Hamilton Cancellation Line- Page 80
Hamilton Cancellation Line
#1975Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 8:50am
missedattuck said: "ham4prez said: "Yesterday some people were saying that the cancellation line was back to being one line (as opposed to different lines for different days)? Is that still true? Or is it back to two lines? Anyone in line for Saturday know if there are different lines for the matinee vs. evening again? "
The employee who took a pic of the line said it is just one line. He didn't seem aware of any time in the past when the line was split and said it would create a mess if done that way."
Oh ok! The employee who took the picture for today did this? So it sounds like the single line is back to stay then? I'm glad - it always confused me as to why it starting splitting into two lines a while ago. I always thought it made sense that once you got in line you should just be able to stay in line until you got tickets or gave up and not have to worry about moving to the back of another line (behind people who maybe got there after you) if you didn't get tickets for one show and wanted to keep trying.
Thanks for the update :)
meepsnyc
Chorus Member Joined: 5/12/16
#1976Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 8:53am
But what if you're like missedattuck and get there to wait overnight knowing you only want the evening show? IMO that means anyone who tries for the afternoon show and doesn't get in should go behind anyone who has stated their preference for only the evening show. Is that how it works?
#1977Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 9:11am
meepsnyc said: "But what if you're like missedattuck and get there to wait overnight knowing you only want the evening show? IMO that means anyone who tries for the afternoon show and doesn't get in should go behind anyone who has stated their preference for only the evening show. Is that how it works?
"
The way it was when I did the cancellation line (April 2, 2016) is that there was only one cancellation line. I was in line for a Saturday, and almost everyone else in line with me was of the mindset that when we sat down for the long wait that we chose Saturday because it gave us our best shot at tickets - if we didn't get in for the matinee then we would continue our wait for the evening show. If there was someone who wanted just the evening show, that was fine too - they would just say "pass" if they got offered tickets for the matinee and hold their place in line for the evening (which would be first in line for evening if they were saying pass to matinee tickets!).
So really, having two lines shouldn't matter (and makes things way more competitive and stressful, in my opinion). You can still go for just the evening show if you want. And just because someone only wants the evening time slot doesn't negate the people waiting in line who are willing to take matinee tickets but if they don't get them will stay in line to try for evening tickets, if that makes sense?
I hope the rain holds for everyone in line today! Fingers crossed for you all!
missedattuck
Swing Joined: 4/21/16
#1978Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 9:14am
meepsnyc said: "But what if you're like missedattuck and get there to wait overnight knowing you only want the evening show? IMO that means anyone who tries for the afternoon show and doesn't get in should go behind anyone who has stated their preference for only the evening show. Is that how it works?
"
I think the single line works better. I would simply pass if offered matinee seats. But if someone arrived at 6 how's before me and was denied matinee tickets, it's only fair that they should be able to stay ahead of me too get first shot at the evening tickets. If it was two lines, they'd have to go to the back of the evening line. And they'd be behind those who came 12+ hours later.
#1979Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 9:21am
missedattuck said: "I think the single line works better. I would simply pass if offered matinee seats. But if someone arrived at 6 how's before me and was denied matinee tickets, it's only fair that they should be able to stay ahead of me too get first shot at the evening tickets. If it was two lines, they'd have to go to the back of the evening line. And they'd be behind those who came 12+ hours later."
Agreed! Well said :) I really hope you get in tonight! Keep us updated - fingers crossed for you!
#1980Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 11:35am
Wondering how the line is now...
#1981Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 11:54am
"
I doubt she'd pay someone to sit in line for the chance at tickets when she can just buy them outright.
"
While you're probably right, I still wouldn't be surprised bc if she booked with them she'd definitely be a vip booking meaning they'd make her their first customer and I bet they would get there earlier for no cost in order to get a celebrity client. The fact that she retweeted the pic is telling since I've seen others who tagged her with them there and she never retweeted or liked. But she could have just liked the guys and did it to help their business without having used them.
