Attending an Opening Night?

[AberJ012]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 1:48am

Maybe a stupid question, but I was wondering what others experience at getting tickets to an opening night to a show was like? Is it extremely hard to do, or is it similar to trying to get tickets for a normal night? Just curious as I am planning another trip. Thanks!

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 3:10am

My experience has been, it's fairly easy to get tickets depending on the show. My advice is follow the show on social media. Tickets are usually given out to cast, producers, others involved... then they will make an announcement on social media that seats are available. They are usually not the best, but it's worth it to be in the room. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 4:35am

There are far fewer tickets available for the general public, so timing is important.

[mc1227]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 6:24am

I've been to a couple and the advice regarding following the show on social media is spot on.  In my experiences, the seats were located in the back 3 rows in rear mezz, however just being there and feeling the excitement is well worth it.  

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 8:50am

Opening night tickets are usually made available for purchase closer to the night in questions. I've seen many opening night performances end up of TDF or TKTS. Yes, they are usually the less desirable seats--mezzanine or balcony, depending on the theater. 

In my experience of attending opening nights: They tend to start later, because people mingle before the show. Aside from that, it basically goes off like any other performance--except that, because the audience is stacked with friends and family, people involved with the show, and other arts professionals, there tends to be more entrance applause, etc. Usually the entire production team (director, writer, etc) come out for bows at the end.

[Wick3]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:10am

I also think it depends on how large the theater is. I saw opening night tix available for Miss Saigon in rear mezz available.

[MoveOnGypsy]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:17am

There are also opening night tickets for Six Degrees of Separation available and a discount code to boot! It's through telecharge offers and it's SXTHM208.

I'm planning on going to the Shubert box office for Hello, Dolly to try and grab a ticket for opening night that night. 

Updated On: 3/29/17 at 09:17 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:42am

I'm planning on going to the Shubert box office for Hello, Dolly to try and grab a ticket for opening night that night. 

Good luck with that.

[MoveOnGypsy]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:43am

Yea. Still worth a shot, if just to celebrity gander.

[Big Apple2]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:47am

I realize you are asking about Broadway. But we recently scored Opening Night tickets to Hamilton in San Fran. This 21-week run was supposed to be sold out. But the theatre released a boat load of tickets 5 nights before opening night. It helps to be relentless and keep checking. You never know when seats might just pop up. Good luck. 

[JennH]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:06am

I didn't even know this was an option at least for Broadway openings...I've never seen the ticket sites list opening night as an option to buy tickets for, since opening is obviously for everyone involved in the show, some A list peeps for the red carpet, and close family of the cast, but I guess I'll have to keep a closer eye on the shows' social media profiles I guess.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:13am

Opening night audiences are usually very varied..you see many many of the "elite" guests all dressed up and ready to party, others wearing ratty sneakers and old jeans like they just walked off the street and others somewhere in between. It's not quite the event that is used to be. There is usual a photo line when entering for celebs but very often (depending on the theater of course) it's off on one side and entering the theater feels like any other night.

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 4:50pm

I've only been to one and that was Miss Saigon. Those tickets were on sale the whole time plus they did rush that day. Not sure if it was on TKTS.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 5:27pm

MoveOnGypsy said: "Yea. Still worth a shot, if just to celebrity gander."

I'd be shocked if they even let you into the box office lobby, and that is with the astronomical assumption any opening night tickets will be available to the public.