Cheap Seats

The Cheap Seats program is available to University of Pittsburgh students, faculty, and staff with a valid Pitt ID. Each person can purchase up to four tickets for all shows (with a few noted exceptions), and you can take non-Pitt people. You must be going to the performance yourself and show your Pitt ID.

Your tickets will be waiting for you one hour prior to the performance at the appropriate venue. Again, be prepared to show your valid Pitt ID at the Will Call box office. All sales are final. No returns, no exchanges.

Pitt Arts works with arts organizations to ensure that the best available seating is offered for a low price. Individuals with special needs should contact the arts organization directly in order to purchase tickets and ensure accessible seating. 

Pittsburgh Cultural District Offerings

All Pittsburgh Cultural District Cheap Seats tickets are available online only. Purchase discounted tickets.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

All performances take place at Heinz Hall, Downtown.

The Sounds of NOW: Opening Weekend
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
September 29 – October 1
Heinz Hall, Downtown
Cheap Seats Students: $10, $15, $20 & $25, Faculty/Staff start at $16.69

Long-time friend of the PSO, Hélène Grimaud, returns to interpret Schumann’s one and only Piano Concerto, written in a season pain as this pianist had to declare one of his fingers terminally lame. Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 culminates the evening, illustrating how he emerged from adversity and triumphed with another masterpiece.

The Sounds of NOW: Opening Weekend
September 29 – October 1
Students: $10, $15, $20 & $25
Faculty/Staff start at $16.69

Long-time friend of the PSO, Hélène Grimaud, returns to interpret Schumann’s one and only Piano Concerto, written in a season of pain as this pianist had to declare one of his fingers terminally lame. Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 culminates the evening, illustrating how he emerged from adversity and triumphed with another masterpiece.

Pittsburgh Opera

There are no Cheap Seats offerings for the Pittsburgh Opera at this time. Please check back in the fall for their 2023-2024 season.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

Students $17, $26, $33, $64 & $83 
Faculty/Staff $22, $32, $44, $69 & $86

Light in the Dark
October 27 – 29
Byham Theater, Downtown
Students $17, $22, $26, $33, $64 & $83
Faculty/Staff $22, $27, $32, $44, $69 & $86
PBT’s season opener tells powerful stories of tragedy, hope and human connection. The program’s central work, Sounds of the Sun, is a world premiere by Jennifer Archibald, which celebrates the life of Florence Waren, a Jewish dancer who lived in Paris and worked with the French Resistance during World War II. Also included in this momentous production is the emotional Monger, created by award-winning Israeli American choreographer Barak Marshall. Monger follows the lives of a group of people trapped in the house of an abusive mistress. Completing this stunning program are two incredibly gorgeous and intense ballets – Loss by Sasha Janes and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Lacrimosa.

The Nutcracker
December 8 – 28
Benedum Center, Downtown
Students $26
Faculty/Staff $22, $27, $32, $44, $69 & $86
Celebrate the most delightful time of year with the sweetest of holiday traditions, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker. Join Marie, her Nutcracker prince and hundreds of colorful characters for an unforgettable adventure through the Land of Enchantment. Revel in the stunning scenes, spectacular costumes, sparkling snowflakes and instantly recognizable Tchaikovsky score with your family and friends.

Pittsburgh CLO / CLO Cabaret

Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret 
There are no Cheap Seats offerings for the Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret at this time. Check back for discounted tickets to their 2023-2024 Season. 

A Musical Christmas Carol
December 15 – 23
Byham Theater, Downtown
Pittsburgh CLO has taken the spirit of the season, wrapped it in your favorite yuletide melodies, and tied it up with all the holiday magic and wonder of your childhood. Join Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and a host of colorful characters for A Musical Christmas Carol. With dazzling special effects, holiday charm, and ticket prices even Scrooge would approve of, this Charles Dickens classic is a wonderful way to celebrate all the tradition of the season.

Capitol Fools
Thursday, September 21, 7:30 p.m.
Byham Theater, Downtown
Cheap Seats $17, $19.50 & $22
What happens when Washington, D.C.’s premiere, political satire group – The Capitol Steps – call it quits after nearly 40 years? Most folks would agree that it was a great run, and the story would end there. But an intrepid group of cast members and a co-writer would not go quietly into that good night. This band of fools reflected on a world without musical, political satire, and didn’t like what they saw. And just like that The Capitol Fools were born. While foolish enough to embark on this new journey, they were smart enough to not reinvent the wheel. Fast-paced, laugh out loud show…check. Equal opportunity offenders…check. Skewering both sides of the aisle…check. If a “Steps-style show” is wrong, they don’t want to be right. The Capitol Fools hold up a mirror to our crazy political culture, providing hilarious song parodies and foolish reflections that continue to inspire belly-laughter.

Sugar Skull!
Saturday, October 7, 2023, 2 p.m.
Byham Theater, Downtown
Cheap Seats $18.25
Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure is a touring bilingual/bicultural musical for young audiences and families that uses traditional regional music and dance from Mexico to tell the story of twelve-year-old Vita Flores. Vita thinks her family has gone loco planning a celebration for deceased loved ones. Why throw a party for the dead? But when a spirited candy skeleton suddenly springs to life, Vita finds herself on a magical, musical journey to unravel the true meaning of Día de Muertos.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 48th Anniversary Spectacular Tour
Tuesday, October 17, 8 p.m.
Byham Theater, Downtown
Cheap Seats $33, $42, & $51
Join the original ‘Brad Majors’ – Barry Bostwick – for a screening of the original unedited movie with a live shadow cast and audience participation! Plus a memorabilia display with artifacts and an actual costume from the movie, a costume contest, and more!

