Second Acting at a Broadway Show / Broadway Ticket Stub Passing

Second Acting at a Broadway Show Finds a New Audience with Millennials

The "Second Acting" strategy is a phenomenon that has been around for years and was made mainstream uber-famous by Jim Halpert and Karen Filippelli on NBC's The Office Season Three Finale.

Not widely known outside the community of regular Broadway theatergoers, "second acting" is the practice of sneaking into a Broadway theater during the intermission break and seeing the second act of a Broadway show for free.

NBC's "The Office" Coverage of Second Acting

Second acting has come to greater attention more recently with the season three finale of NBC's The Office, in which Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and his "then" girlfriend Karen Filippelli (Rashida Jones) admits to second acting the Broadway musical Spamalot during a trip to New York City.

Second Acting Was Popularized over Thirty Years Ago

Especially popular in the '70s and '80s, second acting was a way of getting the Broadway show experience without actually paying the high ticket prices. The idea would be to hang out with the smoking crowd in front of the theater during intermission, then mix in with the herd as they headed back inside. Once in, the second act-er would scout out an empty seat that was either unsold or abandoned by someone who decided to leave during intermission.

Sneaking Into A Broadway Show For Free

It sounds easy enough, but those trying to second act have often found out the hard way that an empty seat isn't always empty. It can be quite an embarrassing situation when the seat's occupant arrives (perhaps delayed by the long lines in the restrooms or at the bar) and the usher has to get involved. If you get caught, second acting will get you kicked out of the theatre in a heartbeat.

Broadway House Managers Get Wise

Since NBC's reference to Second Acting, the house managers at most Broadway theaters are now wise to second acting and while there are exceptions, audience members are usually asked to show their ticket stubs as they re-enter the theater for the second act. (As people head outside to get some fresh air at intermission, ushers can be heard calling out "Remember to bring your ticket with you! You'll have to show it to get back in!")

Some of the more established second-actors ( Usually out-of-work Broadway actors or stage staff) would strike up relationships with the ushers and just turn up to any show whenever they wanted to see the second act - and the ushers would let them in and put them in an empty seat. Shows may change, but the people who work at the theatre often stay there for years.

Ticket Stub Passing

Obviously, as second-acting has caught on, so has the Broadway theatre management and they have tried to put a stop to it. Outside a theatre nowadays there are very few smokers anyway, with the New York City mayor threatening to ban smoking on the street there may soon be none.

The latest incarnation of second acting is to hang around outside the theater at intermission and ask anyone who might be ditching the show for their ticket stub. Its amazing just how many people quit the show at that point, either they got their tickets for free or they just hated the show - if they are going to ditch the show, the intermission is when they will do it.

Ticket Stub Selling

Some people who are leaving the show early will actually sell their ticket for $10 and up, making this a bit of a bargain for a top show.

Second Acting Is Not For Everyone or Every Show

Of course, the whole thing really begs the question: Who wants to see just the second act of a show, anyway? And, of course, second acting doesn't work for the Broadway shows that don't include an intermission.