free things to do in New York City
Free events for Sunday, 12/10/23
<

December 2023

>
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More

Buying a ticket to a Broadway show is not the only way to be able to enjoy that increadibly rich theater scene of New York City.

It's a known fact that NYC theater tickets are rather expensive, but a significantly less know fact is that you can attend a NYC theater show that is totally free and open for general public. Or you can ontain coplimentary tickets for an off Brodway, off off Broadway and sometimes Broadway show (a play or a musical) free of charge or at a significant discount. But you do need to know how to go about it!

While many other sites give information about discount theater tickets in NYC, Club Free Time gives you all the info about those NYC theater performances that are totally free and open for general public. In addition, as a CFT member you have a chance to attend not-at-all-free off Broadway, off off Broadway and sometimes Broadway theater performances at no cost. if you are looking for cheap theater tickets in NYC - you should look no further: we are able to obtain free tickets for our members when a show has some unsold seats and producers would like to create that magical 'full house' feel. As an article in The New York Times said: New York is abuzz with so much culture that they're giving it away.

Our members attend off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway and sometimes Broadway shows, opera, classical music and jazz concerts, dance performances, children shows, comedy clubs, cabaret, etc. using complimentary tickets which they can reserve once they login to www.clubfreetime.com.

There are 41 Broadway theatres, approximately 85 Off-Broadway theatres, and about 120 off off Broadway theaters in NYC. These categories are not about the quality of productions or the talent involved, it's all about the number of seats in the venue: Broadway theaters have over 500 seats, off-Broadway theaters have  between 100 and 499 and the bvenues with fewer than 100 seats are referred to as Off Off Broadway.

At the beginning of the 20th century many theatres were located on Broadway and that's when the 'Broadway theater' term came to life. Only three 'Broadway' theatres are located on Broadway nowadays: the Winter Garden, the Marquis, and the Broadway Theatre. All other Broadway theaters are located in the theater district in the blocks east and west of Broadway around Times Square. The Theater District lies between 42nd and 53rd streets. 

In the 1890s this section of Broadway was one of the first part of town to be lit with electric lights, which led to the New York Telegram headline 'Found on the Great White Way' and that's how the nickname 'the Great White Way' came to life. Most visitors never venture off the Great White Way. Approximately 14 million people a year attending Broadway shows.

Meanwhile, although Eugene O'Neill famously said in 1931: ''One of the things I regret, is the passing of the experimental group theater,'' off Broadway and off off Broadway theaters, being significantly less commercial then Broadway, or, in many cases, not commercial at all, offer a great variety of extremelly interesting and exciting experimental and not-so-experimental works. If you want to see real quality theater - give off Broadway and off off Broadway theater a try.

Off Broadway theaters have nurtured Pulitzer Prize-winning plays and playwrights and attracted prominent actors and actresses. Musicals such as ''A Chorus Line'' and ''Ain't Misbehavin' '' moved to Broadway from off Broadway. You may as well see a Broadway show at an Off Broadway theater as producers can continue running their shows with considerably reduced weekly costs by going from Broadway to Off-Broadway, as actor salaries and advertising costs are much less for off Broadway theaters. (We put lots of efforts in obtaining complimentary tickets for off Broadway shows for our members). One of the most famous off Broadway theaters is the Public Theater

The world of Off Off Broadway theaters is one of most interesting and unknown parts of New York City's theatrical life. It gives you the real sence of belonging as being so close to the stage allows you to see every nuance of what's happening there. That's where young, exciting playwrights are discovered. That's where you can see talented, unknown actors who may become the big stars of tomorrow at the tiny fraction of a Broadway ticket price.

Join Club Free Time and enjoy free theater performances or get free tickets to the shows (off Broadway, off off Broadway and sometimes even Broadway) which are not free for general public, but are free for Club Free Time members! Club Free Time is a NYC staple for finding amazing things to do for free. Some amazing deals are available in advance, but in some cases you will be able to get those last minute theater tickets. NYC gives you many options.

