Hercules at the public distribution

[(Insert Clever Name)]

Posted: 8/8/19 at 8:06am

There will be no line? I got an email from the public saying that it would only be digital lottery & that the in person standby line would also be a lottery. I dont understand why they are doing this like this?

[VotePeron]

Posted: 8/8/19 at 8:25am

Lines for the Delacorte cannot form until 6am, when Central Park opens. If people begin lining up in the park before that time, it’s illegal. If they line up outside of the park, it’s impossible for the Public staff to handle. Thus, the only way to patrol the crowd is a lottery system.

There’s a thread on this with some further back and forth already.

[magictodo123]

Posted: 8/8/19 at 9:23am

(Insert Clever Name) said: "There will be no line? I got an email from the public saying that it would only be digital lottery & that the in person standby line would also be a lottery. I dont understand why they are doing this like this?"

Based on the fact that this will undoubtedly be an extremely popular production, it seems they're going the Hadestown SRO line route. To control what may become an out of control situation with people lining up before the park opens to get tickets, they have resorted to  having everything on the TodayTix app. I think this is a good idea. Sure this means I may not be able see it, but I'm glad the same people won't be able to line up day after day since this is a limited production. 

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 8/8/19 at 10:09am

For something like this that is going to be extremely popular, I think this is a great idea. 

[cjmclaughlin10]

Posted: 8/8/19 at 10:51am

Unfortunately, with the types and numbers of people who will be attracted to something like this, the policy is the only way to distribute responsibly. Rush used to be a fun experience I truly enjoyed, but now it has become such a hassle that I avoid it like the plague


The other thing I like about the lotto policy is that you get notified that you have won/lost days in advance, making it easy to coordinate travel plans if need be

[RunningThatRoad]

Posted: 8/8/19 at 11:11am

I’m a patron donor at the public, and they are only allowing two tickets max for my level of giving, even though I have four Shakespeare in the Park reserved seats left this season. They also seem to be hinting in their emails that I may not get any seats at all.

And to be clear, I’m not complaining; the public theater should be for the public! Just wanted to add another data point showing they are clearly very concerned about very high levels of demand.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/8/19 at 11:34am

Reading between the lines: This could also be a way to test how an "all tickets via lottery" system would work going forward. If the Public has to relocate for the 2021 season due to the Delacorte reno, the alternative space might not allow an all-day line outside.

Also, having seen the recent huge lines for Julius Caesar and Into the Woods (and the stories of lines for Pacino and Streep and others), it could be a way to handle things more "democratically" for shows with big stars or mass appeal.

[magictodo123]

Posted: 8/8/19 at 11:48am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Reading between the lines: This could also be a way to test how an "all tickets via lottery" system would work going forward. If the Public has to relocate for the 2021 season due to the Delacortereno, the alternative space might not allow an all-day line outside.

Also, having seen the recent huge lines for Julius CaesarandInto the Woods (and the stories of lines for Pacino and Streep and others),it could be a way to handle things more "democratically" for shows with big stars or mass appeal."

PAUSE--2021 renovation?? When was that announced??

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 8/8/19 at 11:49am

According to a friend involved with the production they are highly limiting comps—according to her some of the performances are already out of comp tickets (at least for the team—not sure how it is with donors). They are really trying to make it as accessible to the public as possible!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/8/19 at 12:07pm

magictodo123 said: "PAUSE--2021 renovation?? When was that announced??"

The $110million Delacorte renovation was announced in the NYT last October, to begin in 2020 and be completed in time for the 2022 season!

"During the summer of 2021, when the Delacorte is expected to go dark for construction, the Public is planning to offer free programming at an undetermined site." It sounds like the space is badly in need of repair (at least from a backstage standpoint).

Updated On: 8/8/19 at 12:07 PM

[JennH]

Posted: 8/8/19 at 3:44pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Reading between the lines: This could also be a way to test how an "all tickets via lottery" system would work going forward. If the Public has to relocate for the 2021 season due to the Delacortereno, the alternative space might not allow an all-day line outside.

Also, having seen the recent huge lines for Julius CaesarandInto the Woods (and the stories of lines for Pacino and Streep and others),it could be a way to handle things more "democratically" for shows with big stars or mass appeal."

I wondered this too actually. I wouldn't mind this being done in the future. Maybe not for every show qquuiittee yet, but for the ones that will obviously be popular, aka Hercules and the like, say, if they were going to do R and J again...we all know people will clamor to see the Bards' most popular piece. Therefore I don't understand the complaints about this system, do you WANT to wait for hours and hours to only MAYBE get a ticket?? I certainly don't. It would be a whole day spend just getting a ticket and going back to the theatre a couple hours later to watch. This will be a such coveted ticket that this really is the only sensible way to do it. I attempted Coriolanus yesterday and was no issue, so maybe those kinds of shows can still be done in person. Of course it was a huge waste as it rained like hell, but that's another story. 

[magictodo123]

Posted: 8/9/19 at 7:17am

Huh. I was reading the fine print at the bottom of the lottery page on The Public's website, and it said you can only win tickets once. I actually  really like this. It prevents people from entering day after day and seeing it multiple times instead of the same people seeing it over and over. Hopefully no one will try to get around this. 

 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 8/9/19 at 7:53am

magictodo123 said: "Huh. I was reading the fine print at the bottom of the lottery page on The Public's website, and it said you can only win tickets once. I actually really like this. It prevents people from entering day after day and seeing it multiple times instead of the same people seeing it over and over. Hopefully no one will try to get around this.

"

My understanding is that it will be like the Friday Forty for HP. You'll check off the days you'd like to enter, then, on 8/28, the lottery is drawn, and you'll find out that day if you've won, and for which show.

Updated On: 8/9/19 at 07:53 AM

[magictodo123]

Posted: 8/9/19 at 8:00am

CT2NYC said: "magictodo123 said: "Huh. I was reading the fine print at the bottom of the lottery page on The Public's website, and it said you can only win tickets once. I actually really like this. It prevents people from entering day after day and seeing it multiple times instead of the same people seeing it over and over. Hopefully no one will try to get around this.

"

My understanding is that it will be like the Friday Forty for HP. You'll check off the days you'd like to enter, then, on 8/28, the lottery is drawn, and you'll find out that day if you've won, and for which show."

This may be a stupid thought, but it does make me wonder if everyone will get a chance to see it. 

[(Insert Clever Name)]

Posted: 8/9/19 at 11:28am

magictodo123 said: "CT2NYC said: "magictodo123 said: "Huh. I was reading the fine print at the bottom of the lottery page on The Public's website, and it said you can only win tickets once. I actually really like this. It prevents people from entering day after day and seeing it multiple times instead of the same people seeing it over and over. Hopefully no one will try to get around this.

"

My understanding is that it will be like the Friday Forty for HP. You'll check off the days you'd like to enter, then, on 8/28, the lottery is drawn, and you'll find out that day if you've won, and for which show."

This may be a stupid thought, but it does make me wonder if everyone will get a chance to see it."

Probably not? Demand is definitely way bigger than supply.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/9/19 at 1:26pm

I really don't want to do the app but a friend of mine is in this and would love to see it. Thought of doing standby but my thought is that it will be really crowded and very few tickets.

[magictodo123]

Posted: 8/9/19 at 1:29pm

uncageg said: "I really don't want to do the app but a friend of mine is in this and would love to see it. Thought of doing standby but my thought is that it will be really crowded and very few tickets."

I think they usually have a time frame where you can start lining up, so hopefully it won't be like Hadestown where people were lining up hours beforehand. I hope. I don't know though.