Harry Potter Tix Question

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 3:24pm

Sorry, the other thread is nearly 90 pages long, and the chance of finding my answers is pretty slim.  

 

After tying the lottery all summer, I'm resigned that I'll have to buy tickets, which isn't awful, because on a number of dates I can attend, I can get 95 dollar tix.    SO.....

1.  I'm assuming that there is STILL no way to look at availability on empty seats - you just need to accept whatever comes up when searching for tix?  I hate that.  I'll be in the city next weekend, but is the box office so busy that they won't take the time to actually show me options?

2.  What can anyone tell me about sitting in the rear orchestra?  Row Z?  Overhang issues?  Is it better or worse than sitting in the mezz or balc?

 

Thanks to any that can shed some light!

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 3:33pm

The box office is like a ghost town. Even if they were busy, they aren't going to refuse to look for other seat locations if you request alternatives.

[greenifyme2]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 3:46pm

I sat in Orch Y12 the first time. It felt far, but the view was pretty good and my favorite moment of the show was even better because we were under the overhang.

I saw it 1.5 more times in the front orchestra and nothing beats seeing the faces up close, but I loved my first experience.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 7:04pm

I was in the rear orchestra when I saw the show the first time. I was in row Y seat 4. I wouldn't recommend this particular seat as there is a pillar that blocks the view. However, the mezz overhang does not block anything.

[Notreallysilent 2]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 7:38pm

I’ve sat in row zzz If the orchestra. It was a fine view but the rear or the mezz is much better in my opinion. The mezzanine was actually my favorite location to sit for this show because it creates a great view of the set and everything. Row zz and I imagine row z as well cover the top half of the set. You see everything you need to see on stage, but I think you miss part of the show because you can’t see the top of the set.

[jordynmcanany]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 11:27pm

It's so frustrating how you can't choose. Honestly, the whole set up to get tickets is awful It made sense when they first were released I guess, that way people could kind of fish around for dates, but now they should just make them available on ticketmaster the normal way. I also hate how, whenever you release tickets, it's a whole process to get back to where you were. Especially if you were looking at further months.

 

One trick if you want to try and fish for tickets before box office - grab the tickets you keep getting on your phone and hold them in your cart while you search on your computer. That way it will be forced to give you new tickets. I kept getting this one seat really far to the left - like the absolute last seat to the left - so I did this and got a slightly further back row, that was more center stage. Of course, you're really limited to only two or three times (unless you have a million computers, but I reckon at this point ticketmaster would ban your ip. So id safely only use two or three). Still, at that point, I usually take it as there really isn't any better seats available. Sometimes ticketmaster won't give you the *best* available seat though, in my opinion. (Ex: I got f17..then went on my phone and got c10. This was literally today, so i doubt anyone was holding it randomly). 

The ticketmaster order line is pretty unhelpful, but I've never tried dealing with the box office themselves. Waiting til that close you run the risk of many of the good seats being sold out though - or perhaps your whole price range in general. While they do discount some of the seats (i believe) it's usually the most expensive, so I think it still ends up being 199. This is just hearsay on my part though, so I'm not sure!

[VotePeron]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 11:39pm

While I definitely recommend the front orchestra for this production (personally, having seen it a bunch of times), I do think any seat in the mezz will be better than Orch row Z. The balcony isn't even bad, either!

As pricing goes, when it gets closer to the performance it's a bit of a crapshoot. I check the site basically daily to peruse, and for performances this past week I noticed a single mezzanine seat for $135/part one day, a worse mezzanine seat for $165 another day, and an amazing orchestra seat for $95. Really have no clue how they structure it. The only thing I can say with confidence is Saturday & Sunday shows are much more expensive, and I haven't seen them release any $95/$135 tickets for those shows the week of. (But StubHub has amazing deals!)

Enjoy the show!!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 11:44pm

I was looking at dates in Feb, so I'm not too worried there will be a rush to grab them before I get in the city next weekend - but I might just try to the duo trick (phone and computer) tomorrow.

I admit, saving the service fees is appealing as well.

[jordynmcanany]

Posted: 8/26/18 at 12:25am

Ah, I definitely misread. I thought you meant you were going next week in hopes of attending the show next week. If you're getting tickets for feb, I would definitely just wait and get them at the box office.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/26/18 at 11:14am

Well, that didn't help much.   I only got offered tix two over on the second source.  Frustrating.

 

Hopefully, I'll still have options when I go in next week.  (Or maybe I'll bite the bullett and pay the forty bucks in fees.  Grr.)

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/26/18 at 1:16pm

Just go to the box office our call ticketmaster. They can see the available seat locations. The only problem is that it is unclear what seats are being held back for later release, so better seats might be released prior to you desired performance date.

