Addams Family- Chicago Questions

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 5:30pm

I'm attempting to see The Addams Family while it's in Chicago because:
a) I've never been to Chicago (I know...)
b) I've never seen an out-of-town tryout before
c) It's one less show to see on Broadway next time I go

Anyway, I am sort of clueless when it comes to buying Chicago theater tickets. Here are my questions:
1) What seats are the best/most cost effective in this theater (The Ford Center/Oriental)? I usually like Front Mezz, if that helps, but not if it's under an overhang. I don't like seats with a bad view, but would not mind okay view seats for cheaper.

2) Are there any discount codes that anyone has heard of? It would be nice to get these seats at a discount, if possible.

Thanks for all your help, BWWers and Chicagoans.

Updated On: 7/15/09 at 05:30 PM

[jessica0414]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 5:52pm

1. There are not many bad seats in the house, it is a fairly large theater (larger than most Broadway theaters I have been in if that gives you a picture lol) but most of the seats are great. I personally prefer the orch level there because the balcony is somewhat higher and farther away than others I've been in but really pretty much wherever you sit you'll have a fine view.

2. This kind of relates to your first question but you may as well splurge for orch level seats because chances are there will be NO discount codes or anything like that for this show. It is highly anticipated and being promoted like mad by Broadway in Chicago. With the star power of Nathan Lane & the rest of the cast I wouldn't be surprised if it sold out almost completely. www.broadwayinchicago.com can give you more info! :)

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 5:55pm

Thanks! I have already done my research a bit, and it seems like my theater back home in Cleveland, where the orchestra is the best.
Also, I only thought there were discounts because there is a place to enter one for some dates on Ticketmaster, so I assumed someone might have one. I personally really don't mind buying full price seats, but a discount would just make it easier to buy tickets for my whole family.

[LiveUnscripted]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 8:24pm

I agree about seating. there aren't really bad seats, but at the Oriental, I think it's worth getting seats in the center, even if you have to be farther back, than getting closer seats that are off to a side. it is a big theater.

And as for discounts, usually Broadway in Chicago offers discount codes to Broadway in Chicago members, frequent customers, or such, so I'm guessing since you've never been to Chicago you wouldn't qualify... but it's definately worth looking!

[heo1128]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 9:13pm

Yeah, the Oriental is HUGE compared to most b'way theaters. I personally prefer being in the center orch to the mezz. I know at least for Wicked they offered side loge seats for like $40 because they were limited view, and those were actually really great for the price.

[raggballad2]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 9:17pm

I agree that if you can, get Orchestra tickets at the Oriental...but after that, I would go with Loge (Lower Lower Balcony). I'm sure you understand the big touring houses like the ones in Cleveland (about 2500 seats!)...so the Balcony is big and a bit further back, but you still get a great view from the front (loge).

At the Oriental, there's no "Mezz" like in Broadway theatres, but there is a Dress Circle in between Balcony and Orchestra that's entirely under the overhang and very far back, but offers a good view. All you lose in center Dress is the top of the prosc, and the side Dress Circle seats are good but angled so you can see into the wings, and some extreme sides of the stage are occasionally cut off depending on how far off you are.

And last, I definitely agree with ^jessica regarding discounts. I think this show's going to be VERY big for BIC this year, so I don't expect them to be handing out very many (if any) discounts this year...maybe towards the end of the run here though. BIC will sometimes do package deals around holidays, so they might do some Winter special or something...but I wouldn't hold my breath just yet!

Hope this helps, have fun here!

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 9:20pm

Whatever you do, just don't get tickets in the Dress Circle. I sat in the Dress Circle at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago (that has pretty much the same set up and sight lines as the Oriental) and all the views from there are obstructed.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 9:59pm

Thanks for the feedback so far. It is clear that I should not even try for seats in the Dress Circle.
What seems to be most available is Center Orchestra in the back, front Loge on the sides, and center towards the back of the balcony. What would you go with on those? I tend to prefer the top level, but...
And I hate these huge theatres. Broadway, even at its biggest, has more manageable sizes and better sightlines.

[raggballad2]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 10:19pm

I would go with side front Loge...depending on how far back Orchestra is. If it's between A-P or so, you could so with those...you know what? I sat in Side Orch Row R, and still had a great view. Couldn't always see facial expressions, but that's sort of what happens in the Balcony, too. If you like being higher up, then just go with the Loge...

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 10:32pm

Yeah the orchestra was like the last row. I usually would choose the loge, but someone said always go center, and the loge is definitely to the far side.

[brandontwin2]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 10:36pm

I actually ended up in some of the limited view seats when I went to see Wicked in the front rows and it wasn't bad at all. Pretty much ever seat is pretty good and it is such a beautiful theater!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/15/09 at 11:37pm

It is a beautiful theater, and I was in the last possible row of the mezz/balcony when I went, and I thought it was a great view. I didn't feel like I was far away from the stage and whatnot like I did when I sat in the dress circle/mezz of the Hilton Theater on Broadway.

