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After years of work, the Theater Development Fund unveiled the new TKTS Discount Booth in the heart of Times Square yesterday. A glowing red glass amphitheater-style staircase, designed by John Choi and Tai Ropiha, is the centerpiece of Father Duffy Square (Broadway & 47th Street).
The rest of the structure is a fiberglass shell; the ticket booths, which are under the stairs, now take credit cards. There's also one booth for plays only, "where there is rarely a wait for tickets to non-musical productions." As has been widely reported over its nine years of construction, the project wound up costing eight times more than initially thought. But it has silver linings: Not only does it give people a chance to buy theater tickets at 50% off but also allows them an amazing view of Times Square from the top of the steps—16-feet above street level—for free.
The NY Times describes it as "a kinetic panorama: the perfect picture-postcard angle on the colossal sluice of entertainment, commerce and humanity that has bedazzled Americans and bemused foreign visitors for more than a century." And the NY Post, which calls it a "Boffo Revival," has this quote from the Times Square Alliance's Tim Tompkins: "New Yorkers are always trying to get somewhere and you see the tourists standing around. Now there is someplace to stop and have a look at the other great show - Broadway and Times Square."
TKTS Times Square booths are open: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 3pm to 8pm for evening performances, Tuesdays from 2pm to 8pm for evening performances; Wednesday and Saturday from 10am to 2pm for matinee performances; and Sunday from 11 to 3pm for matinee performances and 3pm to 7pm for evening performances. There are also TKTS booth locations in the South Street Seaport and downtown Brooklyn.
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Took them long enough!
It looks very nice. Too bad the stairs will never be empty again, even late at night. Not sure how the glass will hold up over time though to all the stresses and vandalism it will probably face.
It was really crowded there yesterday, and it had only been open for an hour. Should be interesting during the summer--and I bet it'll be a fight to sit on the steps on New Year's Eve to see the ball drop.
I wonder if those steps will be open to the public on New Year's, or if they'll be locked off for VIPs or something.
I knew a Father Duffy in high school. I'm gathering its not the same one.
If it is locked off, I hope the VIPs will have to share the benches with the homeless population that will obviously take up residence there any day now.
they'll need to sell tickets for the TKTS booth to get tickets. Seriously, who thought this was a good idea? Make long lines even longer cause people will want to wait in a long line to see the spectacle.
nice touch that the statue of the catholic priest has his back turned to the ticket booth for broadway shows.
embrace it father!
I like it!
There's no vandalism in Times Square anymore, is there?
The pictures make it look as if they're keeping hordes of people penned in on a tiny traffic island.
Worst place to try sleeping in NYC, and you know someone's already tried sleeping there!
Anything that keeps tourists from blocking the sidewalks is OK by me.
Looks nice.
I agree with #2.
Good camera work Jen.
When the market crashes a little more, maybe the former employees of the financial companies in the area can take residence on the steps.
#7: Just be thankful they didn't stick a Shake Shack onto it.