Love2CTheWorld
Swing Joined: 5/19/16
#1982Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 12:04pm
Cancelation Line Update for May 19 + 20 (thurs and fri) coming soon!
The reason there's been no updates earlier is because we were sleeping in the streets for days on end!
Eager to update you all since this board was SO helpful in my research. Just created an account on here; will start writing the post now and hope to have it up in a few hours. (Summary - it's a mad, insane, amazing experience and worth every minute)
Started at 5:30 am on Thurs morning and was in the room where it happened last night!
#1983Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 12:05pm
Ok, I'm not against line sitting or this new thing of you guys making these side deals but if you're doing the side deals but were against line sitting please acknowledge that you're a hypocrite because you ARE paying someone to get you a ticket. Just because they are choosing to use the money for a ticket is irrelevant and now the ante is up to merch money, etc.. Good luck to all of you guys, I really hope you get to see the show and congrats on your ingenuity but you should also not hate on sitters who get creative, too. If it was me, I'd be hesitant to discuss this on a public board and instead start a private group on fb or wherever cuz the sitting in exchange for goods is considered income and I would not want a public forum proving that.
#1984Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 12:17pm
Hellob said: "Ok, I'm not against line sitting or this new thing of you guys making these side deals...
It all gives me the vibes of a conflict of interest.
gatorgirl2
Understudy Joined: 4/6/16
#1985Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 12:27pm
Hellob said: "Ok, I'm not against line sitting or this new thing of you guys making these side deals but if you're doing the side deals but were against line sitting please acknowledge that you're a hypocrite because you ARE paying someone to get you a ticket. Just because they are choosing to use the money for a ticket is irrelevant and now the ante is up to merch money, etc.. Good luck to all of you guys, I really hope you get to see the show and congrats on your ingenuity but you should also not hate on sitters who get creative, too. If it was me, I'd be hesitant to discuss this on a public board and instead start a private group on fb or wherever cuz the sitting in exchange for goods is considered income and I would not want a public forum proving that.
"
Whatever. I'd rather pay a fan to wait and see the show with them who might not be able to afford the ticket than a pay a stranger 500 plus dollars.
If anyone can wait next Thurs (26th ) during the day for me in exchange for a ticket and food etc pm me! I'd be able to wait with you for the night shift and Fri during the day (trying for Friday's show obviously)
metalmeatwad
Swing Joined: 4/28/16
#1986Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 12:30pm
Are scalpers or people with extra tickets still selling to the cancellation lines before showtimes? Can anyone clear the air on that?
#1987Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 12:35pm
MyFavoriteBrunette said: "Hellob said: "Ok, I'm not against line sitting or this new thing of you guys making these side deals...
It all gives me the vibes of a conflict of interest.
"
I don't necessarily feel like that but I do feel it's hypocritical IF the people engaging in it are the same who whine about line sitting. It's the same thing dressed differently. It's definitely less expensive and it benefits the person who would rather have a free ticket than cash money but it's still a manipulation of the intention of the new rules. I'm ok about finding loopholes but at least be honest about what you're doing. I can already see it going bad cuz if people are already offering extra incentive to secure the person, what's going to happen once it gets hotter and the person is sitting for 24+ hours? The offers are going to have to get more lucrative/competitive and what happens when you are teamed up with someone who then gets a better offer? They have no real obligation to you. what happens if you teamed up with some young person who sat for a day in anticipation of the ticket but no ticket came out? Is that just the way it goes even though the second person contributed no time or money to the situation? I hope for the best but you always need to think about the worst and be prepared.
