Shakespeare in the Park Lines- Page 9
Shakespeare in the Park Lines
#200re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 3:27pm
The standby line for tonight started with the folks who were online by midnight/12:30am who did not get tix during the 1pm distribution today. I don't know how many people long the standby line currently is- they were telling people who got on line anytime after 2am that they were not going to get tix, and trying to send them home (some of them just decided to wait.)
I am highly doubtful that your friend joining the standby line right now will get tix for tonight. But hey, stranger things have happened in life.
eta: while leaving the park after the 1pm distribution the group of people on 81st and CPW was about 10-15 people long; I know the first guy in the group is the guy I met earlier, who is already waiting for tix for Sunday night, but I couldn't tell if that was an actual line already forming behind him, or just some people randomly hanging out in that area.
Updated On: 7/11/09 at 03:27 PM
#201re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 3:36pmHoly crap. Guess I'll walk over there around 8pm and see the status for tomorrow's tickets... good thing my apartment is in walking distance.
#202re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 3:37pm
I'm afraid your friend is going to be disappointed. What applied to Hair DEFINITELY does not apply to Twelfth Night. As was noted earlier in this thread, they have not seen lines like this for ten years.
Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.
LionessInWinter
Broadway Star Joined: 8/23/05
#203re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 3:43pm
Thanks, Anakela!
I agree, humbugfoto. We were having the discussion on Facebook and that's exactly what I thought when she said that. I didn't feel the need to be overly antagonistic pointing that out, especially since she was so insistent. By the time she said that it was too late for him to get there by 3 anyway as he's coming from Queens.
ETA: Love your avatar, humbugfoto. 
Haven't seen that pic before. Haven't been to the off-topic Raul thread in a while.
Updated On: 7/11/09 at 03:43 PM
#204re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 3:50pm
My friends arrived at 1 a.m. and while early this morning they were told they were "guaranteed" tickets, received vouchers. Around 10:30 this morning when I went to bring them some food, security was telling people that the cut-off was around 2:30 a.m., and that there were at least 200 people on the end of the line who knew they would not be getting tickets, but planned to stay and just become the stand-by line.
Judging by the point at which they ran out of tickets, the cut-off probably ended up being earlier. People had their air mattresses, tents... I've never seen anything quite like it.
The house manager's speech to the remaining people on line after the 1 p.m. distribution got it to shrink down to, by 2:00, probably about 150 to 200 people. He said the chances were miniscule, but that he is occasionally wrong.
NYC is currently looking at a 60% chance of rain for the period impacting the show. Staff at the Delacorte is telling people that the show will go on in rain unless it becomes dangerous, but if there is lightning in the area, they will have to stop. They'll hold up to thirty minutes mid-performance before giving up. And, given that only one show actually got cancelled during all of that rain, the odds are good.
They're saying that this is the worst it's been since The Seagull, but that while it's always crazy on the last weekend, what they're dealing with now is really extreme. They think in addition to the reviews, the Hollywood star and the hometown favorites, it also has a lot to do with the fact that this follows Hair, which obviously went on to be a huge success. So, people think that maybe this is the next Hair and want to see it now. That being said, though, I don't think you can cross-compare the line situations, simply because this, as a result OF that, is way worse.
#205re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 3:55pm
I wonder if things will be this crazy for the next show, or even for next summer.
I feel really bad for the staff. Kudos to them for handling things so well considering the circumstances...
toomuchfreetime.tumblr.com
#206re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 4:01pmWell, I think that's one of the problems, is that now people will say, "Oh, well last year I got there at 3 a.m. and it wasn't early enough," thus creating the risk of people doing this the ENTIRETY of the next run, or a run next year. And they'll work based on that without thinking back to WHY this happened this year, or that it was the end of the run, or whatever.
LionessInWinter
Broadway Star Joined: 8/23/05
#207re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 4:03pm
Thanks, Em!
I knew before it even started this would be very popular (though the degree does blow my mind), so I knew I'd have to go early in the run, as I did. Plus, the first 2 weekends were going to be better for me as I was busy all the others except this one (and not knowing standby during the week would be so easy with all the rainy days). I wanted to see it a second time because I really enjoyed it, but at least I got to see it once.
