Two of us are going to NYC in a few weeks. We paid face value for Lion King tickets, but want to find best way to get better prices on other shows. What is best way to do this and are there usually tickets available weekend shows for Les Miz, Phantom, etc.

Register at www.playbill.com . They offer discounts on many shows. Easier than standing in line at the discount ticket booths , especially if you find a show you're interested in. It is at least a good first step before getting to NYC.You'll have to wait until you get a confirmation back from them before you can access the discounts so do this ASAP.

Agree with signing up at www.playbill.com. Substantial discounts at excellent shows. You could go to the half price ticket booths, but you'd spend considerable time waiting in line (when you could be enjoying lots of other things) for, perhaps, less than desireable seats. We used to do this and grab tickets for "any old thing" just because we spent so much time in the endeavor and were determined not to leave empty handed. If you'd like good seats on the days at the times you'd prefer, it's really best to purchase tickets ahead of time. Actually, since you already have Lion King tickets, depending upon the length of your stay, you may want to consider pursuing other endeavors evenings.

First, follow the advice about joining the Playbill club. It's not a gimmick and you can save some money.
However, the way the save the most is by standing in line at TKTS in Times Square. On most weekends, you can get tickets for Les Miz, Miss Saigon, Smokey Joe's Cafe, along with some others. The cost is half price, plus small service charge. You will not be able to get discount tickets for Phantom. However, tickets are available at full price (weekend availability questionable). If you have any specific questions on shows, fire away.

Another recommendation for www.playbill.com. You have to register, but its free. I'm not sure what Stosh is referring to by waiting for a confirmation; I called the number on the website, gave them the offer number that appeared for the show that we wanted to see and gave them my credit card number. The tickets were mailed to us with no problems. A lot of the popular shows have discounts on this site including Cabaret, Chicago and Cats but the deals are usually for weeknights.

The TKTS booth in Times Square was jammed with people to get tickets last Sunday. Someone on another post recommended going to the TKTS booth in the World Trade Center instead as the lines are much shorter. I think they also said that you could get both Sat and Sun tickets on Sat at that location.

You can usually get a better deal at either one of the TKTS booths than you can through Playbill, so I recommend Playbill only to those who have a real aversion to standing in line. TKTS is 25-50% off the face value of the ticket, plus a service charge on each ticket. The TKTS lines in Times Square are long, but they move pretty fast. They only take cash so make sure you have plenty on you before you get in line. I have never had to wait longer than an hour or so for tickets at TKTS. The best thing to do is to get in line before they open -- if you get there 20-30 minutes early there will already be a line (at least on weekends anyway) but you'll be in better shape than if you get there when it opens. We always have one person stand in line while the other goes to Starbucks and brings back breakfast which we eat in line. The other thing is to go to the World Trade Center TKTS booth which has the same prices but shorter lines. You can get more information at newyork.sidewalk.com

You can usually get a better deal at either one of the TKTS booths than you can through Playbill, so I recommend Playbill only to those who have a real aversion to standing in line. TKTS is 25-50% off the face value of the ticket, plus a service charge on each ticket. The TKTS lines in Times Square are long, but they move pretty fast. They only take cash so make sure you have plenty on you before you get in line. I have never had to wait longer than an hour or so for tickets at TKTS. The best thing to do is to get in line before they open -- if you get there 20-30 minutes early there will already be a line (at least on weekends anyway) but you'll be in better shape than if you get there when it opens. We always have one person stand in line while the other goes to Starbucks and brings back breakfast which we eat in line. The other thing is to go to the World Trade Center TKTS booth which has the same prices but shorter lines. You can get more information at newyork.sidewalk.com

TKTS in the World Trade Center rarely has a long line (1/2 an hour, tops) and it's inside. Plus, it's in the same building as the elevator to the top of the WTC.

A few additional tips about the TKTS booth:
1. If you get in line about 9:15 on a Saturday morning, the line won't be too long. (It opens at 10 for matinee tickets.)
2. Sometimes the lines can snake back and forth on the block between 46th & 47th Streets. Figure about a half-hour wait for each block length of the line.
3. If you go to the booth late afternoon or early evening, there is rarely much of a line. Of course, you will have less of a choice at that time.
4. You best chance for getting tickets at the booth is for Tuesday evening performances.

Great advice from everybody...but I have to tell you that you are going to see one of the greatest visual experiences in Theatre...I still visualize Lion King after seeing a year ago... Try to get in to see RagTime....Les Mis is one of our all time favorites..Ragtime leaves you thinking and caring...Have a wonderful time no matter what you see... After Lion King you will not regret havig paid face value...your lucky you even got tickets...

Great advice from everybody...but I have to tell you that you are going to see one of the greatest visual experiences in Theatre...I still visualize Lion King after seeing a year ago... Try to get in to see RagTime....Les Mis is one of our all time favorites..Ragtime leaves you thinking and caring...Have a wonderful time no matter what you see... After Lion King you will not regret havig paid face value...your lucky you even got tickets...

Just a word for those who enjoy less name-brand shows, previews, or less-popular ones. Tickets for these are usually available right before showtime at TKTS, when the line is practically non-existent. I've seen some experimental projects and dramas, off and off-off Broadway productions and others that I never would have tried at full price, and have enjoyed immensely. Bring a New Yorker or NY magazine with you to get an idea of shows. (Saw "Ain't Nothin' But the Blues" this way last week, and it was fabulous!)

I agree about "It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues," and tickets are available at TKTS! It's great fun with a very, very talented cast.
I also agree with another poster about "Ragtime," an outstanding show.
Tickets for both of the above are available through playbill.com.

After at least two non-theater, NYC visits - when we'd kissed off waiting in line at TCKTS -- we determined, this past September that by god, we WERE going to see a show...and ended up, on a Saturday morning, waiting just under an hour in Times Square (not sure we could've done that in summer's bright heat). But it was worth it - walked away with 1/2 price tix to Tony-award winning Side Man (now closed, i think). Bottom line is -- if seeing live theater means anything to you - give it an hour or so - the savings is worth it! And do review listings, etc. before you get in line so you have several options in mind.