Not sure how much the lotto costs but if you’re afraid you won’t get in if you play the lotto just buy tickets. It’s not sold out and great seats are available. I just bought sand seats for this week for next week and same with a show in Oct.
Their lotto changes constantly (thanks, Davenport) so I'm not sure what the deal has been in September.
Their end goal is to always get everyone who enters the lotto into the show, whether that's through a tiered winning system, or doing "lottery loser" seats (which you still have to win).
When I went in August, all lotto seats were $59 (the highest I've ever paid for a lottery or rush ticket). The woman in charge of the lotto did not tally the winners, and pulled every name until everyone was called. It was kind of ridiculous they made us go through the 15 minute procedure if they had enough tickets for all of us (and anyone who walked up).
I know they also lotto off standing room for the same $59, and sometimes the lotto seats are $69. It's a mess. If you go and don't win...I feel very bad for your luck.
At least the show is good. Because the lottery process is so irritating.
It started out $49.50 with $59.50 for SRO and lottery losers, but in August everything was $59.50. Is that a record for most expensive lottery/rush?
Chances of winning are very high. Even if you don't win, you could always use a BroadwayBox/Theatermania code at the box office: current offer has back/top orchestra for $59.50, same as lottery and if the house isn't full they will probably move you down closer.
ETA: Or what VotePeron wrote, so quick...
Updated On: 9/22/18 at 12:50 PM
Went to the lottery for tonight’s show, Tuesday at 7:00. Alex Newell drew the names! It was announced before the drawing began that there were 30 lotto tickets available for $49.50, and that “most, if not all” of us would get them. In the end, everyone got tickets, which I think meant they gave out a little more than the announced 30. Also it seemed like they allowed people who arrived right after the drawing to also buy $49.50 tickets. We sat in the third row (no bad seats in this theater), and the show was amazing! It is on the higher end for lotteries, but well worth it.