new booth in Times Square “under the red steps” on October 16, 2008.

ABOUT TDF:

Theatre Development Fund (TDF) has played a unique role in strengthening live theatre and dance in New York City for the past 43 years. This not-for-profit service organization’s programs have provided over 80 million people access to the theatre at discount prices (with theatre lovers who would normally not be able to attend live performance) and returned over 2 billion dollars in revenue to thousands of theatre, dance and music productions. Best known for its TKTS Discount Booths, TDF’s membership, outreach, access and education programs, as well as its Costume Collection, help to make the unique experience of theatre available to everyone. Recently, TDF launched the Official TKTS app and published its first book, Outrageous Fortune: The Life and Times of the New American Play. To learn more about TDF, go to: www.tdf.org.