ATG’s new rush policy in San Francisco for Suffs (that isn't too different after all)

For many years, I have seen touring shows in San Francisco by purchasing rush tickets via TodayTix. I can’t count the number of times I did this just before arriving at work on BART when I worked there. Earlier this year, I bought tickets for Parade this way.

Sometimes, demand would be high enough that I failed. But we could either try again another day or do in-person rush (which I have done a couple of times, most recently to see the popular & Juliet.)

But for whatever reason, the folks at ATG, which runs San Francisco’s touring houses now, have changed the policy - at least for the touring production of Suffs now playing at the Orpheum Theatre.

They’re only offering the TodayTix rush during the week. On Saturdays and Sundays, in-person rush is offered, but only for individual seats with limited views, according to the website.

I don’t necessarily mind in-person rush (it’s actually cheaper) and the other restrictions are probably more annoying than an actual problem. Suffs has plenty of empty orchestra seats to fill even tonight.

But I am perplexed about why ATG is doing this. I am reconsidering seeing another show instead which I had planned to see later.

Meh. ATG just irritates me.

 

Updated On: 10/27/25 at 01:58 PM

I am more puzzled than anything about the new ATG rules for weekend shows. Why have a policy that only offers in-person rush tickets with limited views? Why restrict sales, unless the language is poorly worded on the website, to one person each? Can I buy a ticket next to my spouse even if we’re in line together? Why can’t one of us just buy a pair of tickets, like we could do a few months ago?

What’s especially dumb is that Suffs will not come close to selling out its orchestra seats tonight, even though the center orchestra section is reasonably well sold. There are huge blocks of side orchestra seats available, mostly with full views, not to mention all the open seats in the mezzanine and balcony.

I am aware that my wife and I can just switch seats. But I find this off-putting as a consumer. They’re telling potential audience members: ‘We’ll sell you a rush ticket, but only in person, and only with crappy views, and only for one seat each.’

ATG can get away with this for a show that sells out the 2,200-seat Orpheum Theatre, or even the good seats in the orchestra. Suffs is not that show. Most touring productions don’t have that much demand.

Maybe we’ll see a movie instead. 

ETA: There is obviously nothing stopping me from buying full-price tickets and ATG is well within its rights to change policies that go back long before its involvement. I have bought tickets in advance to see the touring production of Stereophonic at an ATG-run theater, the Curran, because I wanted to get good seats for a larger group and I am more curious about that play (and the good seats are selling better).

But in a lot of cases, I am interested in a show but don’t feel compelled to see it. And fine, I’m cheap. Suffs is one of those touring productions that I am interested to see but don’t want to pay full price, especially when there are a lot of vacant seats. Sometimes I love such shows. Sometimes I don’t.

But ATG’s new rush policy just irks me. They’re taking away an easy way to see more theater without breaking the bank.

I am happy to pay more for local theater houses because I like supporting them. But ATG? Try harder.

Updated On: 10/25/25 at 03:27 PM

Wayman_Wong said: "For the record, "Suffs" is playing the Orpheum in S.F."

Duly noted, and I corrected that brain freeze in my original post and my earlier follow-up. Thanks, Wayman. At least I got the number of seats at the Orpheum correct, even if I mistakenly called it the Curran, which has a lower seating capacity. There are still plenty of empty seats at the Orpheum, the largest of San Francisco’s touring houses, for tonight’s performance of Suffs. And ATG has changed its rush policy.

My question is why. Who benefits from this? ATG must think they are benefiting, but I think they’re wrong - even for their box office proceeds tonight - much less for the way this discourages longtime theatergoers from attending touring productions they’re somewhat ambivalent about seeing.

 

Updated On: 10/25/25 at 04:01 PM

Maybe they thought people were scalping the online rush tickets?

Here in Vancouver they don't even do in person rush for touring Briadway shows, they just use Lucky Seat and you have to enter the drawings about a week before.  For shows that aren't well sold they may put out a discount code, but it won't come close to the price of a rush seat.  We don't get the first run tours anyways.  Something like Suffs probably will never play here. 

I don't regret seeing Suffs two weeks ago in Las Vegas.  I did fall asleep for part of the first act.  But there weren't any other big shows or concerts scheduled for that Sunday night that interested me.  The Saturday night I saw Stevie Nicks in concert & that was surprisingly moving, especially when she sang "Landslide."

bear88 said: "It worked out fine. Nonexistent line. Got fifth row side orchestra tickets on the aisle. The ATG website should do a better job clarifying their policy, which isn’t - in practice - really any different from the old policy. People just have to to show up in person on weekends."

 

First World Problems.