In case you would like to get yourself more familiar with New York Theater life here is the list of NYC off-Broadway theaters:
Abrons Art Center, 466 Grand St. (@ Pitt St.)
Altered Stages, 212 W. 29th St. (btw. 7th Ave. & 8th Ave.)
American Place Theatre, 111 W. 46th St. (btw. 6th Ave. & Broadway)
Theater At Blessed Sacrament, 152 W. 71st St. (btw. Columbus Ave. & Broadway)
Astor Place Theater, 434 Lafayette St. (btw. 4th St. & Astor Pl.) (212)254-4370 see seating chart...
Blue Man Group: Tubes
Atlantic Theater, 336 W. 20th St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave.)
Bank Street Theatre, 155 Bank St. (btw. Washington St. & West St.) 591-0564
Lynn Redgrave Theater45, 45 Bleecker St. (btw. Broadway & Lafayette St.)
Cap 21, 18 W 18th St #6 (btw. 5th Ave. & 6th Ave.)
Cherry Lane Theater, 38 Commerce St. (btw. Bedford St. & Hudson St.)
City Center, 131 W. 55th St. (btw. 6th Ave. & 7th Ave.)
Classic Stage Co., 136 E. 13th St. (btw. 3rd Ave & 4th Ave.) 677-4210
Club El Flamingo, 547 W. 21st St. (btw. 10th Ave. & 11th Ave.)
Collective Unconscious, 145 Ludlow St. (btw. Rivington St. & Stanton St.)
Connelly Theatre, 220 East 4th St. (btw. Ave. A & Ave. B)
Currican Theatre, 154 W. 29th St. (btw. 6th Ave. & 7th Ave.)
Daryl Roth Theater, 101 East 15th Street
De La Guarda
Duffy Theater, 1553 Broadway (@46th St.) 695-3401
Duke Theatre, 229 West 42nd (btw. 7th Ave. & 8th Ave)
Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 W. 52nd St. (btw. 10th Ave. & 11th Ave.) 247-4982
Expanded Arts, 113 Ludlow St. (btw. Delancey & Rivington St.)
Flatiron Playhouse, 119 West 23rd St. (btw. 6th Ave. & 7th Ave.)
Flea, 41 White St. (btw. Church & Broadway)
Gene Frankel Theatre, 24 Bond Street
Gloria Maddox Theatre, 151 West 26th St. (btw. 6th Ave. & 7th Ave.)
Greenwich House Theater, 27 Barrow St. (@ 7th Ave. South) 541-8441
Greenwich Street Theater, 547 Greenwich St. (btw. Charlton & Vandam)
Grove Street Playhouse, 39 Grove St. (@ 7th Ave.)
HERE, 145 Avenue of the Americas (btw. Spring & Dominick)
Homegrown Theatre, 2628 Broadway (@ 99th St.) 229-7500
Hudson Guild Theater, 441 W. 26th St. (btw. 9th Ave. & 10th Ave.)
Ibis Supper Club, 321 W. 44th St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave.) 239-6200
Intar Theatre, 420 W. 42nd St. (btw. 9th Ave. & 10th Ave.) 279-4200
Irish Arts Center, 553 W. 51st St. (btw. 10th Ave. & 11th Ave.) 757-3318
Jane Street Theater, 113 Jane St. (@ W. Side Highway) 239-6200
John Houseman Theater, 450 W. 42nd St. (btw. 9th Ave. & 10th Ave.)
John Jay College Theatre, 899 10th Ave. (btw. 58th St. & 59th St.)
Kraine Theatre, 85 East 4th St. (btw. Bowery & 2nd Ave.)
La Mama, 74A East 4th St. (btw. 2nd Ave. & 3rd Ave.)
Lambs Theatre, 140 W. 44th St. (btw. Broadway & 6th Ave.)
Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher St. (btw. Hudson St. & Bleecker St.)
McGinn/Cazale Theater, 2162 Broadway (@ 76th St.) 279-4200
Manhattan Class Company Theater, 120 W. 28th St. (btw. 6th Ave. & 7th Ave.) 727-7765
Manhattan Theatre Club, 131 W. 55th St. (btw. 6th Ave. & 7th Ave.) 581-1212
Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane (Just E. of 6th Ave.)
The Mint Theater, 311 W. 43rd St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave.)
Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, 150 W. 65th St. (@ Lincoln Center)
