4/27/2022
Broadway Las Vegas
By: Alecia Westmorland, Smith Center Content Developer
When I first became a season-ticket holder for The Smith Center’s Broadway Las Vegas® Series, it was a giant leap for me as a theater lover. It marked my first time subscribing to any season, anywhere.
As elated as I was to nail down my seats for all of the season’s several shows at once, I was initially ignorant of all the perks that come with season tickets.
After several years as a Smith Center season-ticket holder, however (and also after becoming a Smith Center employee), I’ve picked up on how to get the most out of this experience.
As an older and wiser season-ticket holder, I’m happy to pass along some gems of wisdom for current and potential season subscribers to consider.
-
Season-ticket holders can upgrade their seats prior to each Broadway Series show
I wish I’d known this from the start! While I loved the savings I received on my initial season tickets in the balcony section, I feel I might've enjoyed some shows more if I was closer to the action.
Little did I know, I had that option. Before each Broadway show, season tickets holders have a chance to pay for an upgrade to seats closer to the stage – including coveted box seats – before those seats are released to the public!
The Smith Center makes this easy by sending an email alert to season ticket holders, so I’ve learned to keep an eye out for this message. By now, I’ve used this option for numerous shows, including buying seats just a few rows back from the stage for the visually stunning musical “Anastasia!”
-
Season-ticket holders can change seats when they renew
You’re probably aware that you pick your seat when you first purchase season tickets, with that seat guaranteed as yours for every show in the season.
You might crave a change by the season’s end, however. If that’s the case, you can request to change seats when you renew your season tickets (though your options depend on seat availability for that season).
I have changed my seats every time I renewed my season tickets! Through the years, I have moved from the balcony to the gallery to the orchestra level, and each time I find more to discover and love from a different view.
-
Season-ticket holders can customize their Broadway series
When I purchased my first season tickets for the 2016/17 season, I felt a pinch of regret paying for all of the season’s shows. I had already seen one of the musicals, “White Christmas,” and though I enjoyed it, I didn't feel a strong need to see it again.
I wish I had known at the time that season ticket holders can customize the shows included in their season series. This includes the option to drop one, two or even three shows from a season package.
Honestly, I have only dropped a show one time (I dropped “Hamilton” from my season package on its second visit to our stage, as I had already seen it and wanted to give someone else a shot to enjoy it).
Otherwise, I’ve always wanted to see all the shows in every season!
-
Season ticket holders can add on seats to shows
As my husband is allergic to theater and the rest of my family lives out of state, I bought my season subscription for one seat — for myself. For a long time, whenever my family planned to visit and see a Broadway show with me, I would tell them, “OK, when tickets go on sale in two months, try to buy seats near mine!”
I finally learned that I can request to add seats next to mine before each show! (Again, The Smith Center alerts season-ticket holders about this through email).
I have now done this many times when my family has visited! I’m grateful we could sit together for so many uplifting shows, including “The Bodyguard,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Anastasia.” I look forward to making more memories with them at Broadway shows.
-
Season-ticket holders get 20-percent savings on select non-Broadway shows
I admit it took me many months to realize that season ticket holders enjoy special savings on non-Broadway shows throughout the year. With The Smith Center presenting roughly 400 shows a year spanning music, dance, comedy, speaker series and more, these savings can really add up!
As I attend Smith Center shows almost every month, I have really appreciated these savings, and I’m often surprised at the difference it makes on my ticket cost.
Just a few artists I have saved on include: National Geographic speakers, author David Sedaris, taiko drumming group Drum TAO, “So You Think You Can Dance Live,” stage-and-screen stars Meghan Hilty, Sutton Foster and Aaron Tveit, Las Vegas favorite Frankie Moreno, and so many more. I just saved again recently, when I purchased tickets for Les Ballets Trockadero.