How to Get Show Tickets in New York

What do tickets sell for, anyway? Not counting the limited "premium seat" category (or discount deals), the top ticket price for Broadway musicals is now hovering at $136; the low end for musicals is in the $50 range. Nonmusical comedies and dramas start at about $70 and top out at about $120. Off Broadway show tickets average $50-$90, and off off Broadway shows can run as low as $15-$25. Tickets to an opera start at about $25 for nosebleed seats and can soar close to $400 for prime locations. Classical music concerts go for $25 to $100 or more, depending on the venue. Dance performances are usually in the $15 to $60 range, but expect seats for the ballet in choice spots to cost more.

Scoring tickets is fairly easy, especially if you have some flexibility. But if timing or cost is critical, the only way to ensure you'll get the seats you want is to make your purchase in advance—and that might be months ahead for a hit show. In general, tickets for Saturday evening and for weekend matinees are the toughest to secure.

For opera, classical music, and dance performances, go to the box office or order tickets through the venue's Web site.

For smaller performing-arts companies, and especially for Off Broadway shows, try Ticket Central (416 W. 42nd St., between 9th and 10th Aves., Midtown West 212/279-4200 www.ticketcentral.com Daily noon-8 A, C, E to 42nd St.), which is right in the center of Theater Row; service charges are nominal here. SmartTix (212/868-4444 www.smarttix.com) is a reliable resource for (usually) smaller performing-arts companies, including dance and music; their service charges are nominal as well.

Inside the Times Square Information Center is the Broadway Concierge and Ticket Center (1560 Broadway, between W. 46th and W. 47th Sts., Midtown West 888/BROADWAY www.livebroadway.com Tickets: Mon.-Sat. 9-7, Sun. 10-6 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S to 42nd St./Times Sq.; N, R to 49th St.), where you can purchase full- and premium-price tickets for most Broadway (and some Off Broadway) shows.

Sure bets for Broadway (and some other big-hall events) are the box office or either Telecharge (212/239-6200, 800/432-7250 outside N.Y.C. www.telecharge.com) or Ticketmaster (212/307-4100, 866/448-7849 automated service, 212/220-0500 premium tickets www.ticketmaster.com). Virtually all larger shows are listed with one service or the other, but never both; specifying "premium" will help you get elusive—and expensive (upward of $200-$350)—seats. A broker or your hotel concierge should be able to procure last-minute tickets, but prices may even exceed "premium" rates. Be prepared to pay steep add-on fees (per ticket and per order) for all ticketing services.

Although most online ticket services provide seating maps to help you choose, the advantage of going to the box office is twofold: there are no add-on service fees, and a ticket seller can personally advise you about sight lines—and knee room—for the seat location you are considering. Broadway box offices do not usually have direct phone lines; their walk-in hours are generally 10 am until curtain.