Easy Lottos to Win

[kyguy78]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 11:41am

I've got a group of students who are going to NYC next week for a conference. They want to see a show or two, but they don't have a lot of money since they are 15 and 16-year old kids. I told them about the lotteries and was just curious which ones are usually the easiest to win.

I know Wicked is insane, but what about the other shows.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 11:48am

Hairspray is not too difficult, there are usually just enough tix for everybody there...

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 11:51am

I "hear" Dirty Rotten Scoundrels isn't that bad either, but since I've never tried it I can't confirm. But Hairspray, generally, is easy to win.

[kyguy78]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 1:20pm

Thanks.

[thetheatrekook]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 1:30pm

I've actually had TERRIBLE luck with the DRS lotto...true, not THAT many people show up compared to other shows...but they lotto off less tickets.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 1:55pm

When I went to Spelling Bee, about half the people one. Which is pretty good odds but if they do it together then it's even better.

[neocomposer]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:23pm

Depending on the night, sometimes Rent can be easy. Othertimes the Rent heads have come out in HUGE groups. I was at the DRS lotto one time and we grabbed a lady off the side of the street to give our second win to, because everyone in the lotto had gotten tickets. So sometimes I suppose it's pretty good.

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:07pm

Last week I won DRS lotto without playing. A friend an I went to get tickets and they had two pairs of lotto tickets left over (it was about an hour and a half before the show).

[astonishing1985]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:27pm

When do you guys go for the lotto? what time?

[Anakela]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:46pm

re: DRS lotto, I don't know what it's like nights/weekends, but I have never lost the Wed matinee lotto, if your school group will be free during the day (?). In fact, one Wed they didn't even bother drawing- I walked up to put my name in, and the lotto guy just had me go right to the box office.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:49pm

I agree that Hairspray and RENT are the easiest to win- (if there's not a huge group of RENTheads.

[admanrich]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:51pm

Hairspray is incredibly easy. I went on a Friday night two weeks ago and everyone who showed up got tickets. Most shows you sign up 2 1/2 hours before the show (5:30 for 8:00pm, 11:30 for 2pm..) and the names are drawn a half hour later. Hairspray you sign up 3 hours before the show, so if you lose Hairspray, you still have time to go to DRS, Wicked, Rent, etc.

Rent is not bad.. I won it on my third try I think, but I tried twice during the holiday season right after the movie came out, so it was super crowded. I'd say around 50-60 people for the 16-18 names.

Wicked is definitely tricky... I've won twice, both Saturday matinees. On average, around 250 there per show for about 14 names. But I've seen it anywhere from around 150 to 800 (right before Idina left). Definitely have a backup plan if you plan on trying Wicked.

Spelling Bee is getting trickier because all the Wicked leftovers show up. Spelling Bee is the latest lottery, names are put in 2 hours before the show, and drawn 1.5 hours before the show, hence all the Wicked losers put their names in for Bee.

Potentially, you could do 3 lottos for one show.. Hairspray, (Rent, Wicked, or DRS), and Spelling Bee. You have a chance of at least winning 1 of the 3.

Also, rush is great. If they've got time to kill and don't mind waiting in the cold, Color Purple has first two rows of rush tickets for $26, but you'd have to get in line at around 9:00 AM for both shows because usually the people who miss the matinee tickets stay around for the night. Other shows have student rush as long as they bring some form of student ID.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 4:13pm

When I went I did student rush every time and it was a great, cost effective way to see the shows I wanted.

[ben1986]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 4:22pm

How is the ave. q lotto. I'm thinking of doing that because I'ma student. is it easy to win. Plus and advice for the odd couple sro.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 4:22pm

Is the DRS loto still for the box seats? I tried it the week after Christmas when the city was crazy. There were a lot of people there. But he said the loto tickets were for the boxes and I didn't think that's how it always was.

[Horton]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 4:41pm

Do spelling bee on NON WICKED Days!

[BluCat500]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 4:49pm

Is the DRS loto still for the box seats? I tried it the week after Christmas when the city was crazy. There were a lot of people there. But he said the loto tickets were for the boxes and I didn't think that's how it always was.


Originally lotto tickets were for Row A, but the policy changed awhile ago and now it is indeed just for the box seats.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 4:52pm

The Avenue Q lotto only gives away 12 seats..so 6 names..I was EXTREMELY lucky when some guy only wanted one ticket, then the next name called didnt want the left over single ticket, then I got called and took it..front row at Q is definately worth it though :)

Good luck, lotto-ers!

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 4:53pm

When I saw Hairspray I bought a rush ticket at 2:35 ish for a 3 show and recently found out it was a leftover lotto ticket.

[children&art]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 4:55pm

the lotto to get in my pants is pretty easy to win...

[meagan9848]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 5:03pm

This thread just got me so excited for my trip!

3 days!

[Plum]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 5:07pm

My experience is a bit dated, but doesn't sound like it's out of line with what happened to other people in this thread.

It took me 10 tries to win Avenue Q, so it's only for the determined if luck isn't on your side. On the other hand, I won Dirty Rottn Scoundrels the first time I tried- almost everyone got a ticket when I was there. I didn't even bother with Spelling Bee, because losing to someone who was only there because they lost Wicked might have ended in assault charges. So I just got standing room in the morning. :)

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 5:11pm

I am also going in on Wed morning for the mat shows. I am gonna try cancellation tickets on Pajama Game first, then go to Wicked lotto, then go for Sweeney rush. I hope so bad I will get to see any of those shows and considering it is a afternoon show on a Wed i think I will probably get one. Heres hoping!

Updated On: 3/15/06 at 05:11 PM

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 9:52pm

I've got some questions that may be pretty stupid but hopefully you guys can answer them.

I am thinking about going to NYC on Friday.
I would be doing the lotto though.

I know RENT and Avenue Q pick at 6:00 and Spelling Bee picks at 6:30. Does anyone know any other shows that pick at 6:30?

Also, is it easy to get SRO tickets for RENT or Spelling Bee AFTER the lotto's are over or are they most likely going to be sold out of SRO tickets before the lotto?

[rock00]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 10:12pm

Okay, I know this is going to sound completely retarded, but I've never done the "lotto thing". Do you win free tickets to the show or do you just win the right to buy the tickets?