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TKTS, Theatre Development Fund’s program for same-day discount tickets, located in the heart of New York City’s Times Square, turns 37 years old this Friday, 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 53.7 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 1.47 billion dollars in revenue returned by Theatre Development Fund (the not-for-profit service organization that runs TKTS) to thousands of stage productions.

“We continue to serve a constituency of New Yorkers and visitors who are as excited as ever to experience the best theatre New York has to offer at the most affordable prices possible,” said Victoria Bailey, TDF’s Executive Director. “The unique urban fellowship TKTS provides to theatergoers has been enhanced by the glowing red steps atop the new Booth in Times Square, making it an even more popular destination.”

TKTS admissions (from all three TKTS Booths combined) for this current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2010, are projected to reach 1.51 million tickets and to return $98.5 million in revenue to this season’s productions.

In addition to the new TKTS Booth “under the red steps” in Times Square, Theatre Development Fund runs a 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.

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, not-for-profit service organization for the performing arts, has played a unique role in strengthening live theatre and dance in New York City for the past 42 years. TDF’s diverse programs have filled over 78 million seats at discount prices (with theatre lovers who would normally not be able to attend live performance) and returned nearly two billion dollars in revenue to thousands of theatre, dance and music productions. Best known for its TKTS Discount Booths, TDF’s membership, voucher, access and education programs, as well as its costume collection, help to make the unique experience of theatre available to everyone. For more information about TDF, go to: www.tdf.org.