The Neighborhood Playhouse, 340 E. 54th St. (btw. 1st Ave. & 2nd Ave.) 522-1421
New 42nd St. Theater, 348 West 42nd St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave.)
New Victory Theater, 209 W. 42nd St. (btw. 7th Ave. & 8th Ave.)
New York Theatre Workshop, 79 E 4th St. (btw. Bowery & 2nd Ave.) 460-5475
New York Performance Works, 128 Chambers St. (Just E. of W. Broadway)
Ohio Theatre, 66 Wooster St. (btw. Spring & Broome St.)
Orpheum Theater, 126 2nd Ave. (btw. 7th St. & St. Mark's Pl.) 477-2477
P.S. 122, 150 1st Ave (@ 9th St.), (212) 477-5288
Phil Bosakowski Theatre, 354 W. 45th St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave.)
Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St. (btw. W 3rd St. & Minetta Ln.) 475-1449
Playhouse 91, 316 E. 91st St. (btw. 1st Ave. & 2nd Ave.) 831-2000
Playwrights Horizons Studio Theatre, 416 W. 42nd St. (btw. 9th Ave. & 10th Ave.)
Primary Stages, 354 W. 45th St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave.) 212-333-4052
Producers Club, 358 West 44th St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave.)
(Joseph Papp) Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St. (btw. Astor Pl. & 4th St.)
Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, 304 W. 47th St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave)
Quintero Theater, 534 West 42nd St. (btw. 10th Ave. & 11th Ave.)
The Rattlestick Theatre, 224 Waverly Place (just W. of 7th Ave.)
RAW Space (Studio L), 529 W. 42nd St. (btw. 10th Ave. & 11th Ave.) 414-7734
Raymond J. Greenwald Theatre, 307 W. 26th St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave.)
St. Luke's Church, 308 W. 46th St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave)
Second Stage Theater, 307 W. 43rd St. (@8th Ave.) 246-4422
Soho Playhouse, 15 Vandam St. (btw. 6th Ave & 7th Ave)
Soho Rep, 46 Walker St. (btw. Church St. & Broadway)
Ellen's Stardust Diner, 1650 Broadway (@ 51st St.)
Sullivan Street Playhouse, 181 Sullivan St. (btw. Houston St. & Bleeker St.) 674-3838
Theatre at St. Clement's, 423 West 46th St. (btw. 9th Ave. & 10th Ave.)
Theater at St. Peter's Church, Citicorp Center (Lexington Ave. & 54th St.) 935-5820
Theatre 3, 311 W. 43rd St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave.)
Theatre Four, 424 W. 55th St. (btw. 9th Ave. & 10th Ave)
Theater for the New City, 155 1st Ave. (btw. 9th St. & 10th St.) 633-1292
Theatre 22, 54 West 22nd St. (btw 5th Ave. & 6th Ave.)
Thirteenth Street Repertory, 50 W. 13th St. (btw. 5th Ave. & 6th Ave.) 675-6677
Triad Theater, 158 W. 72nd St. (btw. Broadway & Columbus Ave.) 799-4599
Trilogy Theater, 341 West 44th St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave.)
29 Street Repertory Theatre, 212 W. 29th St. (@ 7th Ave.) 465-0575
Union Square Theater, 100 E. 17th St. (btw. Union Square E. & Irving Pl.) 307-4100
Variety Arts Theatre, 110 3rd Ave. (btw. 13th St. & 14th St)
Vineyard Theatre,108 East 15th Street | New York
Westbeth Theater Center, 151 Bank St. (btw. Washington St. & W. Side Hwy.)
Westside Theatre, 407 W. 43rd St. (btw. 9th Ave. & 10th Ave.)
Wings Theatre, 154 Christopher St. (W. of Washington St.)
14th St. Y, 344 East 14th St. (btw. 2nd Ave. & 3rd Ave.)
47th Street Theatre, 304 West 47th St. (btw. 8th Ave. & 9th Ave.)

