Coming late to 54 below

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 5:36pm

There is a show I'm interested in seeing at 54 below but I'm seeing Hamilton the same night. The show at 54 below is at 9:30 and it's a 7 pm Hamilton performance so I'd be a little late. I know it's more of a concert atmosphere but I certainly don't want to do anything rude or disrespectful to the performers or other patrons.  Thoughts? I've never been to a show there (although I have tickets to the Tony party and another show that's on a Sunday night but is after this one). 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 5:39pm

Hamilton is a full three hours, so you wouldn't make the show at 54 Below.  It would be over by 10:00, and you'd get over to 54th by 10:15.  Their shows are only typically 1hr-1hr and a half, so you'd miss most of it.

Updated On: 5/12/16 at 05:39 PM

[sorano916]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 5:58pm

Plus there's a food & drink minimum of $25, which they still made you do even if you already late. 

 

At a 54 Below show I went to, literally maybe 20 minutes left, a mom and her two daughters came in (judging by the Playbill & the plastic drink cups, they just came from "School of Rock" which is even close by) and was seated at my table. The concert was already in full swing and they had to settle in, had to discuss what they were ordering, actually order, etc. It was just distracting, especially as there was quieter songs during their arrival & order. 

 

I would suggest not to come late to the 54 Below show and just see if you can transfer the amount you paid for your ticket to another show.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 6:09pm

Thanks. I will skip this one then. I haven't bought tickets yet so no problems in that regard. 

[Jud Faginsky]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:11pm

Would it be possible to see Fun Home on a Monday night in July at 7 pm and make it for the 9:30 show at 54 below? I know Fun Home is less than two hours. I just don't know if arriving at 54 below at 9:15 or so is bad. Please advise. Thanks. 

[playbill-love]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:15pm

Yeah, Fun Home is only a hair over 90 minutes so you should be fine as long as you go straight to 54 as soon as you leave the theater

[Jud Faginsky]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:25pm

Thanks. We've never been to 54 below before. 

[playbill-love]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:28pm

It is very nice and they will take great care of you. Just make a reservation for a time you know you can get there and be prepared to be seated at a group table with other people (the only time sitting with strangers at 54 Below has ever been negative for me has been when those strangers clearly feel like they're above communal seating and are huffy and rude the whole time.)

[Jud Faginsky]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 4:39pm

There will probably be four of us, I don't know if that matters with seating or not. But we'd all be fine with communal seating, you generally get to meet great people. And I always love talking about Broadway with other people who enjoy it. In California it's harder to find those people. 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 6:55pm

I don't think Fun Home an hour and 30 minutes. It's closer to getting out at an hour and maybe 45-50 minutes especially since like most theaters they don't start exactly at the time on your ticket. 

[playbill-love]

Posted: 6/17/16 at 7:05pm

Even then, a 7pm show and then a 9:30pm at 54 will work out fine since the theater is only a couple blocks from 54.

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 2:05am

ChiTheaterFan, I agree with what has been said above and think that you are better off not buying tickets in advance for the 54 Below concert given the circumstances.  Having said that, I will add here that i have often purchased tickets to 54 Below shows that end up starting a half-hour late or more.  So it wouldn't hurt to swing by the venue after you get out of Hamilton just to check whether the show has started or not.  If they are still waiting because it took awhile to clear the place out from the 7pm concert (a common thing and even more common for the 11:30pm concerts since by then two previous concerts can contribute to the backlog), then you might get lucky and catch it after all, but if not, no money risked.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 6:49pm

Thanks but this thread was bumped and the show I was looking at was the Tuesday after the Tonys. :) But it turned out for the best I didn't buy tickets or go!  Hamilton ran a little long and I was under the weather so it was all I could do to keep myself hopped up on Sudafed to make it through Hamilton. :)

 

But I'll keep this in mind in the future!!  :)

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 7:04pm

Hope you're feeling better now, and glad that you made it through Hamilton!

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 12:10am

Almost all better thanks!  Fortunately my love of Hamilton made me totally not feel sick that whole show but I totally crashed as soon as it was over. :)