How to Buy Discount Theater Tickets

The cheapest—though chanciest—ticket opportunities are found at participating theater box offices on the day of the performance. These rush tickets, usually about $25, may be distributed by lottery and are usually for front-row (possibly neck-craning) seats. Check the comprehensive planner on www.nytix.com or go to the box office of the show you are interested in to discover whether they have such an offer and how to pursue it. Obstructed-view seats or those in the very rear balcony are sometimes available for advance purchase; the price point on these is usually in the $35-$40 range.

But for advanced discount purchases, the best seating is likely available by using a discount "code"—procure these codes, good for 20% to 50% off, online. (You will need to register on each Web site.) The excellent no-subscription-required www.broadwaybox.com site is comprehensive and posts all discount codes currently available for Broadway shows. As with all discount codes offered through online subscriber services—TheaterMania (www.theatermania.com), Playbill (www.playbill.com), and Best of Off Broadway (bestofoffbroadway.com) among them—to avoid service charges, you must bring a printout of the offer to the box office, and make your purchase there.

For seats at 25%-50% off the usual price, go to one of the TKTS booths (Father Duffy Sq., W. 47th St. and Broadway, Midtown West 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S, W to 42nd St./Times Sq.; N, R, W to 49th St.; 1 to 50th St. South St. Seaport, Front and John Sts., Lower Manhattan 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, E, J, M, Z to Fulton St./Broadway-Nassau Downtown Brooklyn, at the Myrtle St. Promenade and Jay St., Brooklyn A, C, F to Jay St.-Borough Hall; R, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Court St.-Borough Hall www.tdf.org). Although they do tack on a $4 per ticket service charge, and not all shows are predictably available, the broad choices and ease of selection—and of course, the solid discount—make TKTS the go-to source for the flexible theatergoer. Check the electronic listings board near the ticket windows to mull over your options while you're in line. At the spiffed-up Duffy Square location (look for the red glass staircase), there is a separate "Play Express" window (for nonmusical events) to further simplify—and speed—things. Duffy hours are Monday and Wednesday-Saturday 3-8, and Tuesday 2-8 (for evening performances); for Wednesday and Saturday matinees 10-2; for Sunday matinees 11-3; Sunday evening shows, from 3 until a half hour before curtain. Seaport hours are Monday-Saturday 11-6, Sunday 11-4. Brooklyn hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11-6. With the exception of matinee tickets at the Seaport and Brooklyn locations, which sell these for next-day performances only, all shows offered are for that same day. Credit cards, cash, or traveler's checks are accepted at all locations. Planning ahead? The TKTS Web site lists what was available at the booths in the previous week to give you an idea of what shows you'll find. Note: Ticket booth hours may vary over holiday periods.

What's Playing Where

New York is rich with easily accessible and comprehensive listings resources in both print and online formats. The New York Times (www.nytimes.com) listings are concentrated in its Thursday, Friday, and Sunday papers, as well as online. The New Yorker (www.newyorker.com) is highly selective, but calls attention to performances with its succinct reviews. It hits the stands on Monday. In New York magazine (www.nymag.com), also on newsstands on Monday, see The Week section for hot-ticket events. Time Out New York's (timeoutnewyork.com) short takes are comprehensive; read them online or pick up a copy of the weekly on Thursday. The freebie tabloid the Village Voice (www.villagevoice.com) comes out on Wednesday; it has extensive listings—especially for theater, music, and dance—as well.

Online-only venues www.nytheatre.com (especially for Broadway) and indietheater.org, and offoffonline.com (for off and off-off Broadway) provide synopses, schedules when theaters are dark, accessibility info, run times, seating charts, and links to ticket purchases. The best general source online for dance and smaller opera and classical music companies is www.smarttix.com.

Best Tips for Broadway

Whether you're handing over a hundred bucks for a top ticket or shoestringing it in a nosebleed seat, seeing one show or seven, you'll have better Broadway experiences to brag about if you take our advice.

Do your homework. Remember—your friends' "must-see" may not be yours. If you're new to theater, or not a regular, try to discover Broadway for yourself. Subscribe to online services ahead of your trip; you'll get access to show synopses, special ticket offers, and more. If it's a classic play, try to read it before you go; for a musical, listen to the score.

Reserve ahead. The TKTS booth is great when you're up for what the fates make available, but for must-sees, we recommend booking early. While you're at it, don't forget to ask whether the regular cast is expected. (An in-person stop at the box office is the most reliable way to score this information ahead of time, but don't hold them to it unless it's the day of performance. If there is a change then—and the replacement cast is not acceptable to you—you may get a refund.) For musicals, live music will always add a special zing; confirm when ticketing to avoid surprises on the rare occasion when recorded music is used.

Check theater seating charts. Front mezzanine is a great option; with seats that overhang the stage, they can be better (though not always less expensive) than many orchestra locations. Always book with a seating chart at hand (available online and at the box office); although even the priciest seats might be tight, it is always worth splurging for the best sight lines. Check accessibility, especially at older theaters with multiple flights of stairs and scarce elevators.

Know when to go. Surprisingly, Friday evening is a good option; Saturday night and weekday matinees are the most difficult. Do as the locals do and go on weeknights. Tuesday is especially promising, and typically an earlier curtain—7 or 7:30 instead of the usual 8 pm—helps ensure that you'll get a good night's sleep for your next day of touring.

Dress right. You can easily throw on jeans to go to the theater these days, but personally we feel Bermuda shorts have no place on Broadway. Bring binoculars if your seats are up high, leave behind the heavy coat (coat checks are not the norm), and drop packages off at your hotel room in advance.

Travel smart. Trying to get to the show in time? Unless you don't mind watching the meter run up while you're stuck in traffic, avoid cabs into or out of Times Square. The pre- and post-theater crush will render Broadway virtually unwalkable, but that said, walk, especially if you're within 10 blocks of the theater. Otherwise, take the subway.

Dine off Broadway. Dining well on a budget and doing Broadway right are not mutually exclusive notions. Key is avoiding the temptation to eat in Times Square proper—even the national chains are overpriced. Consider instead supping in whatever neighborhood you're touring that day. Or, if you're already in Midtown, head west of the district to 9th Avenue. That's where many actors and other theater folk actually live, and you never know who you'll see on the street or at the next table. Prix-fixe deals and ethnic eateries are plentiful.