Are Standing Room tickets worth it?

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 3:54pm

Anyone have any experience with SRO tickets? Just curious, they are so much cheaper than regular seats...anyone bought SRO tickets then moved to an empty seat when no ushers were looking? (That's what I would do...)

[tthomas76]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 3:57pm

We went and used the SRO for NINE last year. They were great but your feet do get tired. I would do it again...

[Matt_G]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 3:57pm

I do standing room whenever it's available. I used to stand for 9 hours a day at work so I don't mind doing it for 2 hours in a theatre. Plus, 9 out of 10 times, the ushers will move me to a seat after about 20 minutes or so.

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 3:58pm

now what if I tried to move to a seat without the guidance of an usher? I am looking into getting $20 SRO tix to see "Movin' Out"...

[Matt_G]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:00pm

I would reccomend ALWAYS asking if it's okay to do it because you don't want them coming after you and asking you to move.
What I always do is talk to them if possible before the show starts and ask them at that point so they'll know that's what you want to do.

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:05pm

thanks so much, Matt_G...I've been so spoiled by student rush tix, but thought I'd try SRO tix, just cuz they're cheaper. Ah, the life of a poor grad student that loves Broadway...

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:13pm

I only did it once. I did it for Hairspray, because I could not get a ticket. It was fun. But if you are short (like me) it can be difficult to see.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:15pm

I thought standing room tickets are only sold if all the regular seats are sold out??

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:23pm

That is true. I saw Hairspray when it first opened. I went the first month.

[CJR]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:27pm

I've seen Chicago from standing room a bunch of times. It can get tedious if you don't know the show and whatnot, but I enjoy it.. I'm typically 'bouncing' around in my seat anyway... this just gets me out of people's way lol

[Matt_G]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:41pm

I've gotten standing room for HAIRSPRAY even if the show isn't sold out, actually. The people who work at that box office are among the nicest kids in town.

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:43pm

Good to know. I want to see Vilanch.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:43pm

I saw SHIRLEY VALENTINE 10 times with standing room, and it was never sold out. So I always snuck into a seat when the lights went down. Depends on the box office personnel whether they'll sell to you if the show isn't completely sold out.

I've seen quite a few shows that way - when I saw CHICAGO a friend of mine was playing Roxie and she was actually able to guarantee me a SR ticket so I didn't have to go beforehand and try to score one.

And, I'm very short (5'0") and have never had trouble seeing. I have more trouble seeing when I'm in a seat than with SR.

Updated On: 10/28/04 at 04:43 PM

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:49pm

The night I saw Hairspray there were no seats.
I danced the whole time. It was a lot of fun. Harvey danced past me.
I had a blast. That was so long ago. Time to see Vilanch.

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:51pm

Standing room is without a doubt worth it. Ive done it a few times. Your feet get a little tired but its not horrible. Plus you have a bar you can lean on if you want to.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:53pm

Are SRO tickets usually at the back of the orchestra/mezz, or what?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:54pm

Back of the orchestra. So you're pretty close to the stage, actually. It's a better vantage point than a lot of the seats, in fact, depending on the show.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:55pm

I'm also upset by the fact that many theatres now aren't offering this option. I don't understand why, they're making money which we know is the only thing they care about.

Updated On: 10/28/04 at 04:55 PM

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 5:00pm

The second time i saw Hairspray I won the lottery. The last seat in the last row of the orchestra. I liked standing room more!

[Matt_G]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 5:00pm

HAIRSPRAY's standing room is by far the best on Broadway. The view of the stage is just spectacular!

[showinoff]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 6:24pm

I have done standing room only for a many a shows. I love it. Beats the heck out of having to crawl across a row to go to the bathroom. Most SRO seats are behind the last row of the orchestra. They are not bad. The best was NINE, I swear I had the best seat in the house. We were higher than the people sitting in front of us, so there was no one blocking the view! Millie had good seats too. Most box office personel will not tell you up front that they have the seats, but it is always worth it to ask! SRO for hairspray was outstanding because the theatre is so samll, it is like you right there in the action.
Just my thoughts!

[Rypm25]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 6:45pm

Got sro tickets with a friend soon after "Rent" opened. It was worth it to get to see the show, and wasn't horrible standing at all.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 7:16pm

I remember doing standing room for "The Blue Room" and for "Fosse." Different theatres have different vantage points for standing room, as "The Blue Room" was located up at the back of the front mezzanine, and "Fosse" was at the back of the orchestra. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes when doing it. playbill.com may have a listing of which shows have standing room policies and which don't...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 8:30pm

Matt, the theaters they've built over the past 20 years or so are huge and not built for standing room, which yes, totally sucks. It's the older, smaller theaters that have the setup for that.

[Katecab99]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 5:14pm

I've seen RENT with SRO tickets and it was great! If you are a big dork like me who knows every word to it and can't help dancing around in your seat and mouthing the words, it's perfect!