Updated On: 7/11/09 at 04:03 PM
#208re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 4:06pmRemember the good old days when you could get there at 6 and easily be the first person in line? lol
toomuchfreetime.tumblr.com
#209re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 4:33pmExactly. It was bound to be popular, and I get why it is, but the degree to which people are going with this is astounding. And the sheer AMOUNTS of people who are willing to go to that degree, too.
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#210re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 4:42pm
I just have to throw in that I am so happy to see New Yorkers so excited to see a Shakespeare play. Even among theatre lovers, I don't think Shakespeare is appreciated enough in this country. And if it's because of Anne and the theatre vets, fine, I'm just happy people are coming out.
(But really people...half full houses on rainy nights earlier in the run. You missed it, that's your fault.)
All this chaos makes me feel very fortunate to work at this show!
#211re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 4:54pmGot in line at 250am. Around 417 in line. Missed tickets by 150-200 people. As I left the park the wonderfully nice and handsome line guy was breaking up the line on cpw. The public will only run one line at a time. All of those folks had to move to tonights stand by. Make sure u thank the staff at the public. They're feeling overwhelmed and bad for turning so many people away. The public is doing an amazing job. Say thanks.
#212re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 4:59pm
So that means about 300 people (maybe less, give or take) got tickets today, which, if they all took two, would mean that about 600 tickets went to the line? They say it's the majority, but if the house seats roughly 1900, that leaves 1300 that don't go -- a little less by the time you factor in the disability and senior lines. Ah well, it is what it is. I was just always wondering about the numbers, but that at least lets you put a rough estimate to it.
And yes, kudos to the staff; this is clearly really overwhelming, and they've had to deal with a lot of antics (a homeless man stole someone's cell phone in the wee hours and then held it for ransom money!), but they're doing a good job.
heo1128
Broadway Star Joined: 7/9/08
#214re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 5:29pmYou've got to be kidding me... any clue how many people? Am I going to need to get there at 8? O_O
heo1128
Broadway Star Joined: 7/9/08
#215re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 5:31pmI walked by at about 4ish and it was about 7 or 8 people. Getting there at 8 definitely wouldn't be a bad idea. (though it depends what your definition of 'bad' is)
heo1128
Broadway Star Joined: 7/9/08
#216re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 5:31pmwhoops Updated On: 7/11/09 at 05:31 PM
#217re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 5:46pmHah. True. The things I do for Shakespeare.
jewelchk
Stand-by Joined: 12/21/05
#218re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 5:55pmDo people think, in light of the craziness, there is any chance of this transferring and with most of the cast in tact? Because the cast is kind of high profile, which = busy actors (Hathaway has movie engagements, McDonald is in a TV show), I've been thinking it is not likely, but I haven't read anything about it either way.
"I thought that that was just going to be a like one shot deal for me, you know, but they kept talking about it like, 'when we do the production, when we do the production', and I was like, 'yes, yes, when you do the production, cool, I will come and see it'". - John Gallagher Jr. on SA
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#219re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 6:14pm
As Oskar Eustis said to the Times, there are no current plans, but you never know.
I'm shocked they haven't extended it by a week. Either Anne's gotta be on a plane Monday morning or The Bacchae is gonna be some production.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#220re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 7:05pmI'm really not excited about THE BACCHAE but I think I may go see it in previews anyway and avoid the huge crowds because I'd still like to see how they follow up TWELFTH NIGHT. It's gonna be hard to top.
#221re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 8:09pmThe only reason I m excited is because I love Philip Glass's music. Cannot wait to hear what he has in store for us this time!
toomuchfreetime.tumblr.com
LionessInWinter
Broadway Star Joined: 8/23/05
#222re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 8:19pm
Me, too, Mrfreeze.
Ironically I'm watching the bonus DVD for the documentary about him, Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts. Just watched a rehearsal of Dracula w/ the Kronos Quartet and now watching a performance of Metamorphosis done in Melbourne, Australia.
#223re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 9:28pmSomeone I know got in line at 12:30am and got stand by vouchers at one. She did end up seeing the show but I, simply, cannot imagine waiting in line that long. I want to see this production but I don't think I want to see it that badly.
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#224re: Shakespeare in the Park Lines
Posted: 7/11/09 at 9:38pmHow is/was the weather? Did they get rained on?
Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.
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