TKTS in Times Square. Photo Credit: NYCGo.com.

Once and awhile, now and again, when we get bored – or more like curious- enough, us New York City locals like to explore just what the 54.3 million visitors a year come here to experience. No, not the noisy streets, cramped subway cars and long waits at no-reservation restaurants. I’m talking about the art and culture that bleeds through every neighborhood in Manhattan. Even tried-and-true, self-proclaimed New Yorkers love a little drama in their lives, as long as it stays on the stage.

So even the most jaded New Yorkers will take advantage of Broadway Week.

Life in the big city isn’t always that hard to find a deal. Sometimes they jump right out at ya. From September 1st-14th (now!), NYCGo.com is offering 2-for-1 Broadway tickets on select shows.  In celebration of Broadway Week here are a few of my insider tips buy tickets for less.

DUMBO’s unobstructed view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline. Photo Credit: Nikki Pepper.

1. TKTS

A few years back, the Theatre Development Fund founded TKTS, a discounted ticket service. You can visit the Times Square booth, with its guaranteed chaotic and crowded wrap-around lines. Or visit one of the two other TKTS locations: Downtown Brooklyn and South Street Seaport. After visiting the World Trade Center Memorial and Museum (a solemn but worthy must), you’re a few blocks away from the South Street Seaport booth. And the Downtown Brooklyn location is about a ten-minute walk from the waterfront, which offers the ultimate view of Manhattan’s skyline.

TKTS at South Street Seaport. Photo Credit: NY Daily News.

2. TodayTix

The (where else) NYC-based app company is taking discounted tickets a bit further in the future than TKTS does. You can browse shows and purchases tickets up to a week in advance, which makes planning around brunch with friends and Soul Cycle classes a bit easier. But my favorite feature of TodayTix is the service. Your tickets are hand-delivered to you by one of their ticket concierges 30 minutes before the show.

The convenient app is available for Apple and Android. Photo Credit: iTunes.

3. Box Office day-of

It’s kind of like getting a pleasant attendant at the airport check-in who looks the other way when clicking the ‘upgrade’ button before printing your ticket. There’s no guarantee here though. Full fare or sold out theaters are very real possibilities so this is the most risky of options. But if you’re feeling lucky then swing by and fingers crossed you get that friendly attendant.

For those of you who haven’t done any research yet or don’t have your heart set on a particular performance, check out the new and noteworthy: Kinky Boots, If/Then and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Or experience one of the raved-about shows that has exceeded a mere 15-minutes of fame: Wicked, Avenue Q and Les Miz.