Join the Club!

Go!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.

So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!

22  Free Plays, Free Shows ! Free Theater in New York City (NYC) Sun, 12/10/2023 - and on...



Shakespeare said All world’s a stage. Our editors at CFT couldn’t agree more, so we give you the most complete listing of free shows in New York. Also, as a Club Free Time member, you can get exclusive free tickets to off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway and, sometime, Broadway shows.
A member can reserve from 2 to 5 complimentary tickets (depending on a show) as long as the supply lasts.

        
Mon, Dec 11
7:00 pm

Regular: $35
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Performances, December 11, 2023, 12/11/2023, A Performance About Mental Health
Mon, Dec 11
7:00 pm

Regular: $110
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Performances, December 11, 2023, 12/11/2023, Comedy Hit Show! "TRIUMPH" (at one of the major NYC theaters)
Tue, Dec 12
7:00 pm

Regular: $56.50
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Plays, December 12, 2023, 12/12/2023, Broadway Play Revival at One of Major NYC Theater
Wed, Dec 13
1:00 pm

Regular: $43
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Plays, December 13, 2023, 12/13/2023, Love Story Play

Play | Jado Jehad: Family Secrets in Tight Quarters


Mashal is back in her grandmother’s house. It was never a comfortable place to be, but after attending college abroad, the many rules of Manzoor’s house and Pakistan’s patriarchal culture feel even more suffocating. As if that weren’t enough, Mashal’s mother Kareema, struggling post-divorce, has also moved back home. In their tight quarters, lifetimes of grief and long-held secrets rise to the surface. Will their shared history bring the women closer together or drive them further apart? Fatima Maan's play is a coming-of-every-age story about acceptance across generations, perseverance, and love.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
Wed, Dec 13
6:30 pm

Free
Plays, December 13, 2023, 12/13/2023, Jado Jehad: Family Secrets in Tight Quarters
Wed, Dec 13
8:00 pm

Regular: $39.47
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Plays, December 13, 2023, 12/13/2023, A Play About Love and Adventure
Wed, Dec 13
8:00 pm

Regular: $28.45
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Plays, December 13, 2023, 12/13/2023, A Play About Love and Theater
Thu, Dec 14
7:00 pm

Regular: $57.50
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Plays, December 14, 2023, 12/14/2023, Play Directed by Tony Winner

Play | Fucking A: Innovative Twist on The Scarlet Letter


Suzan-Lori Parks' innovative twist on The Scarlet Letter is a timely and mystical story following a noble mother and her wayward son. The small town abortionist, Hester Smith, embarks on an unyielding quest to buy her imprisoned son’s freedom—and nothing will get in her way. Through a unique blend of storytelling and song, Hester’s branded letter A emerges as a thought provoking beacon of revenge, violence, and unflinching sacrifice. A student production.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
Fri, Dec 15
8:00 pm

Free
Plays, December 15, 2023, 12/15/2023, Fucking A: Innovative Twist on The Scarlet Letter
Sat, Dec 16
11:00 am

Regular: $30
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Performances, December 16, 2023, 12/16/2023, Interactive Kids Show

Play | Fucking A: Innovative Twist on The Scarlet Letter


Suzan-Lori Parks' innovative twist on The Scarlet Letter is a timely and mystical story following a noble mother and her wayward son. The small town abortionist, Hester Smith, embarks on an unyielding quest to buy her imprisoned son’s freedom—and nothing will get in her way. Through a unique blend of storytelling and song, Hester’s branded letter A emerges as a thought provoking beacon of revenge, violence, and unflinching sacrifice. A student production.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
Sat, Dec 16
2:00 pm

Free
Plays, December 16, 2023, 12/16/2023, Fucking A: Innovative Twist on The Scarlet Letter

Play | Fucking A: Innovative Twist on The Scarlet Letter


Suzan-Lori Parks' innovative twist on The Scarlet Letter is a timely and mystical story following a noble mother and her wayward son. The small town abortionist, Hester Smith, embarks on an unyielding quest to buy her imprisoned son’s freedom—and nothing will get in her way. Through a unique blend of storytelling and song, Hester’s branded letter A emerges as a thought provoking beacon of revenge, violence, and unflinching sacrifice. A student production.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
Sat, Dec 16
8:00 pm

