So I was around the theater before the matinee today, checking the prices on StubHub, VividSeats, waiting for tickets to drop, because even on the day of the final performances of several main cast members, I figured matinee would be cheaper/easier. Unfortunately prices never dropped low enough/I didn't pull the trigger quickly enough when prices did drop. The people in the front of the cancellation line said they had "only" been waiting since 11pm the night before.
So I left. Very disappointed with a feeling of sadness in my stomach because I knew that was it... I had to work in the evening and I had just lost my last chance. I had given up my shot, if you will.
For the rest of the day I casually monitored the ticket sites to see what the prices were doing... and some started to get into a reasonable price zone. I figured if I was going to blow a ridiculous amount of cash on a Broadway show, it might as well be the final show of some of the most beloved cast members. I sent a text that I knew was going to inconvenience some of my co-workers... that I had to switch shifts last minute and there was nothing I could do to avoid it. 
I was already feeling extra irresponsible for switching up my work shift just for the possibility of getting a ticket to the show, and that feeling was exacerbated when suddenly all of the reasonably priced tickets vanished at the same time. So then I did something I swore was a sucker's bet... something I never do... I turned to Craigslist. Of course Craigslist is filled with scams and fakes, and I would be surprised if there was a single genuine ticket in the whole bunch... but desperate times call for desperate measures.
I found a listing with photos of the actual hard tickets with today's date on them. I texted the guy (and the text didn't turn blue like an iMessage... a warning sign to me that someone is possibly using a burner phone) to ask what the deal was. He said he had waited on the cancellation line several times and had like 4 different tickets in different sections of the orchestra. He wanted $2,100 each. I said I could do $1,200, and if he got desperate, he could text me closer to the show. Of course he didn't move the ticket for $2,100, and by this time I was already at the theater, so I figured I'd at least meet the guy and at the slightest sign of a scam, I could just walk away.
I met the guy and his buddy, nothing seemed overtly out of the ordinary. I told him I would give him $1,200, and he would have to walk me INTO the theater with the ticket, and only then would I pay him. Both guys were visibly sweating and I'm thinking to myself "this is such an obvious scam, I can't believe it". But the guy agrees to walk me into the theater. So we walk towards the entrance, thinking the guy is going to make some excuse at any moment since I'm basically calling his bluff. He hands both tickets (he was seeing the show too) to the guy with the scanner at the door, he scans them and then.... they were both legit tickets! I couldn't believe it. I paid the guy and went to my seat which was a beautiful orchestra seat. I honestly was speechless that I had just scored (well, I guess I will count dropping $1200 on a single ticket a "score"
a ticket to the final OBC performance of Hamilton on CRAIGSLIST of all places.
The feeling was electric inside the theater. There were reporters and paparazzi outside. I saw Spike Lee, John Kerry, Jane Fonda, Aaron Paul and Jennifer Lopez inside. People went crazy as soon as the lights went down. Every time an actor walked onto the stage for the first time, the crowd would cheer and clap, but not enough to actually disrupt any songs... except of course when LMM makes his first appearance during the first song after saying "Alexander Hamilton" the theater ****ing ERUPTED. There was a standing ovation for at least a solid two minutes. The music stopped and Lin held the lyrics until the cheering died down, it really was something to experience. There were maybe 4 other standing O's throughout the rest of the show, but none as insane as that first one. I didn't hear anyone in the crowd audibly singing along like I've read some people complain about. The rest of the show was, of course, incredible. People crying everywhere. The show ends, everyone comes out and bows, LMM does an extended curtain call (as seen here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BHq_OJIAbtx but other than that, nothing super out of the ordinary to indicate it was their final performance.
I left and it was pouring outside, and there were a ton of people waiting behind barriers, even across the street, I guess to try to catch a glimpse of a celebrity or cast members. By the time I got home I was soaked but I was still grinning ear to ear. Honestly I feel like I got a bargain for what I paid based on what I got to experience. It really was a very special night.
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