Give your regards to a Broadway show

You’re headed to New York and, of course, you’d like to see a Broadway show. But which one, and how will you afford it?

With orchestra seats averaging $115 for Broadway musicals, we’re talking about a hefty investment.

For answers, I turned to staff of the Theatre Development Fund, a service group for the performing arts, and the Broadway League, a trade association of North American theater owners, producers and general managers. I also talked with theater fans.

How do I choose a Broadway show?

Study up. Buy newspapers and magazines that run listings and reviews or visit their websites, such as www.timeout.com, www.nytimes.com and www.newyorker.com. Discount and theater websites mentioned below are also helpful.

Should I get tickets in advance?

Yes, if you want to see a certain show and will be in New York for a limited time; top shows may sell out months ahead.

Maybe not, if you’re flexible and willing to wait for last-minute deals.

Where do I buy advance tickets?

Broadway shows are commonly sold through Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.com, or Telecharge, www.telecharge.com. Theaters typically don’t handle their own advance sales except in person at the box office, said Amy Steinhaus, manager of ticketing and hospitality for the Broadway League.

Because other sellers may add big markups, offer limited inventory or may not even be legitimate, it’s best to book through a show’s official vendor. You can link to these through www.ilovenytheater.com, a website run by the Broadway League.

How do I get discounts?

Try websites that have special relationships with theaters and ticket sellers. These may offer up to 50% off regular prices, plus useful information such as news of upcoming shows and audience reviews and forums.

Be sure you’re dealing with a legitimate site. Among well-regarded ones are www.broadwaybox.com, www.theatermania.com and www.playbill.com. Through its membership program, the Theatre Development Fund, www.tdf.org, offers discounts to students, teachers, seniors age 62 and up and certain other groups.

I’ve arrived in N.Y. without theater tickets. Can I still see a show?

Yes, and maybe get a bargain too. You have at least three options:

* The Broadway Concierge & Ticket Center, in the Times Square Information Center on Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets, sells full-price tickets for same-day and advance performances. Customers can get help with restaurant reservations, maps and more. The center is run by the Broadway League, www.livebroadway.com.

* TKTS sells tickets, discounted up to 50%, for same-day performances. There are two sales booths: one outside the New York Marriott Marquis at Times Square and another at South Street Seaport in Lower Manhattan.

To avoid the longest lines at the Times Square booth, wait 90 minutes or more after it opens for sales, said David LeShay, spokesman for the Theatre Development Fund, which runs TKTS. Or go to the Lower Manhattan booth, which gets fewer visitors and, unlike the other booth, also sells tickets for next-day matinees. For details, visit www.tdf.org/tkts.

Next up: TKTS will open a bigger Times Square facility, possibly as soon as mid-June, LeShay said.

* The theater’s box office. You’ll get personal service and avoid extra fees, plus many offer discounted same-day seats under lotteries and rush tickets. Visit the Broadway Concierge & Ticket Center for details.

I’ve struck out on scoring tickets, and I’ll just die if I don’t see this show. What do I do?

Don’t despair. It’s a rare performance that is truly sold out.

Some fans report luck with online marketplaces for resold tickets, such as www.stubhub.com, and general classifieds sites, such as www.craigslist.org.

Hotel concierges, tapping brokers who buy tickets in bulk and mark them up, can often get last-minute seats, said the Broadway League’s Steinhaus. If you use this route, expect to pay $300 or more per ticket for high-demand shows, she added.

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jane.engle@latimes.com