Free
Plays, December 16, 2023, 12/16/2023, Fucking A: Innovative Twist on The Scarlet Letter
Sat, Dec 16
10:30 pm

Regular: $25
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Comedy Clubs, December 16, 2023, 12/16/2023, Stand up Comedy

Play | Fucking A: Innovative Twist on The Scarlet Letter


Suzan-Lori Parks' innovative twist on The Scarlet Letter is a timely and mystical story following a noble mother and her wayward son. The small town abortionist, Hester Smith, embarks on an unyielding quest to buy her imprisoned son's freedom--and nothing will get in her way. Through a unique blend of storytelling and song, Hester's branded letter A emerges as a thought provoking beacon of revenge, violence, and unflinching sacrifice. A student production.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Sun, Dec 17
2:00 pm

Free
Plays, December 17, 2023, 12/17/2023, Fucking A: Innovative Twist on The Scarlet Letter

Performance | Unsilent Night: Making Some Holiday Noise


Composer Phil Kline will lead a massive chorus of boomboxes from the West Village to the East Village in this annual holiday presentation. He will hand out a limited number of vintage boomboxes from his collection. The public is strongly encouraged to bring their own boomboxes or sound-blasters (cell phone with bluetooth is recommended) and to pre-download the track.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Sun, Dec 17
6:00 pm

Free
Performances, December 17, 2023, 12/17/2023, Unsilent Night: Making Some Holiday Noise
Thu, Dec 21
8:00 pm

Regular: $18
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Musicals, December 21, 2023, 12/21/2023, A New Musical
Fri, Dec 22
8:00 pm

Regular: $18
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Musicals, December 22, 2023, 12/22/2023, A New Musical
Sat, Dec 23
7:00 pm

Regular: $28.00
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Comedy Clubs, December 23, 2023, 12/23/2023, Have a Laugh for the Holidays
Sat, Dec 23
8:00 pm

Regular: $18
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Musicals, December 23, 2023, 12/23/2023, A New Musical
Thu, Dec 28
8:00 pm

Regular: $18
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Musicals, December 28, 2023, 12/28/2023, A New Musical
Sat, Dec 30
7:00 pm

Regular: $28.00
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Go!
Comedy Clubs, December 30, 2023, 12/30/2023, Have a Laugh for the Holidays

Staged Reading | Everything In New York Goes BANG! by Robert Galinsky


Following a sold out one-night performance in Hollywood CA, Robert Galinsky brings a vigorous reading of his newest solo show Everything in New York Goes BANG!  Everything in New York Goes BANG! is executive produced by Tony Award winning producer Terry Schnuck. In this much-anticipated-one-person show, Galinsky recounts his journey from childhood in the suburbs of Connecticut, through his interactions with hipsters in the Lower East Side of New York City, to his work with young people incarcerated on Rikers Island Jail. Expertly embodying multiple characters through storytelling and rock-star level poetry, he explores the harmony and turmoil of living in New York City from his arrival in the late 1980s to his exile and banishment from the notorious Rikers Island Jail in 2022. “Galinsky’s ‘BANG!’ is touching, sweet, grungy, and saturated with humor. The word play has a musicality to it that is likened to the beat poets of the 50s and at times, dips into the coolness and complexity of a Charlie Parker bebop jazz piece.” Mark Schoenfeld, Creator of “Brooklyn the Musical” “Robert Galinsky, playwright and the de facto Mayor of New York’s East Village, is a most inspiring breed of human being. Part time poet, part-time artist, part-time digital entrepreneur, part-time actor and full-time street philosopher.” Upscale Living Magazine
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
Sat, Jan 13
3:00 pm

Free
Staged Readings, January 13, 2024, 01/13/2024, Everything In New York Goes BANG!&nbsp;by Robert Galinsky
Complimentary Tickets

to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)

Performance | Comedy Hit Show! "TRIUMPH" (at one of the major NYC theaters)

Regular Price: $110
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Concert | Christmas Concert: Choir and Orchestra

Regular Price: $75
CFT Member Price: $0.00
Join the Club!

Go!