PICKET TICKETS: METROPOLITAN OPERA RUSH SEATS

Don't count on seeing The Lion King tonight—that Broadway strike is still in force. But take heart: You can still spend the evening in the company of musical royalty, with even more Julie Taymor!

For a mere $20, you can get primo rush tickets for Taymor's take on the Mozart opera Die Zauberflöte (a.k.a. The Magic Flute) at the Metropolitan Opera.

I honestly can't believe that I continue to push the rush ticket deal at the Met, because the more that people know about it, the harder it is for me and my friends to take advantage of this amazing opportunity, the envy of opera lovers around the world. But here I go again: The rush tickets will go on sale at the Met at 6 pm for the 8 pm curtain, but you should get there early—maybe around 3 pm, to be on the safe side. Think of it as being like TKTS, but more comfortable (you wait indoors) with a better price.

To be frank, this production got a dismissive New York Times review in October, but I'm sure it's worth a try for Taymor's production design as well as the excitement of Diana Damrau's first night as the Queen of the, uh, Night.

The rush tickets are available for performances Mondays through Thursdays. Upcoming rush opportunities include the well-received Le Nozze di Figaro.