#1988Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 12:41pm
gatorgirl2 said: "Hellob said: "Ok, I'm not against line sitting or this new thing of you guys making these side deals but if you're doing the side deals but were against line sitting please acknowledge that you're a hypocrite because you ARE paying someone to get you a ticket. Just because they are choosing to use the money for a ticket is irrelevant and now the ante is up to merch money, etc.. Good luck to all of you guys, I really hope you get to see the show and congrats on your ingenuity but you should also not hate on sitters who get creative, too. If it was me, I'd be hesitant to discuss this on a public board and instead start a private group on fb or wherever cuz the sitting in exchange for goods is considered income and I would not want a public forum proving that.
"
Whatever. I'd rather pay a fan to wait and see the show with them who might not be able to afford the ticket than a pay a stranger 500 plus dollars.
If anyone can wait next Thurs (26th ) during the day for me in exchange for a ticket and food etc pm me! I'd be able to wait with you for the night shift and Fri during the day (trying for Friday's show obviously)
"
But what if you don't get tickets? Does the fan get anything? I'd probably rather have a fan, too but you're still doing what a bunch of people whined about, you're paying someone to hold your place. It's legit but it still goes against the spirit of the rule change which was basically "those who suffer should reap the rewards ".
gatorgirl2
Understudy Joined: 4/6/16
#1989Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 1:00pm
Hellob said: "gatorgirl2 said: "Hellob said: "Ok, I'm not against line sitting or this new thing of you guys making these side deals but if you're doing the side deals but were against line sitting please acknowledge that you're a hypocrite because you ARE paying someone to get you a ticket. Just because they are choosing to use the money for a ticket is irrelevant and now the ante is up to merch money, etc.. Good luck to all of you guys, I really hope you get to see the show and congrats on your ingenuity but you should also not hate on sitters who get creative, too. If it was me, I'd be hesitant to discuss this on a public board and instead start a private group on fb or wherever cuz the sitting in exchange for goods is considered income and I would not want a public forum proving that.
"
Whatever. I'd rather pay a fan to wait and see the show with them who might not be able to afford the ticket than a pay a stranger 500 plus dollars.
If anyone can wait next Thurs (26th ) during the day for me in exchange for a ticket and food etc pm me! I'd be able to wait with you for the night shift and Fri during the day (trying for Friday's show obviously)
"
But what if you don't get tickets? Does the fan get anything? I'd probably rather have a fan, too but you're still doing what a bunch of people whined about, you're paying someone to hold your place. It's legit but it still goes against the spirit of the rule change which was basically "those who suffer should reap the rewards ".
"
Than we both don't get tickets and that sucks? I'd be willing to pay for food and maybe some other things but I already plan on waiting 20 hours myself so I don't see that is the same as hiring a line sitter at all. Especially if you have to take the line sitter into the show with you now.
I've offered my "services" as they were to a couple of people here since I planned to do the line anyways and I wouldn't expect any other compensation but my ticket paid for. That hasn't worked out and I'm still planning on trying the line.
Right now I'd just like to maximize my chances of seeing the show so if someone can get there earlier than me on Thu and is also dying to see the show I'd be willing to pay for their ticket. It's not that much different than partnering up with someone. I'm a planner so I'm gonna exhaust every option to try to make this work.
Being ok with others getting a chance to see the show in exchange for waiting in line and not liking line sitters isn't hypocritical to me. If you can't do the wait yourself at least you are spreading the Hamilton love and giving another person the chance to see it too.
madela2
Stand-by Joined: 6/4/14
#1990Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 1:11pm
Re: Rosie seeing Ham so many times. She has said on Twitter that she gets tickets on stubhub. I think it was in response to someone's question but it was a while back so I couldn't find it. I would guess she retweeted because she liked the dudes that met her.
schubox
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/16
#1991Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 1:14pm
ham4prez said: "meepsnyc said: "But what if you're like missedattuck and get there to wait overnight knowing you only want the evening show? IMO that means anyone who tries for the afternoon show and doesn't get in should go behind anyone who has stated their preference for only the evening show. Is that how it works?
