NJ residents can score under-$20 Broadway tickets as part of first-ever theater program next month

Living in New Jersey has its perks, and a new one just dropped. On October 22, the Broadway League will launch the inaugural New Jersey Night on Broadway, a one-night cultural bridge (and tunnel) offering discounted tickets, transit deals and a slew of dining promotions aimed squarely at Jersey residents.

Think of it as Broadway’s version of a dinner party across the Hudson. For one night only, ticket-buyers from the Garden State can snag buy-one, get-one tickets for $17.87 (a cheeky wink to the year New Jersey entered the Union), while NJ Transit will offer BOGO rides via its mobile app, so commuting to the Great White Way doesn’t feel like bankruptcy.

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But the evening is meant to feel less like a logistics exercise and more like an occasion. Twenty-one Broadway productions, from Aladdin and The Lion King to Wicked, Hadestown, The Book of Mormon and SIX, are on board, each promising a “twist” or special gesture just for the night. (Chicago, & Juliet and The Outsiders will participate on October 23 to accommodate their schedules.)

Theaters aren’t the only venues involved, either. Eighteen Theater District restaurants will roll out celebratory specials. Among them are iconic names and staples (Carnegie Diner, Apollo’s, Hard Rock Café) as well as longtime local faves (La Masseria, Mermaid Oyster Bar, Spice Symphony).

“New Jersey audiences have always been a vital part of Broadway,” said Jason Laks, president of The Broadway League, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to recognize and celebrate our neighbors across the Hudson with this first-ever night dedicated to them. NJ Night on Broadway is about more than just great theatre, it’s a full evening out with friends and family that honors New Jersey’s connection to Broadway.”

For New Jersey theater fans, the discounts may almost make up for having to sit in traffic on the way into the city or dashing to make the last train home. And for Broadway, it feels like a recognition that its audiences are more than New Yorkers and out-of-town tourists. It’s a gesture wrapped in a promotion, but it’s hard not to see it as a thank you for loyal theatergoers.

Visit NJNightonBroadway.com for full listings and updates (and the fine print).