Who qualifies for TDF membership?To qualify for TDF membership, you must belong to one of the following groups:
- full-time students (high school or above)
- full-time teachers
- recent graduates (26 years of age and under)
- union members
- retirees (no longer working and at least 62 years of age or older)
- civil service employees
- staff members of not-for-profit organizations
- non-exempt employees
- performing arts professionals
- members of the armed forces or clergy
There is normally a $30 annual fee to join TDF but during the current "Spring Sale," all new members pay $25 for their first year of membership. When you join, you will be asked to supply TDF with proof of your eligibility within the first 30 days of your membership. Samples of proof include:
- Provide a copy of the current dated, valid ID from the group or organization.
- Clergy and not-for-profit staff can provide a verification letter in lieu of ID.
- Retirees must provide valid proof of their retirement.
Proof of eligibility may be mailed to TDF at the address below. To expedite the process you may email non-sensitive proof to poe@tdf.org.
Theatre Development Fund
ATTN: Proof of Eligibility (POE)
520 8th Avenue, Suite 801
New York, NY 10018
For additional information on membership and eligibility, please click here to visit our F.A.Q. page.
What are some shows that TDF members have recently purchased tickets to?
A Streetcar Named Desire, American Ballet Theatre, Big Apple Circus, Carrie, Clybourne Park, Don't Dress for Dinner, The Fantasticks, Fuerzabruta, Godspell, How to Succeed in Business..., The Lady from Dubuque, London Philharmonic at Lincoln Center, Leap of Faith, Memphis, Million Dollar Quartet, New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic, The Normal Heart, One Man Two Guvnors, Other Desert Cities, Paul Taylor Dance Company, The Phantom of the Opera, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Rent, Rock of Ages, Seminar, Spider-man Turn Off the Dark, Stick Fly, Traces and Venus in Fur -- and dozens more concerts, theatre and dance productions.
How do I join?
If you qualify, then joining is easy! Click on the Join Now icon on the right and fill out the online application. After you join, you will immediately have access to discounts of up to 70% off full-price tickets to hundreds of live productions each year.
How does it work?
Once you join you will receive an email from hostmaster@tdf.org confirming your enrollment in TDF's membership program. (Please add this address to your email service's "safe list".) This email contains your username and password. When you log on through the "TDF Member Login" section at www.tdf.org, you will see dozens, sometimes hundreds, of productions available for purchase. Not every show in town becomes available to TDF members (obviously not the hit, sold-out shows)-but you'll be surprised at how many do. We are often able to obtain tickets at low cost for our members during previews, when productions are trying to build "word of mouth" or at times when a show isn't selling out at full price. Add to that dozens of Off and Off-Off Broadway productions, dance presentations and concerts, and you'll find yourself seeing more live performances than ever before!
Here are a few things we would like you to know as you buy tickets from TDF's Membership Program
- Our discounted tickets are always offered for seating anywhere in the theatre (unless specifically noted otherwise) and we do not know in advance what seat locations we will receive for any given performance. As a result, this program cannot honor any requests for special seating. Please bear in mind that many theatres have a mezzanine or balcony but no elevator. If you are unable to negotiate stairs, please contact our TDF Accessibility Services at the same address for details about its special services. Exchanges at the theatre for different locations (downstairs, on the aisle, in the center, etc.) are simply not possible; the box office and house staff will not accommodate such requests. For cancelled performances, refunds are automatically issued (less the handling charge.)
- Being a member of TDF does not provide any special attention at any of the TKTS booths. One does not have to be a member of tdf to make purchases at any TKTS booth. TDF members order tickets from the list of shows at our online ordering site. An event which has the phrase "e-tix" near the title means the tickets will be held at the box office in your name to be picked up half-hour prior to curtain time. An event which does not have that phrase means the tickets will be mailed to you 7 to 10 days prior to the date you selected.
- The price noted on your ticket may not be the same as the amount you pay TDF. If the price on the ticket is more than you paid, it means that the show is receiving additional support from our Subsidy Program. If the price on the ticket is less than the amount you paid, the difference is helping to support TDF's subsidy, accessibility and education programs.
- These services are for TDF Members only, and theatres reserve the right to require a photo ID, and/or proof of purchase before releasing a member's tickets. TDF tickets are not for resale.
- Continued use of TDF's Membership program is contingent upon members' compliance with all policies set forth by TDF and the individual theatres.
- Late seating is always at the discretion of the theatre's management.
- Members may order up to 9 tickets per performance.
- All sales are final. TDF is not a box office; consequently, refunds and exchanges are not possible. Unfortunately TDF is not able to replace tickets that are lost.
Where in the theatre will I be sitting?
Tickets for TDF members' orders are processed as "best available." This means that sometimes your tickets will be in the orchestra, sometimes in the front mezzanine and sometimes in the rear mezzanine. We rarely know in advance what ticket locations our members will be given.
What if I prefer to order tickets by mail?
We do have a few members who either don't have a computer or prefer not to order tickets online. For them, we have a "Mail Only Membership" wherein they receive printed offerings approximately every six to eight weeks. If you prefer a "Mail Only Membership," download the application in pdf form on the right and mail in to TDF. (Please note there are more offerings available online due to last-minute availability.)
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