Hamilton dilemma - 1st trip to NYC

My husband and I are going to NYC for the 1st time in October and are looking into Hamilton tickets.  I have performed in community theater since I was young so needless to say I cannot wait to finally see a show on Broadway!  I am obsessed with Hamilton - read the Chernow biography, have most of the score memorized - and was hoping to see it in October even though we are stuck buying them at resale prices.  I would appreciate advice on ticket prices for certain seats that are available, whether or not it is worth the inflated cost when it's no longer the original cast or if we should just wait and see the tour when it comes to Memphis next season and go see Waitress instead.

So here are my questions:

1. Should we buy tickets now or do prices start to drop closer to the show?

2. At this point we have a few options for seats that are around $650 apiece after all fees are included - ORCH row M seats 18 and 20, ORCH Row Q seats 17 and 19, or Front Mezzanine Row C seats 9 and 11.  Or we could get Rear Mezzanine Row A Center for $719 apiece after fees.  Which would you choose?

3. Should we buy tickets to see Waitress instead and try our luck at getting cancellation or lottery tickets to Hamilton on the days we are there, knowing that we most likely won't get any and plan to see it when it comes to Memphis in 2019?  

Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Updated On: 8/30/17 at 12:50 AM

650 for one ticket? I just found 440 dollar tickets on StubHub for October 1st.

youwillbefound2 said: "650 for one ticket? I just found 440 dollar tickets on StubHub for October 1st.

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There are cheaper tickets available but from what I've read the view is not as good?  We were looking at tickets considered to be the best value for the money, but it's so hard to know if there is that much of a difference between the experience of seeing it at orchestra level vs rear mezzanine?  Looking at the pictures online of the views from different seats it looks like you are really high and far away in the rear mezzanine but maybe it doesn't feel that way in person?  The cheapest tickets I've found are for the furthest back or for partial view seats and if this ends up being my only chance to ever see a show on Broadway I would like to be able to see everything.

TKTS are booths run by TDF that sell discounted tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. (Musicals & Plays) Here's a link to their site. The main booth in Times Square sells tickets the day of the show, other locations sell the day before the show. They have a real time display to show you what's available or what was available when the booths are closed.

For Waitress: Broadwaybox currently offers a discount code. Which you can use in advance or at the box office. Also keep an eye on Theatremania for a code. The current one ends 9/3, but there may be a new one for October released at some point.

For Hamilton, if it's going to be your date night show, I would keep an eye on prices the day of the show and either accept that you'll pay more by buying hours ahead or just plan on something else. Tracking prices and stressing about getting the tickets in time doesn't seem like the way you'd want to spend a rare night away from the kids. 

The Band's Visit is the new show with a lot of buzz coming in this season and it begins previews 10/7. That would be my suggestion to replace either show.

Updated On: 8/30/17 at 02:57 AM

Yeah I agree; skip Waitress and watch Hello, Dolly! instead. Donna Murphy tickets are easy to come by and she's doing a whole week in late Oct/Nov. That's one production on Broadway which is not worth missing right now.

You have gotten some good advice on here.  I think you should buy tickets now for either Hello Dolly (which is an amazing show) or this upcoming season's hot ticket, The Bands Visit.  Waitress is touring and will probably come to you at some point.  If Dolly tours, it certainly won't be with someone like Bette or Donna so I would say go see Hello Dolly, you won't regret it.

 

I have bought tickets for Hamilton the day of the show on Stubhub and that worked out great.  You could get tickets cheaper than you are considering now, and/or much better seats.  Also, Ticketmaster has been adding new tickets for sale a few days before many performances.  They are usually premium seats in awesome locations but you are looking at mediocre seats at premium prices now, so wait until the week before the date you are interested in and check Ticketmaster each day.  Some awesome premium seats will likely pop up.

