The Best Ticket Sources

TKTS Booth

Use for: Operated by New York City's nonprofit Theatre Development Fund, TKTS offers 25 percent to 50 percent discounts on Broadway shows. The Times Square booth sells only day-of-show seats; the South Street Seaport location also sells matinee tickets one day in advance.

You should know: Both booths take only cash or traveler's checks, and neither announces in advance which shows will be offered on a given day. You must purchase tickets in person, and the open-air lines can be long, making for uncomfortable waits in bad weather.

 The fine print: A $3 service charge applies to all tickets, and no exchanges or refunds are given. For hours of operation, visit tdf.org/tkts. Note that large batches of seats are often sent to the booths at around 3 p.m. and again at around 6 p.m.