Do famous people in the audience sell tickets to a show?

I am loving the pictures of LEOPOLDSTADT welcoming The Clinton Family, but wondering if famous people in the audience sells tickets?

Also, do stars pay for their house seats or are the complimentary.

I think it definitely worked for Hamilton and others to pique an audience’s interest, but you need substance, uniqueness, fun, etc. to back it up, if you want the show to last.

I think famous people at a show can be a ticket-selling strategy but I think there are also just a lot of famous people who love Broadway.

I do take note of which shows seem to have an industry/celeb buzz about them (Just For Us right now or Some Like it Hot last Fall, for example) and I'm sure those shows want me to be taking note of that buzz and want it to influence me to buy a ticket.

With the Clintons at Leopoldstadt, I can't imagine it's any sort of ploy simply because it's the last week. I'm guessing they just watched the Tonys and saw it win or it had been on their list, but kept getting overlooked and they finally went because it was closing.

JasonC3 said: "The one thing we definitely know they often do is generate a quick hit of free media exposure which, in turn, might sell some seats."

This. It's one of those things that's neutral at worst or helpful at best, even if it never goes beyond an Insta post. If many different people are consistently & genuinely posting about how much they love a show, that helps WOM. Daniel Craig in front of a step-and-repeat for Shucked can't hurt.

As a general rule, if a celeb asks to attend the show, they're going to pay; if the show asks them to attend, they're going to be comped. But there are exceptions to every scenario.

• If a show is selling out or if this is an ultrarich person, that's a reason to make them buy House Seats.
• If a show is trying to do some sort of partnership with the celeb or inviting them in the capacity of being an "influencer," they might be comped. Talkshow hosts will similarly be comped & arranged by the press agent. I've seen Dana Bash at a couple of shows recently; that's not going to generate sales, but it's never bad for a prominent media figure to have seen your show.
• Sitting political figures typically purchase house seats and their security is arranged with the venue beforehand. Or, they're attending as a guest of someone else who's paying (such as an investor friend).
• Opening Night is a separate matter, where the press agent & producer have an allocation of seats for celebs who are invited/comped. Actors or others involved could also invite celeb friends.

Updated On: 7/4/23 at 10:38 AM

We're there as many photo ops/ press releases about celebrities visiting shows 20 or 30 years ago?

I've been watching re-runs of Cheers the last few months as one of the channels I get started playing it. I got to wondering about when Chicago first opened with Bebe Neuwirth, and if any of her former co-stars from that TV show ever visited? Was it even a thing back then, if they did visit, to make a press release about it?

inception said: "We're there as many photo ops/ press releases about celebrities visiting shows 20 or 30 years ago?

I've been watching re-runs of Cheers the last few months as one of the channels I get started playing it. I got to wondering about when Chicago first opened with Bebe Neuwirth, and if any of her former co-stars from that TV show ever visited? Was it even a thing back then, if they did visit, to make a press release about it?"


There was no social media 20-30 years ago. There was barely an internet as we now know it 30 years ago.

"I've been watching re-runs of Cheers the last few months as one of the channels I get started playing it. I got to wondering about when Chicago first opened with Bebe Neuwirth, and if any of her former co-stars from that TV show ever visited? Was it even a thing back then, if they did visit, to make a press release about it?"

My guess is that some of the "Cheers" cast probably went to see her in "Chicago" and I don't think the show bothered to make press release about it in the 1990's.

I saw Prima Facie then a few days later Mark Ruffalo did, and a few days after that Tom Holland. Maybe MY post on Instagram influenced them to see it (unlikely).

But to answer your question, for me at least, no. I don’t see a show because a celebrity saw it. I see a show if the summary on the website interests me. I’m struggling right now with seeing A Shark is Broken- while the idea sounds interesting, I don’t see how 3 men on a boat talking for 90 mins can be interesting. But I’m not going to see it because Tom Holland saw it and said it was good.

Clintons attend theater a lot and have been spotted at many Broadway shows, including those that weren't big hits. NYC based celebs attend theater all the time, I don't think their presence would affect anyone's decision to purchase a ticket.

Celebs being cast is a much bigger factor in a decision to buy a ticket.

Celebrities with 5M+ followers on Instagram and a fan base? Yes.

Tik Tok influencers with 5K+ followers? No.

kingfan011 said: "Lets hear stories everyone. What favorite were you sitting near?"

Lea Michele and I were at the same performance How to Succeed. Naturally she was front row orch and I was last row mezz.

kingfan011 said: "Lets hear stories everyone. What favorite were you sitting near?"

I didn't sit next to her, but Julia Roberts was at the same Pretty Woman performance as me back in 2018. It was a special Garry Marshall tribute performance that day. Since I sat in the aisle seat at the back of the orchestra, Julia walked by me several times, she sat in the front. I remember paying quite a lot for this ticket, but at the end seeing one of my favorite actresses was worth the price of admission.

I’ve worked in tv/film for over 20 years dealing with famous people. I typically tune them out, but I have used them for my theater loving heart. When a Tony winner asked what I wanted as a wrap gift I definitely said tickets to a Broadway show. This gift jump started my multiple visits to NY to see more shows. LA is great for touring shows but nothing beats the intimacy of a NY theater.