Updated On: 8/30/17 at 12:28 PM

JPeterman said: "You have gotten some good advice on here. I think you should buy tickets now for either Hello Dolly (which is an amazing show) or this upcoming season's hot ticket, The Bands Visit. Waitress is touring and will probably come to you at some point. If Dolly tours, it certainly won't be with someone like Bette or Donna so I would say go see Hello Dolly, you won't regret it.



I have bought tickets for Hamilton the day of the show on Stubhub and that worked out great. You could get tickets cheaper than you are considering now, and/or much better seats. Also, Ticketmaster has been adding new tickets for sale a few days before many performances. They are usually premium seats in awesome locations but you are looking at mediocre seats at premium prices now, so wait until the week before the date you are interested in and check Ticketmaster each day. Some awesome premium seats will likely pop up."

Thank you!  I was thinking about Hello Dolly! because I love Bette Midler but I was afraid we might end up with an understudy (my husband tells me this was a Seinfeld episode).  Does she currently do all of the performances? 

I happened to check Hamilton tickets for today's and tomorrow's shows on Ticketmaster just to see what prices are like and I noticed that there are some tickets that are not labeled "verified resale" that are really good seats and no additional fees so I was wondering how that was possible?  Currently all seats available during our dates are resale tickets so I just assumed all of those shows sold out.  Our dates are October 14-17.  Is there anything going on in NYC at that time that would cause there to be a slim chance that tickets will come down in price the day of the shows?

Alladin is first rate in every way.  It is a sure bet you will be happier seeing Aladdin for the first time, in the the most exquisite theater ever built in NewYork, then seeing Wicked or The Lion King for the third time  in the ugliest theaters ever imagined in the country.

Yes, settings can be different since the load in on tours  is two days and for Broadway the entire stage floor can be opened up and things can rise from the basement.  This is impractical on tour.  The look can be the same but the effects are different.

The thing about Hello Dolly! is that the cast is so superb, it is the kind of actors who you will never see on tour. ... even the alternate Dolly has two Tony Awards.

Excited for you to come to NYC for the first time. A big welcome!

Mike Costa said: "Alladin is first rate in every way. It is a sure betyou will be happierseeing Aladdin for the first time, in the the mostexquisite theater everbuilt in NewYork, then seeing Wicked or The Lion King for the third time in theugliest theaters ever imagined in the country.

Yes, settings can bedifferent since the load in on tours is two days and for Broadway the entire stage floor can be opened up and things can rise from the basement. This is impractical on tour. The look can be the same but the effects are different.

The thing about Hello Dolly! is that the castis so superb, it is the kind of actors who you will never see on tour.... even the alternate Dollyhas two Tony Awards.

Excited for you to come to NYC for the first time.A big welcome!"

Awesome! Thank you!  I will definitely look into Hello Dolly!  You have been very helpful. 

Updated On: 8/30/17 at 05:10 PM

It sounds like you've decided to not see Hamilton unless you can get more affordable tickets the day of. That's a reasonable choice. As someone who paid exorbitant hotel concierge prices for a nosebleed (very top row of mezzanine) with original cast 2 years ago, it was worth every cent. BUT as a tall person with knee problems, I warn you that there was zero leg room. Not sure if that's true all through the Mezzanine. Others can post here as to their experience. If you do go to see Hamilton, be sure to get Orchestra or Mezzanine aisle seats. I will say despite my discomfort, Hamilton is my favorite NYC theatre experience and I've seen 35 Broadway and off-Broadway shows on my trips to NYC. But Hello Dolly! seems like another great choice (l'll be seeing it with Bette in November, but I think seeing it with Donna would be another affordable, but great choice - I think that Hello Dolly may even be available at TKTS on days Donna's performing). I'd also echo that I had a great time at Aladdin. 

I first came to NYC for a work trip in 2010 and it was love at first sight. I've been back every year since! Enjoy! 

Updated On: 8/30/17 at 06:17 PM

Wait for Hamilton to come to your area.  The original cast may have been worth the prices you are quoting, the current one isn't, especially if you only have to wait 1 more year.