Spelling Bee lottery

[craig238]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 9:40am

After seeing Sweeney Todd this past Tuesday, my daughter REALLY wants to see Spelling Bee. We will not be able to get back into the city until the end of August (probably 8/22 or 8/29 - those Tuesday nite 7:00 starting times are great) so does anyone have an opinion or thought on what are chances would be to win ?? Also, if you lose the lottery and it does sell out, what is standing room like ?? I need high odds since you know that disappointing a 10 year old is not a good idea !!!!!!!! Thanks so much in advance for your input.

[MissNY]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 9:49am

The lotto isnt crazy crowded, but I wouldnt count on winning. Especially in the summer. Standing room is great, the theatre is very small so the view is perfectly fine. However, if the show is sold out, standing room is sometimes sold out as well by the time the lotto is over.

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 9:56am

I stopped by the box office for two Saturday matinees in a row (7/1 and 7/8, after losing Drowsy lotto) and asked for standing room, and both times, the performances were not sold out, so they were not selling standing room tickets. It seems they are not selling out very often. However, they do sell the side seats for $50. You would most likely have better luck with the lottery.

[Just_John]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 9:56am

Well, since its a Tuesday night it would.nt be too hard to win the lotto. Then you can ask about SRO, but the show would very unlikely be sold out. And it will probably be up at TKTS. So go there. Or you could use a discount code from broadwaybox.

[WholeLottaShakin]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:04am

I just tried lotto last night, Wednesday. Though the crowd wasn't very big - probably 40 or 50 - I still didn't win. Before I dropped my name in the bin, they were not selling SRO. After the names were called, they announced that they were selling SRO, so I just did that. And in the end, neither the whole theatre nor SRO were sold out. I guess it just really depends on the day. Good luck.

[snazzier]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:13am

The chances that you'll win lotto for a Sunday night are a lot higher than normal-- normally the Wicked crowd will go and try Spelling Bee lotto. They only sell SRO when the show is sold out completely, which it doesn't seem to be doing lately. I'd suggest the $50 side seats or getting discounted tickets at TKTS if you want a guaranteed seat.

Oh, and if you get tickets, you should ask your daughter if she wants to sign up to be a speller. My 10 year old sister signed up last time I went, and she got picked to be a speller. It's a lot of fun and it brings you into the show even more!
Updated On: 7/20/06 at 10:13 AM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:54pm

The guy who ran the Spelling Bee lottery told me that Thursdays were lightest day of the week for the Spelling Bee lottery with Sunday's a distant second, as far as sign-ups. This was about a little more than a month ago, though.

[MissNY]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 1:05pm

Sunday night is not usually that empty at the lotto, because many people getting out of Wicked at that time stop by and put their names in.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 2:25pm

I had actually asked him about that. He said it is rare that anyone coming out of Wicked would come in and sign up for the lotto. He did say that almost all of the people who lose for the matinee return for the evening. My guess is that people think it will be lighter on a Sunday evening so they go then.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 2:41pm

after taking your 10 YEAR OLD to see Sweeney Todd, you not only owe her a trip to Spelling Bee- but also a pony, a barbie dream house and a trip to Disney World... and probably a few therapy sessions

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 3:49pm

Someone in my group has won in the 2 times I've gone.