"The Seagull" (2001) - Any experiences waiting for tickets?

[Yessica Haircut]

Posted: 8/6/21 at 4:21pm

As part of research for a play I am writing, I decided to reach out and ask this forum: Did anyone here wait in the line for the Public Theatre’s star-studded 2001 production of The Seagull?

I was only 8 when the production was staged, so I wasn’t really following the theatre scene at that time. It’s been pretty well-documented that this production was in high demand; with people often waiting up to 15 hours for a chance at getting a ticket or two, this and The Producers seemed to be the hottest ticket in town. I’ve found some information about waiting for tickets, ranging from a personal blog, to a Theatremania article, to two different articles about a dead body being discovered near the line at some point. I also recently got to experience the production for myself via the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (I enjoyed it). But if anyone reading this got to experience the line for themselves, would you be willing to share your experience?

Bear in mind, I am asking specifically about the experience of waiting in the line. The most important things I would like to know: 1) What time did you arrive at the line? 2) Roughly how long did you wait did for tickets? Of course any other small details are welcome (How did you pass the time? What was the day like?); it’s really the aesthetic that I’m trying to capture.

Any and all stories are welcome and much appreciated.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/6/21 at 4:38pm

Man, what I wouldn't give to have seen that production in person. What a ridiculous cast. I've read through that cast list so many times over the years, and every time I do, it's like 9 waves of "holy sh*t!" hitting me one after the other. Not to mention Nichols directing. Totally unreal. Sorry I don't have anything to contribute to your research (unless you wanted to hear my story of waiting 13 hours for tickets to Into the Woods in 2012) - just couldn't resist reminiscing about what might have been if I had been born earlier and living in NY. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/6/21 at 5:24pm

I know that I waited for 16 hours for “Mother Courage” and thinking “at least this is shorter than I waited for ‘The Seagull’”, but i don’t remember exactly how long it was…

[NJGUY]

Posted: 8/7/21 at 12:17pm

I read in some fine print that on one day only they would be handing out tickets in West Harlem.  I grabbed a colleague from the office-called our respective wives to tell them to be on alert and that were were getting four tickets (it was a Friday before work at home Fridays were a thing) scooted uptown on the subway and got on line at about 11:45 (ticket distributions started at 12 noon).  At about 12:10, when we got to the front of the line the lovely Delacorte employee said " 145, 146, 147 and 148".  The one person behind us got 149 and 150 as their numbered tickets.  And that was it, as by then the line had scores of people and they told everyone sorry and to try again/go home.

As for being witness to this play.  I have probably seen 2,500-3,000 professionals stage productions and without a doubt, I put this production of The Seagull in my Top Ten EVER.  I still remember Meryl Streep's cartwheel like it was yesterday! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/7/21 at 12:24pm

Meryl Streep doing a cartwheel
https://youtu.be/dGiYbJqRePs
 

 

[cmorrow]

Posted: 8/7/21 at 12:30pm

I saw that production -- and loved it! -- but I was able to get a ticket in advance, and didn't have to wait in line. Sorry I can't help you with that part of your research, but I do recall something kind of amusing about that evening.

In addition to the star-studded cast on stage, there were stars in the audience the night I went: Uma Thurman & Ethan Hawke come to mind, but there were others. In front of the Delacorte, before the show started, I was chatting with a friend when we heard a commotion. Macaulay Culkin had just arrived, and this caused a big stir. He walked through the crowd waving, flashbulbs popped, etc. And in all the hub-bub, no one seemed to notice the tall, middle-aged man who walked along quietly, head down, a few yards behind him. That's how Robert DeNiro slipped in without being noticed.

[NJGUY]

Posted: 8/7/21 at 12:43pm

Thank you for the cartwheel link.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/7/21 at 5:10pm

And in all the hub-bub, no one seemed to notice the tall, middle-aged man who walked along quietly, head down, a few yards behind him. That's how Robert DeNiro slipped in without being noticed.

Tall?!  He’s 5’9”.  We go to the same coffee spot in Tribeca.  I chat with him at least twice a week.  He’s my height or a tad shorter - I’m 5’9”. 

[cmorrow]

Posted: 8/7/21 at 6:33pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "And in all the hub-bub, no one seemed to notice the tall, middle-aged man who walked along quietly, head down, a few yards behind him. That's how Robert DeNiro slipped in without being noticed.

Tall?! He’s 5’9”. We go to the same coffee spot in Tribeca. I chat with him at least twice a week. He’s my height or a tad shorter - I’m 5’9”."

Well, he was taller than Macaulay Culkin. And much cooler.

[Tom-497]

Posted: 8/8/21 at 12:36am

I flew in from Los Angeles with the sole intention of getting in line for tickets to this production. I didn't have a hotel or any other plans. It was quite late at night, and I went straight from the airport to the Public (where they were also giving out tickets). The guy in front of me was an actor named Andy, who was, as I recall, getting ready to appear in a production of Last Train to Nibroc. At some point, some loud young women drove by and shouted something critical at us line-waiters, and Andy shouted back, by way of insult, "Jersey girls!"

Eventually, someone from the Public came by and told us (and others near the end of the line) that we wouldn't be getting tickets and might as well leave. Knowing that I had no place to go, Andy very kindly invited me to sleep on his couch. The next morning, he headed off somewhere, and I went to stand in line in Central Park -- where I somehow ended up with three tickets.

I, of course, invited Andy to the show that night. He suggested that we give the extra ticket to an attractive woman waiting in the long standby line before the show. I said I'd feel more comfortable just giving it to one of the Public workers handing out tickets. I did so, and she thanked me. But Andy correctly noted that those waiting in line looked like they wanted to kill us, thinking we were trying to cut in front. 

After all that effort, I thought the production was just OK. (Andy apparently loved it, having already seen it four times, if I remember).