"
The way it was when I did the cancellation line (April 2, 2016) is that there was only one cancellation line. I was in line for a Saturday, and almost everyone else in line with me was of the mindset that when we sat down for the long wait that we chose Saturday because it gave us our best shot at tickets - if we didn't get in for the matinee then we would continue our wait for the evening show. If there was someone who wanted just the evening show, that was fine too - they would just say "pass" if they got offered tickets for the matinee and hold their place in line for the evening (which would be first in line for evening if they were saying pass to matinee tickets!).
So really, having two lines shouldn't matter (and makes things way more competitive and stressful, in my opinion). You can still go for just the evening show if you want. And just because someone only wants the evening time slot doesn't negate the people waiting in line who are willing to take matinee tickets but if they don't get them will stay in line to try for evening tickets, if that makes sense?
I hope the rain holds for everyone in line today! Fingers crossed for you all!
"
Thats how it worked for us too. Only one person in front of me took matinee so I bumped up one spot. But it was all just one big line. You might expect more people to take matinee since Lin is taking Sunday's off starting in june rather than Saturday afternoons
#1992Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 2:00pm
I had a hyper-realistic dream last night that I was hanging around near the Marriott business center waiting to pounce on Stubhub tickets, and with 5 minutes to the show the ticket prices kept bouncing from about $200 to about $4000 and I kept missing out and ended up not seeing the show. Nothing like this even happened to me in real life but apparently it's a major source of anxiety for me. Jesus Christ.
Hamilton Emotional Support Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hamiltonsupport/
gatorgirl2
Understudy Joined: 4/6/16
#1993Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 2:05pm
MinervaMoon said: "I had a hyper-realistic dream last night that I was hanging around near the Marriott business center waiting to pounce on Stubhub tickets, and with 5 minutes to the show the ticket prices kept bouncing from about $200 to about $4000 and I kept missing out and ended up not seeing the show. Nothing like this even happened to me in real life but apparently it's a major source of anxiety for me. Jesus Christ.
"
Lol I had a hyper realistic dream recently that I was flying to NYC and when everyone got off the plan we all ran like hell to the Richard Rodgers to get in line for tickets. It was pretty crazy and the lines were like Disney world on a busy day long so I was pretty disappointed in my dream that I wasn't close to the front of the line.
#1994Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 2:10pm
In the summer, the line will need the Disney giant fan with the mist blaster...AHHHH!
schubox
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/16
#1995Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 2:39pm
It seems like last minute stubhub drops aren't even a thing anymore. I've been checking pretty much daily for a while now and it seems like all the SH tickets are gone a few hours before showtime. And they never drop that much
ammurp
Chorus Member Joined: 5/6/16
#1996Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 2:49pm
gatorgirl2 said: "MinervaMoon said: "I had a hyper-realistic dream last night that I was hanging around near the Marriott business center waiting to pounce on Stubhub tickets, and with 5 minutes to the show the ticket prices kept bouncing from about $200 to about $4000 and I kept missing out and ended up not seeing the show. Nothing like this even happened to me in real life but apparently it's a major source of anxiety for me. Jesus Christ.
This is TOO funny. I ALSO had a super vivid dream last night, mine about being in the cancellation line again but the line went down a winding alley way behind the theatre and we kept having to move even though we wanted to lay down and sleep LOL.
"
"
#1997Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 3:43pm
Oh my God you guys, this is too much. I made this just in case anyone needed to reach out:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hamiltonsupport/
Hamilton Emotional Support Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hamiltonsupport/
#1998Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 3:49pm
schubox said: "It seems like last minute stubhub drops aren't even a thing anymore. I've been checking pretty much daily for a while now and it seems like all the SH tickets are gone a few hours before showtime. And they never drop that much
They drop but I see not as drastically anymore ever since the Tuesday that the Tony nominations came out. I'm glad I decided to pulled the trigger on resale the day before. The value of that purchase proved itself even more the day the extra tickets were released at 9pm for Nov 2016-Jan 2017. The row ahead of me and one seat over will cost $545.00 at face value without the OBC directly from the RRT. So I paid $108 over what future tickets will cost. I gotta say, I got 
blessed with that.
