TKTS has launched its first U.S. location outside New York City at the Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia.

The booth offers discount theater tickets for performances in Philadelphia and nearby areas, providing discounts of 30% to 50% off tickets purchased up to 72 hours in advance.

This initiative aims to enhance the visibility and affordability of Philadelphia's arts scene, particularly as many performing arts companies continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

Angela Val, CEO of Visit Philadelphia, highlighted the strategic importance of partnering with TKTS to gain greater national visibility for the city's arts.

Deeksha Gaur, Executive Director of TDF, emphasized the need to address audience declines in regional theaters and expressed enthusiasm about expanding TKTS to Philadelphia.

Initially, twenty performing arts companies, including the Arden Theatre and the Philadelphia Orchestra, have opted into the TKTS program.

The TKTS booth will operate as a yearlong pilot program to evaluate its effectiveness and the potential for continuation.

TKTS is operated by the nonprofit Theater Development Fund, which is dedicated to improving accessibility in the arts.

A recent study indicated that only 32% of performing arts organizations have returned to pre-pandemic audience levels, underscoring the need for initiatives like TKTS.

Customers must purchase tickets in person at the booth, as online sales are not available.

While other discount platforms like Lucky Seat and TodayTix operate in Philadelphia, TKTS is more widely recognized among theatergoers.

The booth's launch attracted immediate interest, with local theater enthusiast Brett Mapp purchasing a ticket for a performance at the Wilma Theater.