​“Start spreadin‘ the news, I’m leaving today
I want to be a part of it: New York, New York!” – Liza Minnelli (That’s Liza with a Z!)

​As a native-born New Yorker raised in Westchester County, I’ve been practically raised on theatre and visual arts. Although student discounts aren’t a guarantee, I have compiled a list of five of the best (and cheapest) must-visit art establishments in both the city and our very own Westchester County.

1. Lincoln Center. Lincoln Center is a famous performing arts center in New York City located on the Upper West Side. Its address is 10 Lincoln Center Plaza. You can find their upcoming events on their website. They often show films, Shakespeare plays, and musical theatre productions. There is currently a New York Film Festival lineup for those of you who enjoy the cinematic experience.

2. The New York Philharmonic. The Philharmonic offers a discounted price of $18 for students. They have yet to release their 2022-23 schedule, so if you are interested in classical music, keep an eye out for that.

3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met is an incredible museum full of art exhibitions and a permanent collection of over 2 million works. The Met’s locations are 1000 Fifth Avenue in Central Park and 99 Margaret Corbin Drive. If you’ve ever wanted to see a Monet, Manet, Renoir, Rembrandt, Picasso, Matisse, or even Van Gogh piece in person, The Met is where you’ll want to go. This discount is $17 and does not include any events or special exhibitions that may be offered at an additional cost.

4. The White Plains Performing Arts Center. WPPAC is located at 11 City in White Plains on the 3rd floor near the Barnes and Noble. They host mainstage Broadway style musical theatre productions and concerts from musical theatre performers. They are putting on the Tony nominated musical The Prom from October 7-23 at 2 PM and 8 PM Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets range from $45 to $62. Group discounts are offered, so bring your friends! One of my personal favorite musicals, Jersey Boys, opens December 9th at the mainstage.

5. Broadway. I saved the best for last. Broadway plays and musicals may not always be cheap, but if you know the tricks, you can see just about anything for under $50. In addition to regular ol‘ discounts, some shows offer Lottery, General Rush, Digital Rush, Student Rush, or Standing Room Only options. Participating in a Broadway ticket lottery was originally started in the late 1990s with RENT at The Nederlander Theatre. It is now entirely online, and all you have to do is select whether you need one or two tickets, enter the day of the performance for evening shows (generally 8 PM Tuesday-Friday, 7 PM on Saturdays) and the night before for matinees (generally Wednesdays and Sundays at 2 PM and 3 PM on Saturdays). You will be contacted by email if you win and have one hour to purchase the tickets. You pick them up at the box office. Prices range from $10-$60 (though Hamilton is the only $10 lottery and is famously hard to win). General Rush is when the box office has extra, unsold tickets on the day of the show. You have to physically go to the box office in order to purchase these tickets, and there is usually a limit of two per credit card. Digital Rush is similar to this, but online, and overall, more convenient if you can get it. This way, you don’t actually have to go into the city only to find out there are no rush seats. Student Rush is typically offered alongside one of these other types and follows the same process. The only difference is the pricing. Student Rush tickets are generally available for either one or two people per credit card maximum. Standing Room Only is not a separate process, but a type of ticket you may be able to acquire through these methods. You can see which shows offer which discounts by clicking the link above. Another website that offers discounts, including for larger groups, is TodayTix.com. You can also find discounts for Off-Broadway shows such as The Blue Man Group, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Office!:A Musical Parody.

​Even though Pace’s Pleasantville campus does not have the luxury of being located in the heart of Manhattan, we do have one of the easiest solutions to getting there– a shuttle! Plan your trip to the city today before it gets too cold (and whatever you do, don’t go to the M&M store. It’s a waste of time. Go to the Marriott Marquis instead. They have amazing flatbread pizza.) Make sure to bring your Maps app and avoid the subway if possible. Walking is good for you! I hope you have a grand old time in the city that never sleeps.