If you’re going to be in New York City, the chances are high that you’ll want to see a play or musical on or of Broadway. If there’s a show that you’re dying to see, the best bet is to pre-purchase tickets. That takes the risk out of it. However, if you’re more flexible and just want to see any show, there are plenty of ways to get Broadway tickets without paying full price. Keep in mind that you’re going to be taking a risk in terms of what kind of seat you get. Apart from knowing the section that you’re picking, the seat could be anywhere (good or bad). Still, if you’re wanting to save some money, here’s a few (but not an exhaustive) list of options.

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TKTS Booths

The main option for the TKTS booth that’s convenient for Times Square is in the square itself (by 49th street). Just behind the red stairs, there’s a set of booths with a line that forms starting at 11 and closes at 7PM. That still leaves you time to get to the show.

If you want your best shot at decent seats, you’ll want to line up at 11. That also tends to be when the line is longest during the day. There’s also a Lincoln Centre location, but that’s only open Tuesday – Saturday. If you’re hoping to see a Sunday or Monday show, the Times Square location is your best bet.

TodayTix

Standing in line isn’t your only option. If you want to stick online and make your purchase, you can use TodayTix to see what’s available! While you might not be able to get the best discount versus in-person tickets, it’s still a viable option for a last minute booking.

Third Party (with a few caveats)

This isn’t the first recommendation by any means, but it can work out in a pinch. Sometimes, there just isn’t another option. During one of my visits to New York, there were large storms that caused a ground stop. As a result, weather delays meant I was going to miss my Letterkenny Live showing in New York City. The only option I had was to check the resale for the late show of the night (three hours later). Luckily, that paid off. I was able to get tickets for the later showing with less than twelve hours before the show began. They were even in a similar section and I was able to quickly list my existing tickets for resale.

All that said, sites like SeatGeek and StubHub probably won’t have the best prices on tickets. That’s before fees even come into the equation. However, if you’re desperate and you’ve got limited options, it’s still an option to keep in mind.

Box Office

While you’re not likely to get a discount on tickets, if you’re really desperate to see a show, you could always go by the box office and see what’s available for sale at the theatre. This is one of your riskiest options, but remains a last resort if you’ve got your heart set on something and happen to be in the area. There’s no guarantee of success, so this is a good last resort.

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No matter what you choose to see, it’s a memorable experience that can only be had in a few places in the world — if you can get a great deal while experiencing it? That’s even better! So grab your tickets and then all that’s left to do is enjoy the show.

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