There's a new man in my life: "The Ticket King of Broadway". He's opening my eyes to all sorts of new experiences -- cheap ticket buying experiences, that is...

Quite frankly, Broadway tickets have been a bit of a mystery to me over the years. Here's what I've learned from the "King":

1. You've gotta follow the release of house tickets like the stock market;
2. Wait for house tickets to be released, then book them instantly;
3. Use discount codes from "Broadway Box" to get the best price on tickets; and
4. Buy the tickets at the theater to avoid service charges.

Now, can the "Ticket King of Broadway" get me closing night tickets to La Cage Aux Folles? Inquiring minds want to know...

The Broadway Box site is UNBELIEVABLE. What a find! I'll never pay full-price again...here's a great link to the press section of their site. According to USA Today:

For years, New York's "I can get it for you wholesale" boast rarely applied to Broadway theater tickets. Apart from a few longstanding discount options, an out-of-towner's chances of scoring an orchestra seat at balcony prices were about as slim as a chorus girl's waistline.

But the Internet, helped by a floundering economy, a post-Sept. 11 tourism slump and a growing reluctance to plan vacations months in advance, is fueling a greater reliance on the airline model of demand-driven pricing -- and a growing number of theater discount sites aimed largely at bargain-hunting travelers...

The traditional, and most popular, way to nab a Broadway or off- Broadway discount is still by standing in line for a same-day show at one of New York's two TKTS booths, located at Times Square and South Street Seaport (which also offers matinee tickets for next- day performances). Operated by the non-profit Theatre Development Fund, the 30-year-old TKTS program sells seats at 25% or 50% off face value, plus a $3 per-ticket service charge.

But the hassle factor can be formidable. Payment is by cash or traveler's checks only, and the average wait ranges from 15 to 30 minutes but can often stretch more than an hour. Theatergoers intent on seeing a specific show may be disappointed: As the Theatre Development Fund's Web site notes, "changes in availability can occur on an hourly basis as cooperating theatres supply or withdraw tickets, depending on box office demand."...

By contrast, travelers who want to nail down a show before they leave home can browse among more than a dozen Internet sites that supply coveted discount codes -- theater-issued deals of 25% to 50% off.

Armed with the codes (typically a combination of letters and numbers), they can then buy through Telecharge or Ticketmaster, or at the theater box office when they arrive, thus avoiding service fees and handling charges when purchasing online or by phone...

Among those generating the biggest buzz is BroadwayBox.com, a reader-driven effort that collects and posts advance-purchase discount codes of up to 50%. This week, the site listed 22 discounted Broadway shows and 22 off-Broadway shows, from Mamma Mia! (tickets for $75 at select performances in September, down from $98.75) to Forbidden Broadway: 20th Anniversary Celebration ($20 or $32 per seat through October, vs. a published price of $55 to $57.50).

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