[Lot666]

Posted: 8/27/18 at 9:04am

I'm a bit surprised by the comments indicating that the view won't be blocked in rear orchestra seats, behind the mezzanine overhang. There are a few instances of significant special effects which seem to me would be lost back there.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/27/18 at 12:23pm

^Lol...maybe they hadn't realized they'd missed anything.

 

Thanks to everyone that has offered up opinion and info.  I really appreciate it!  I'm hopeful to find 95 tix at the back of the mezz.  But, if all I can get is for rear orch - so be it.   The price is right!

[EmCee14]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 1:37am

Anyone know where the TodayTix Friday 40 seats have been located???

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 2:11am

dramamama611 said: "Well, that didn't help much. I only got offered tix two over on the second source. Frustrating."

Say you want four tickets on the first source?

[Wick3]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 9:24am

EmCee14 said: "Anyone know where the TodayTixFriday 40 seats have been located???"

My friends who have won Friday40 tix have sat in either front row orchestra or front row mezzanine. They're great seats for sure!!!

@dramamama, at the first preview I sat in row M and felt it was close enough to see facial expressions yet far back enough to appreciate the choreography and overall set. The furthest back I've sat in orchestra is row S and even from that seat there is no mezz overhang issues. I do believe row Z may get the overhang to slightly obstruct your view (but can't confirm since I never sat there.) Good luck!!!

 

[Lot666]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 9:48am

Wick3 said: "The furthest back I've sat in orchestra is row S and even from that seat there is no mezz overhang issues."

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I'm trying to imagine how you were you able to see the overhead effects at the end of act one from back there.

 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 10:37am

Lot666 said: "Wick3 said: "The furthest back I've sat in orchestra is row S and even from that seat there is no mezz overhang issues."

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I'm trying to imagine howyou were you able to see the overhead effects at the end of act one from back there.

"

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The only effects that are blocked are the dementors at the end of Part 1. The effects at the end of Part 2, Act 1 are painted all over the theater, so while someone may miss what's on the ceiling, the same messages are still visible to them elsewhere in the theater.

 

[LJD123]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 10:51am

I can echo nobody at the box office. Was in the city 3 weeks ago & checked out the merchandise in the store. One man at the window getting seat locations & reporting to someone on his cell.

[Wick3]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 11:52am

I couldn't find a photo of row S in orchestra but did find this one of row R and felt the view was fine, even in the scenes you mentioned. I think it's when you sit in row W or Y or Z is when the mezz overhang really interferes. I remember the theater selling row Q seats in orchestra as premium pricing (those close to the center)

[Lot666]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 12:04pm

Fosse76 said: "Lot666 said: "Wick3 said: "The furthest back I've sat in orchestra is row S and even from that seat there is no mezz overhang issues."

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I'm trying to imagine how you were you able to see the overhead effects at the end of act one from back there.

"

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The only effects that are blocked are the dementors at the end of Part 1. The effects at the end of Part 2, Act 1 are painted all over the theater, so while someone may miss what's on the ceiling, the same messages are still visible to them elsewhere in the theater.

"

So the (IMO, significant) special effect at the end of act one IS blocked by the mezz overhang.

[Wick3]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 12:18pm

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

From what I remember, there are 3 dementors at the end of act 1: one in the center that goes down on top of the orchestra, then flies around the front of dress circle and all the way to the balcony. The other 2 dementors are on both sides of the stage. 

For the dementor that goes down the center orchestra, I saw it for 3-4 seconds and then when it goes to dress circle I still see it but when it goes to balcony that's when I don't see it. Even when I sat in front orchestra,  I had  to turn my head around and look up to see that the dementor was by the balcony.... to me it's meh. 

For the scene in part 2 with the neon lights, you can see both the writings on mezz overhang and also on the theater roof from row S. Even during the points when they travel back in time, you can see the entire stage and the top of the arcs do that special effect that made it look like it was bending/moving. Row S is fine.... I'd say row Z or even row W that's when mezz overhang issues may bother people.

 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 3:40pm

If you're looking at left orchestra Z or ZZ 15, or right orchestra Z or ZZ 16, be aware that those seats are right up against a wall, which makes them somewhat boxed in. I would move more toward the outer aisle to alleviate this issue. The pic below was taken from ZZ 15, and the seats you can see are in row Y:

[RemlapLBC]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 4:13pm

first, this is my experience from London, not the Lyric.  

You don't miss anything being under the overhang.  I think the ending of the first half, everything was not 100% in view at all times, but nothing was lost in the experience.  The people in the front Mezz had the best view of this

That said, being under the overhang was truly GREAT for my favorite part of the show.

Just don't get the seats behind a pillar that someone else mentioned and you'll enjoy.

Any I apologize my post was vague, but trying to #keepthesecret.  I had purposely not read the play/book before seeing it and was spellbound.  Can't wait to see it a second time in San Francisco next year.  (or more realistically, 2020)

Doug

 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 5:12pm

I don't think the effect is nearly as impressive on Broadway from the orchestra as it is in London. The theater is just too big.