I'm planning on doing rush for Annie and Once this coming weekend. Any thoughts on how early I should arrive to stand in line for each show to definitely get a ticket?? Thanks!
^ yeah, it's hard to know how long tickets will last in a day... I generally just check the Rush Report if I want a "guaranteed" ticket. Coming from out of town, I tend to line up earlier than needed so I know I can get a ticket. Plus, I'm not too awake in the morning (jet lag), so being semi-conscious in line early in the a.m. with hot chocolate or coffee isn't too bad and helps me get over the jet lag the first day!
I got tickets for Annie (with Jane Lynch) at around 6:15 on a Wednesday for an 8:00 show. They weren't front row, they were rear mezzanine, but I actually preferred that to front row since the stage at the Palace is so high. I don't think you really need to get there terribly early for that show, so long as you're not married to sitting in the front row since they seem to be selling other seats as rush as well.
A few Saturday's ago I went at noon to the Annie box office and they were sold out of rush. They gave us a good deal on tickets to the matinee show, though!