Terrible experience at THE 39 STEPS today...

Was at Roundabout's THE 39 STEPS today, and, with hiptix seating, was seated in the rear mezzanine. I don't hear well and the show was not mic'ed so I asked for a hearing device. They told me without proof of necessity, they wouldn't give it to someone so young. So, at intermission, I asked an usher if I could move to an empty seat and she said yes. I found one in the front row! The house manager followed me and asked me for my ticket and told me to return to my seat. I asked her if I could sit there if no one took it and she said no, that's illegal and I didn't pay for that seat. I explained to her my situation and she replied, "If you can't hear it, too bad. Leave if you hate it so much."

So I did. I was not refunded or anything. Now, I'll be writing a letter to Roundabout.

You should absolutely write a letter. There is no excuse for their behavior. I don't understand why they would not allow you to use a hearing device. Is there an epidemic of young people stealing hearing devices from theatres these days?

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Definitely report the manager.

I explained to her my situation and she replied, "If you can't hear it, too bad. Leave if you hate it so much."

That, to me, is proof she doesn't know how to do her job.

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Email AND write letters.

http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/contact.htm

What about contacting the sponsors?

http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/sponsors/index.htm

I would write about it on Yelp, too. Can't hurt.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/american-airlines-theatre-new-york

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Updated On: 1/13/08 at 04:53 PM

Did you get the woman's name? If you didn't, there's a slight problem. See, the house manager of the AA theater is male, so saying "she, the house manager, told me such&such" will obviously pose a credibility issue.

Generally, I've had a multitude of pleasant exchanges with the staff at the AA, so this is most surprising. In fact, I moved from my seat into one of the empty (and partial view) boxes and they were more than happy to accomodate.

I do believe the actors are mic'd, but I could be wrong. In any case, good luck to you. I would have marched to the box office immediately to ask for a refund.

Male or Female -they will have more than one duty manager.

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Take someone with you. This is such a no no these days. Good luck and dont be scared x

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Yes, definitely write a letter and don't mince any words in it. I'm getting a little tired of Roundabout's policies about a lot of things, including their overly-agreessive telephone marketing, which I deplore and have told them in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS to stop and they STILL keep bothering me. A fellow theatre-goer had had a bad experience with them (re: their DREADFUL production of Threepenny Opera). They "apologized" by offering him a free show if he subscribed to their full season, which hadn't even been announced. Totally deplorable, IMO.

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Speaking of their "overly-agressive" telephone marketing: A couple of weeks ago, both my home phone and cell phone rang non-stop. (My caller ID informed me that it was from Roundabout). Whenever I answered there was no one on the other line.

This went on for over 6 hours. I turned the phones off early on, but each time I turned them back on the phone started up again!

Fix your computers ROUNDABOUT, and STOP CALLING ME!!!

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Im back in NY in 2 weeks i'll go with you!

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What a shame! You really need to report this.

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If you do go to speak to someone in person bring someone with you as a way to have someone on your side.

Right, and it'd be good to have someone to calm things down just in case things get out of hand, tempers flare, etc. On either side.

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Ok... once a few of you chimed in about their telemarketing, I HAD to post !!! They are SOOOOO annoying !

Last year, I received a call from a woman (she calls all the time) from Roundabout, after I saw "110 In The Shade"-

She starts talking to me about Audra McDonald, and I mentioned that I was a big fan, and I hoped that she would win the Tony Award, but that most likely Christine Ebersole would win.

Her reply? "Who is that?"

A few weeks ago, the same person called, and I rushed her off the phone.

The other night, I receive a call from Roundabout (after I had told them the previous three times to stop calling me) from a gentleman.

As soon as I pick up he says "So, how did you like the "Ritz?"

I replied "I didnt see it"

He says, "You didnt see it??!!!- did you sell your ticket?"

With that, I just hung up.