Love2CTheWorld
Swing Joined: 5/19/16
#1999Hamilton Cancellation Line
Posted: 5/21/16 at 3:55pm
May 19th and May 20th Cancellation Line Update:
Caveat: My brain is sleep deprived beyond comprehension and cognitive function is definitely lagging. I read through every single posting on this thread and found the information so useful that I really wanted to help contribute by sharing my cancellation-line experience. I hope it is helpful to someone. I'll try my best to be organized and coherent while responding to previous points made in this thread as well as summarizing my personal observations.
I won't get into any of the "political" discussions regarding what's fair or right; I'll just say that when you're exhausted, dirty, achy, disappointed from not receiving tickets after a long wait - ppl can be testy and act differently than their general personalities. Also, the box office really doesn't want to get involved and unless there's violence or something drastic - they pretty much left it to us to police ourselves. Having spoken to people (on my lines) who had done this line before, it seems that the (now missing) professional line sitters served at least one purpose - they made rules pretty clear and everyone knew where they stood.
I think the most helpful thing posted on this board was a few pages ago where someone essentially said there really is no rhyme or reason or system for predicting outcomes. In my experience waiting on the line for this past Thursday (and then Friday's) show - nothing sums it up better. I sat on two lines for two consecutive days and the experiences were drastically different. The one common thread was not a single professional line sitter either day, so I was surprised that people said they were there Wed and again this morning.
So...here's my story - which begins at the Wednesday, May 18th, lottery.
I went for the in person lottery (along with what appears to be the rest of NYC!) and did not win. I've never seen the cancellation line so I went just to check it out, find out where to stand, etc. It is 1pm on Wednesday with a long line and there are 3 young girls at the back who I speak with. (Someone referenced seeing them a few pages back) They explain to me that they are not at the back of the Wed line - they started a line for *Thursday* night's show at 11 am. I think this is crazy (post-script - it is not; only 1 other ticket will be given out besides theirs the next evening) They have made it clear to everyone around them that they are here for Thursday and it appears that this is accepted policy (more on this later as it comes up again for Friday.)
I felt discouraged that 3 people were already online so early and felt it made no sense to even try for Thursday's show since I wasn't interested in sleeping outside overnight. I came home, rested, and decided on a total whim that I would in fact go early Thursday morning and check out the situation. If there were a ton of people there when I arrived, I would just turn around. I arrived at 5:30 am on Thursday morning.
I arrived to find the 3 girls sleeping, along with two additional men. I was honestly kind of shocked there were so few people! (The situation on Friday will be COMPLETELY different) The 3 girls wanted 4 regular tickets (one friend joined them after work), one of the men (arrived 9pm) wanted 2 regulars, and the other man (arrived 10:00 pm) wanted 1 regular. So I was in 8th place for a regular ticket and no one had come between 10:00pm on Wednesday and my arrival at 5:30am on Thursday. A man arrived at 6 am after me (wanting 2 tix) - and then no one until 8 am or so. It seemed like really good odds for such a "late" arrival and I was fairly encouraged. Especially since it was a Thursday show. (Which I will soon learn is a perfect example of why trying to "plan" is a futile effort!)
Many have described the line conditions and I don't have much to add. The Marriott's facilities are a life-saver, people in line look out for each other, and no one complains if you go to the bathroom, get food etc. There seems to be much discussion re: safety issues. Everyone has their own level of tolerance so it's a personal decision. The only helpful info I feel I can add is that you most likely won't be alone. I spoke at length with those three young girls and they said that a man came up to them while they were sleeping and wanted to smoke cigarettes with them. This probably would have freaked me out - they were MUCH younger than me and from out of town yet...totally unfazed. The other two guys from the line were sleeping, but I'm sure their presence was at least reassuring. Either way - I don't think you'll be murdered - but people may come to you. (At one point we got sick of the odd stares and one of my line friends made a cardboard sign that read, "Not Homeless Desperate 4 Hamilton."
