Where can I get cheap Broadway tickets?

Cheap? How about we stop flinging that word around while we're discussing New York City and we use the more appropriate term, less expensive. Truth be told, you can score some decent deals on Broadway tickets if you're realistic, patient and flexible.

To begin, accept the fact that even at face value, you're not gonna score seats to the hottest show in town unless you buy them well in advance or pay a hefty fee through a broker, which is just a fancy word for ticket scalper. But this isn't about that, it's about finding a deal on "a" Broadway show, not "the" Broadway show, right?

If you've combed the classifieds and Googled (Binged, "Yahoo'd") "cheap Broadway tickets", then I'm sure you've unearthed an assload of sites that claim to offer the best prices or discounted tickets, but who is legit and how do you choose which one to use? I have no beef or allegiance to any of those cats, but I can tell you, that despite any "official" claims they may make, the "official" source for Broadway tickets are Telecharge and Ticketmaster. So, besides the internet, where can I buy tickets once I arrive?

You can obviously purchase tickets at the show's box office, but if the show is even remotely hot, there probably won't be anything available for a while or for the duration of your stay (if you're here on vacation). You may get lucky the night of the show, when tickets that were held and weren't used make there way back to the box office, but do you really wanna take that chance or look like a dipshit if you're on a date?

Ok, as I told you earlier... if you have patience and flexibility, you can score some decent deals at the TKTS booth. What is that? TKTS offers same-day tickets to Broadway and Off Broadway shows at discounts of up to 50% off full price. You will have to wait in line and you may not be able to find tickets for the shows that appeal to you most, but if you're flexible, you'll have options. So, where do you go? They have three booths, each with their own policies, so pay attention, Nitz...

• The Times Square Booth sells day-of-performance tickets only.
• The South Street Seaport Booth sells tickets to evening performances on the day of the performance and matinee tickets the day before.
• The Downtown Brooklyn Booth sells tickets to evening performances on the day of the performance and matinee tickets the day before as well as tickets to Brooklyn performing arts events.      

You can find hours, locations and directions on the TKTS website. I have one last tip for you gadget heads... TKTS now has a phone app that will tell you what tickets are available in advance, which should cut down on your wait times or "waste" times when you just show up and take whatever you can get. You can download the app for free, here:  iTunes app store, Android market or Windows phone 7.