Pittsburgh CLO 
All performances at the Benedum Center, Downtown 
Cheap Seats $20, $35 & $40

Moulin Rouge! The Musical
September 27 – October 8, 2023
Benedum Center, Downtown
Limited dates available, Cheap Seats start at $44
Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical! Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love.

Pittsburgh Public Theatre

All performances at the O’Reilly Theater, Downtown 
Students $16.50, Faculty/Staff $27.50 

Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For
September 19 – October 18
Pittsburgh Public Theater
O’Reilly Theater, Downtown
Cheap Seats Students $16.50, Faculty/Staff $27.50

Featuring a stunning score, Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For brings to life the remarkable true story of one of the greatest composers of all time. From his impoverished beginnings in Pittsburgh to his lifelong collaboration with Duke Ellington, this world-premiere new musical follows the highs and lows of Billy Strayhorn’s career, the joys and heartbreak of his personal life, and the challenges he faced living as an openly gay Black man in mid-20th century America at the dawn of the civil rights movement. Billy Strayhorn transcended racial and sexual barriers and brought a unique fusion of jazz and classical music to the world with all-time favorites including “Take the ‘A’ Train” and the immortal “Lush Life.”

City Theatre

• Purchase student tickets online
• Purchase faculty/staff/Osher tickets online.
• Discounts NOT VALID on Opening Night and Saturday 5:30 p.m. performances. 

All performance at 1300 Bingham Street, South Side 
$15.00 for Students with code CITYUPS 
$27.00 for Faculty/Staff/Osher with code CITYUPF 

Somewhere Over the Border by Brian Quijada
City Theatre
September 23 – October 15
City Theatre Main Stage, South Side
Cheap Seats $15.00 for Students with code CITYUPS & $27.00 for Faculty/Staff/Osher with code CITYUPF

Inspired by the true story of playwright’s mother’s journey from El Salvador to the US, Somewhere Over the Border brings us down a different yellow brick road in a new musical. infused with Cumbia, Mexican Mariachi Boleros, American Rock, and Hip Hop, it’s an uplifting tale about the power of determination, family, and love.

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson & Margot Melcon
November 25 – December 17
A charming celebration of beloved characters, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley takes place two years after the end of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Join the Bennets, Darcys, and Bingleys, as they gather for Christmas at Pemberly when an unexpected guest’s appearance sparks dreams of love.

Find more information and to purchase City Theatre Cheap Seats tickets with promo codes.

Quantum Theatre

Quantum Theatre tickets for undergraduate and graduate students can be purchased by calling 412-362-1713.

Undergraduate and Graduate Student Tickets $18 with fee; Adult Tickets start at $38 with fee.

There are no Cheap Seats offerings for Quantum Theatre at this time.

PICT Classic Theatre

Purchase Cheap Seats tickets directly online through www.picttheatre.org 

There are no Cheap Seats offerings for PICT Classic Theatre at this time.

Renaissance & Baroque/Chatham Baroque

Renaissance & Baroque and Chatham Baroque 
Student $20, Senior (65+) $35, General $40 
Purchase Renaissance & Baroque and Chatham Baroque tickets.

There are no Cheap Seats offerings for Renaissance & Baroque and Chatham Baroque at this time.

Calliope: Pittsburgh Folk Music Society

Calliope: Pittsburgh Folk Music Society 
Kelly Strayhorn Theater, East Liberty 
Purchase Cheap Seats tickets online through https://calliopehouse.org. 

There are no Cheap Seats offerings for Calliope: Pittsburgh Folk Music Society at this time.

Pittsburgh Dance Council

Rocío Molina has been rescheduled to Saturday, September 23, 2023. 

Liberty Magic

Mr. Messado’s School of Magic for the Young and Young at Heart
Sundays Through August 27
Cheap Seats start at $21.44
Forget everything you know about magicians pulling rabbits out of top hats. Mr. Messado brings a fresh new take on the age-old art of prestidigitation. Join superstar magician Mr. Messado for his new astonishing play designed exclusively for Liberty Magic. Time tested through thousands of performances at appearances around the world, schools, company events, private parties and more, Mr. Messado’s Magic School for the Young and Young at Heart will have both teens AND adults amazed from start to finish!

Lee Terbosic in Life and Death of Harry Houdini
October 25 – December 3, limited dates available
Cheap Seats start at $20.75
Lee Terbosic is an internationally touring magician, comedian, actor, daredevil and entertainer from Pittsburgh, PA who is proving that anything is possible. Lee is the co-star of Discovery Science Channel’s recent smash Houdini’s Last Secret, a four-part TV docuseries that uncovers incredible secrets about Harry Houdini’s life, family, magic and science behind some of his biggest stunts and escapes. In this special limited engagement event, Lee will lead audiences through an exploration of some of Houdini’s most magical moments. The 75-minute performance, part lecture, part Q&A, part demo, and all magic- will leave you wondering if there was something more sinister afoot on the night of Houdini’s passing 93 years ago.