Philadelphia's new TKTS booth will offer cheap tickets to theater shows

Driving the news: Philadelphia's first TKTS ticket booth is opening at the Independence Visitor Center on Thursday around 11:15am.

• The Philly outpost adds to TKTS locations in New York City, Tokyo and London. 
• The Theatre Development Fund (TDF) partnered with Visit Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation to bring the service to Philly. 

How it works: You can only purchase discounted tickets at the booth in person and  within 72 hours of a showing at certain theaters in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. 

• Participating theaters include the Philadelphia Theatre Company, Media Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, and Theatre Horizon. 
• The ticket booth is open 10am-6pm daily.

Pro tip: Prepare to wait. The booth has been known to draw big crowds and lines. 

What they're saying: "The TKTS booth will provide a high-profile platform to promote local and regional theatre and live performances," Visit Philadelphia president and CEO Angela Val said in a news release. 

What's next: A grand opening will unveil the new TKTS booth starting at 10:30am on Thursday. 

• It's not yet clear what hours the booth will operate.