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• Box Offices
If you know what show you want to see and where it’s being performed, do a little legwork and save handling fees and surcharges by purchasing tickets directly from the box office at the theater. These booths are usually open only a few hours per day, so call ahead to find out the hours. Rush tickets purchased two hours in advance of a show are also often available through a lottery or for students at about $25 each.

• Hotel Concierges
If you’re just here for a few days and decide to see a show at the last minute, many better hotels have concierge services or even Broadway ticket desks that procure hard-to-get theater seats. Concierges will show you the options and then act as a middle man between you and a reputable broker, minimizing the fear of getting taken advantage of by a scalper. For good seats at the last minute, expect to pay premium prices (often hundreds of dollars each), plus a $20-$25 tip for the concierge, depending on the cost of the tickets.

• Ticket Services

Telecharge
212-239-6200, telecharge.com
Open 24 hours
For tickets to certain Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Telecharge adds a $6.50 surcharge per ticket for Broadway and 5.50 for Off-Broadway shows, plus a one-time handling fee of $2.50. Order them online and save 50 cents per ticket. Tickets can be and take 7-10 days, or they can be held at the box office.

Ticket Central
416 W. 42 between 9th and 10th Aves., 212-279-4200
ticketcentral.org
Open from 12-8pm daily for box office and phone orders.
A reasonable option for lesser-known Off and Off-off Broadway shows. Tickets are available at the box office, by phone or online with a nominal surcharge, depending upon the show. Expect a surcharge $2-$4 per ticket, On the Internet, there’s a base $2.50 charge plus an additional $2-$3 surcharge per ticket. Box office orders have no surcharge or additional fees. They don’t mail tickets – so pick them up from the Ticket Central box office, or have them held at the theater when you order them by phone or on the Internet.

Ticketmaster
212-307-4100, ticketmaster.com
Open 24 hours.
Ticketmaster is probably one of the best-known agencies for getting ticket to larger productions, such as The Lion King, Wicked, or Hairspray—though it’s definitely tacks on higher fees than most other agencies. Expect a $3-$10 surcharge per ticket, plus an additional convenience charge (it varies depending on the price of the tickets, but usually around $3). Although ordering online won’t save you any money, it will save time.; Order 3-4 weeks in advance for mail deliver, pick your tickets up the box office the day of the show, or have your tickets e-mailed for additional cost of $2.50.

• Discounted Tickets

NYC’s Official Visitor Information Center
810 Seventh Ave. at 53rd St., 212-484-1222
Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm; Sat, Sun, and holidays from 8am-5pm
The Visitor Information Center offers discount coupons for select shows.

TKTS
212-221-0013, tdf.org
Times Square location
47th St at Broadway
Mon- Sat (for 8pm performances): 3pm - 8pm Wed and Sat (for 2pm matinees): 10am - 2pm Sundays (for matinees): 11am - 3pm Sundays (for evening performances): 3pm
South St. Seaport location
199 Water St. at Front and John Sts.
Mon-Fri 11am-6pm Sat 11am-7pm. Closed Sundays.

The Theatre Development Fund decided to make theater more affordable for the average person, so they opened TKTS booths to offer tickets for discounts of 25-50 percent. This non-profit organization has white and red discount ticket booths in Times Square and South Street Seaport that sell tickets to everything from Chicago to Rent on the day of the performance, with just an additional $3 surcharge per ticket. Arrive in the early evening to avoid the lines, but don’t plan on charging tickets, as TKTS booths accept only cash or traveler’s checks.

• Alternatives

Online services
If you already know what show you want to see and when you want to see it, there are a number of Web sites to check out, including: Broadway.com: A service of Theatre Direct International that offers tickets, reviews and theater packages.
Broadway Line: A service of the League of American Theatres & Producers that sells Broadway tickets online.
Offbroadwayonline.com: The official Web site of the Alliance of Resident Theatres that lists Off-Broadway shows by theater company, neighborhood, subject, and author.

Scalpers
In general, buying tickets from some of the characters hovering on street corners in Times Square is not a great idea—it’s not even legal—but if you’re really desperate and everything seems legit, you may find yourself a great deal to a show.

Standby Tickets
Some theaters have standby tickets available right before show time. Call in advance to find out which theaters offer this option.

Volunteer Ushering
A handful of Broadway theaters and most Off-Broadway theaters rely on volunteer ushers to work during performances and it's easy to lend a hand in exchange for a chance to see the show. Make a reservation in advance and then arrive about an hour and a half before the performance for a debriefing from the house manager. After you show paying theatergoers to their seats, settle down to enjoy the performance for free. You might be asked to stick around for a bit afterwards to scan for stray playbills or lost-and-found items. Call the box office as procedures (and dress codes!) vary.