Toll-Free Phone Service Connects You To Broadway

Sun., Jan. 11, 1998

New York Times

A national toll-free telephone service was recently inaugurated by the League of American Theaters and Producers to help people find out what’s playing on Broadway and to connect them with a ticket-sales agent.

The phone service, called the Broadway Line, is similar to movie-ticket lines that have sprung up around the United States in recent years. The service is sponsored by Continental Airlines and The New York Times.

Callers outside the New York City area can reach the Broadway Line by dialing (888) 411-BWAY (2929). Within the metropolitan area, callers can dial 302-4111.

Callers can press numbers on their touch-tone phones to find their way through a maze of information and discover what shows are playing, listen to stars describe the plots, hear about special offers and discounts, play a Broadway trivia quiz and, if they wish, be connected to a ticket-sales agent.

There are no fees above those already charged by ticket-sales agents for those who use the Broadway Line, Bernstein said. Only shows being presented by members of the league, however, will be part of the service.

Effectively, that means that information about “The Lion King,” presented by Walt Disney Co., and the upcoming “Ragtime,” presented by Livent, will not be part of the service.

The league represents all of the producers and theater owners on Broadway except for Disney and Livent, which decided not to become league members and to negotiate their own, separate contract with Broadway unions.

In about three months, Bernstein said, the service will be expanded and callers will be able to purchase tickets to Broadway shows on national tour in the 90 cities covered by the league.

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