Musings: Priced out, fans miss B'way joy

I have always lived on Long Island for all of my 75 years and have been going to Broadway shows since the age of 10.

As an adult, I worked for the Broadway League for six years and, on occasion, helped distribute demographic study surveys.

However, the prices of theater tickets today is beyond the reach of most people. Especially with the cost today of rent, food, gas, utilities -- you get the idea. It's an unfortunate situation.

Yes, there are discounted tickets for those who know where to look, but that usually involves standing on long lines at the TKTS booth unless you get discounted online tickets -- and maybe the show you wanted to see isn't offered that day.

I go to the theater every week, sometimes more often than that. I take the ng Island Rail Road to Penn Station and walk to the theater from there. My 61 filled Playbill binders -- yes, binders -- are a reminder of all the shows I have seen and hopefully will continue to see.

The theatre is important to me, and I am grateful that I am able to see as many shows as I want to, sometimes returning several times to the see same show.

I know many people who would love to see Broadway shows but can't afford the tickets. They can't afford to take their children to enjoy some of the wonderful shows children love such as "The Lion King" and "Aladdin."

Everyone has priorities, including those of us living on Long Island. If tickets prices were less expensive, I'm sure more people on Long Island would attend. It's a shame they don't.

Melanie Seinfeld, East Meadow