At about 9:30 am the box office ppl moved us over from the left side of the theater to the front of it, where we remained until 6pm when they moved us back to wait before the evening show. (To point out how unpredictable things can be, on Thursday night/Fri morning the police came at 1:30 am and moved the group to the front of the theater and that's where everyone waited until being moved back pre-show. I personally prefer being to the left of the theater where you can lie down and stretch out - those stairs are knee killers! Have I mentioned I am too old for this?) Back to Thursday. At about 10 am when the box office opens 1 regular ticket comes out (Front mezz, Row A) and the girls take it. Nothing else happens until 1:09 when a premium ticket comes out. It actually goes back down the line a few places beyond me and an older woman takes it. (I will come to regret this decision like no other in my life!) I just couldn't bring myself to pay $477 when it really seemed like I had a good shot at tix.
The afternoon was uneventful other than the fact that the Tony nominees' luncheon was a block away. Several actors came to the stage door to drop stuff off and head over to the luncheon. Everyone was dressed so nicely. The only one who stopped was Daveed and I can't express how kind he was. First he stopped for a random group of students who happened to be passing by and he took photos so patiently with everyone. Then our little group noticed and ran over and he took pics with us too. Just so, SO nice. And since this was my first day of line sitting, I actually still looked somewhat decent at that point :)
At 6pm they moved us back to the left of the theater. The experience was exactly as many before me have described. Nothing happened until like 6:54 - a few minutes before showtime. The girls got 3 more tickets so their party of 4 got in, and only one other ticket was given out. It was kind of heartbreaking. The man waiting for it had slept over since 9 the night before and was surprising his gf for her birthday. She came after work and the whole line cheered for them. Only 1 ticket was available and he made her take it since she was Hamilton obsessed. So...only 4 house seats were released. From what I could piece together from the girls something like 8 and 10 tix were given for Wednesday's shows and many of us got in on Friday night - so moral of the story - there is no rhyme or reason. Thursday might be the best night to wait or it might be the absolute worst. We speculated that perhaps ppl in town for that Tony luncheon had taken up all the house seats? Who knows. Funny post-script - the woman who took the premium ticket earlier in the afternoon came to see us in line and was so kind. She brought us jelly beans and wished us good luck and checked in on us before she went in. It really is like family!
Before I had a chance for the disappointment to even sit in...the guy in front of me (my new best friend) sat himself right back down and said, "on to Friday night." He was from out of town and flying out Sat morning and determined to get tickets. I sat down as well but couldn't even imagine another 25 hours of this. Two other girls who had joined Thursday's line in the late afternoon joined us as well. Then there was drama. A woman who had been kind of hanging around the line to check things out but then walked across the street, approached us and said she was first in line for Friday's show and had started the line across the street because we were standing near the theater so she couldn't wait there. The whole thing was crazy. She had someone in a wheelchair with her and was really antagonistic. The guy in front of me just didn't engage and was like I'm not moving. I didn't know what to do. Long story short - she complained to the box office and they clearly told her that we had the right to be first in Friday's line. As it turns out she left at like midnight and others on the line felt she was a line sitter/someone trying to scalp tickets or whatever. At this point I don't know what the official "rule" is. Those girls on Wednesday made it clear to everyone they were there for Thursday and no one gave them a problem. But no one from Wed night's line stayed around. I honestly don't know what would have happened if that came up. In contrast, Thursday night's woman had no argument because she didn't tell anyone she was starting a Friday line. If it's something you're doing, I'd just be very clear to every single person around you that you're starting a line for a future day and maybe even tell the box office? I don't know.