[raggballad2]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 12:32am

If it's the last row of Orchestra I would definitely buy Loge. I've sat in the Middle Balcony in the veeeery last seats off to the side (the two seats by themselves) and thought they were great...really nothing cut off from the sides like in the Dress Circle.

Enjoy!

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 12:37am

It seems to me like the best seats for the price on the date I waant to go are Row M Balcony, which appears to be the first row of the last balcony section, in the very center. It is fairly cheap, and I like being close to an aisle, and in the front of a section. The Loge seems very, very sold.

[raggballad2]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 12:48am

I would go with that if you don't mind not really getting to see all facial expressions because it is a bit far. But being center is great, and it is sort of a steal since the row right in front is more expensive while offering essentially the same view!

If you can get Lower Balcony (Rows E-L) I would get those UNLESS they were in rows I-L, since then, you're basically getting the same view you would in row M. If you want to see a view of where you'd be, here's a seat finder on BIC's website:

http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/seatfinder_oriental.php#

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 11:59am

This show won't sell out completely. . . not by a long shot.

We have had quite a few out-of-town tryouts and tour-beginnings in the past and they always end up on HotTix after the first week or so of their engagements. The theatres are huge, and this isn't NYC. We have quite the theatre following in this town, but Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth alone are not enough to sell this show out in this city.

-Jacob.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 12:07pm

"Yeah, the Oriental is HUGE compared to most b'way theaters."

Umm...with 2,253 seats, it's larger than EVERY theater on Broadway...though when Spiderman opens the Hilton will be adding 300 seats, matching the size of the Oriental (as far as seating).

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 12:16pm

We have had quite a few out-of-town tryouts and tour-beginnings in the past and they always end up on HotTix after the first week or so of their engagements.

I could only get two single seats (one upper balcony and one obstructed view) for the Spamalot tryout. Mary Poppins has been a very hot ticket with the exception of July 4th, which was the only day I ever saw on Hottix. I had to settle for two singles in the upper balcony for that as well (my Dad wanted to go for Father's Day, but I had to book for July 1st). Addams Family is getting a ton of marketing and definitely has the potential of selling out, especially since the entire run is during the biggest holiday season of the year (Spamalot started previews just before Christmas).

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 12:21pm

Spamalot was a whole different situation, though. It had a built-in fanbase of Monty Python fans and a huge star-studded cast (including people who were extremely popular in television and movies). These things drew in the non-theatre crowd, along with the typical broadway fans who wanted to see the latest show.

I seriously doubt that any non-theatre peeps are running to get tickets to Addams Family based on "Lilith from Frasier" and "that gay dude from The Birdcage."

I had HotTix tickets for Mary Poppins 3 weeks after it opened on a Friday night. It's been on the board quite a few times since it opened in Chicago, much like The Color Purple was.

It won't be hard to see this show, trust me.

-Jacob.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 1:28pm

"I seriously doubt that any non-theatre peeps are running to get tickets to Addams Family based on 'Lilith from Frasier' and 'that gay dude from The Birdcage.'"

The Producers managed to sell-out with Nathan Lane.

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 1:42pm

. . .and Matthew Broderick . . .in Ferris Bueller's hometown. :)

-Jacob.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 1:54pm

And The Producers put Nathan Lane over the top as a star. His return to the Chicago stage will be noticed. I work with a lot of non-theatre people who recognize the names "Nathan Lane" and "Bebe Neuwirth" without the assisted cues of The Birdcage (not a huge hit film) or Cheers/Frasier. Not to mention that "The Addams Family" is hardly an obscure title. There are plenty of fans of the TV show and films.

Posted: 7/16/09 at 2:32pm

Well Revolutionary Costume I don't mean to challenge your "Theater Cred" but if anyone really wants to see this show, buy tickets now. Producers sold clean out- not a single seat left and Spamalot was down to single seats on unpopular days in a matter of HOURS. (I ended up seeing it on Christmas because 20 minutes after tickets went on sale that was the ONLY performance with 4 seats together.)

Technically, every Broadway in Chicago show should have HotTix (Half price tickets day of show) but they can (and have in the past) disregard that for a hot show- or only put up their mandated 8 tickets a week on Tuesdays.

Personally I've seen HUGE interest in this from non-theater folks.

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 2:40pm

Well, I may be wrong. . I'm man enough to admit it if I am :) I still think it will be pretty easy to see. . .but we shall see . . .

-Jacob.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 7/16/09 at 3:04pm

It may be because I am trying to get tickets for Thanksgiving weekend, which is like only its second week, but it is very well sold. There are not a lot of seating options left. And it's 6 months away.