Back to my saga. I was too wiped. The guy in place #1 decided to stay and that he'd waited so long he now wanted two tickets to bring a friend from out of town who was working and couldn't come to the line. I partnered with one of the girls who joined the line (God bless her). She was so inspirational. She had never planned to wait for Friday but when she saw us she decided to stay. College age, nothing with her for a planned overnight and told her parents she was "staying with a friend in the city." (Technically not a lie; we were all friends at the end!) She lived out in NJ and it didn't pay for her to go home. So I went back to my apt, showered, slept a few hours, and came back early Fri morning.
Friday was a TOTALLY different story in every way. People came all throughout the night/early hours of Thursday night. A 5:30 am arrival that got me 8th ticket spot on Thursday morning was probably at least 12th on Friday. There were many more over-nighters. Probably because of the perception that Friday night is harder to get tix. And in the end...so many more tix were available for Friday night's show.
The guy who had first place in line NEVER left. God bless his soul. I mean, he went to the bathroom and for food or whatever but he never went back to his hotel downtown since he decided that he now wanted two tickets. I promise you we were all praying for him like nobody's business. He was the only person in the group who had slept outside the theater for two nights. He was ready to buy anything at this point - reg or premium. Around noon, a single regular ticket became available. The lady working the front of the theater was legit ecstatic for him as were all of us. I was taking pictures of him while he purchased. It was all very exciting. I think this experience restored my faith in humanity. From the guy who gave his gf the ticket the night before, to my new friend who got that ticket after 38 hours and 10 minutes...AND THEN STAYED for his friend's ticket. He could have gone to his hotel, showered, slept, and come to the theater refreshed. He'd even scored a regular priced ticket! But he stayed for his friend. That's some serious loyalty.
Nothing else happened for a few hours...no premiums which surprised me. On Friday they moved us back to the left of the theater and off the stairs around 4pm which was weird - 2 hours earlier than Thursday, for a show that started an hour later. Then...more good luck! Two premiums came out shortly after we moved. My friend took one and I was so happy that he now had his two tickets and the time to go shower and rest at least a little before the show. Myself and two people behind me passed on the 2nd premium ticket. Then...the BEST NEWS EVER. At around 6:45, we were told there were 2 reg tickets. Myself and my line friend ran to the box office (and everyone cheered again which was so nice) and as it turned out they were lottery winners who didn't pick up their tickets. That's why we were able to get them so "early." We needed to show IDs to purchase, but we were seeing HAMILTON!!
We went to the Marriott to just sit in a chair and have some quiet from the streets and use the bathrooms. I tweeted out all my photos from the two day drama (I was waiting until I had tickets to tweet) and she called her parents to tell them the news/where she'd really been the night before. We came down to go in at like 7:40 and I wished everyone in line good luck once again before heading in. I kept looking to see who got in and to my best count, I think at least 8 people got in behind us. Lottery no-shows helped, but there were definitely way more house seats for Fri night than Thursday. I spoke with a woman during intermission and she said she was last in at 8:01 but we couldn't remember how many tix that was (I was on very little sleep!) but she did say that she'd arrived at around 7am I believe. So all the over-nighters got in and someone who arrived later than I had on Thursday, got in for a Friday night show while that time wasn't sufficiently early for a Thursday night show.
The definition of "Premium" is also really weird. The premium ticket on Thursday was 5th row center. The two on Friday were Row O. And that first regular ticket that went on Friday was Row P. I don't think anyone got offered Standing Room on Friday; definitely not on Thursday.
The entire original cast was there (minus Groff - though that character was still brilliantly played and hilarious) and I feel so incredibly lucky. I know front row is a bit harder to see the whole stage, but there's something to be said for seeing the sweat pouring down faces and the spit coming out of mouths as they rap. It's INSANELY amazing. We had center aisle seats so I could sprint out for my souvenir cup during intermission and still get back to my seat in time to take some photos. It was...perfect.
I hope that was coherent and helpful to at least someone out there and I hope everyone who tries the cancellation line has success!!!
"Hey, and if you don’t know, now you know"
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