Walk up rush/SRO shows

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 12/25/19 at 9:16pm

Hi there! Im going to the city next Saturday for an audition. Itll be done about half an hour before matinees start. My sister is home from college and shes going to take me in so we can see a show together. What are some shows that you have been able to walk up to the box office 5-20 mins before curtain and get a rush/standing room ticket. Ive done this with Lightning Thief, but have no interest in seeing that show again. Luckily I paid $42 instead of fave value.
Thanks!

Updated On: 12/25/19 at 09:16 PM

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 12/25/19 at 9:28pm

I imagine Chicago would, if you haven't seen that. I think Slave Play will give a rush ticket to anyone who asks for it (and I'd definitely recommend seeing it!). Possibly Mean Girls though I imagine it'll probably be busier for the holiday weekend. Generally shows at the bottom of the grosses list are a good bet.

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 12/25/19 at 9:32pm

Update: shows we’re thinking of:

Wicked
West Side Story
Book of Mormon
Harry Potter
Evan Hansen
Aladdin
Come From Away

Updated On: 12/25/19 at 09:32 PM

[ccbway]

Posted: 12/25/19 at 9:40pm

Yeah, probably none of those.

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 12/25/19 at 9:42pm

ccbway said: "Yeah, probably none of those."

Lol. We’ll be in the city already so it won’t hurt/be out of the way to just see what the box offices have. Also we’ll be going hard core on lottos that weekend. So rush/SRO will be backup if we don’t win any lottos. 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 12:08am

Just FYI, 5-20 minutes before curtain, the box office of most shows are consumed dealing with will calls and don't even want to be bothered with rushers looking for a cheap last minute ticket. Don't know if that's true for every show but probably the more popular ones which of course are the ones on your list. Is there any reason your sister can't get there muich earlier and buy the tickets for the both of you? Generally, each person can buy 2.

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 12:25am

shouldn't have an issue at Slave Play and Grand Horizons

[chuckydisc]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 8:24am

Broadway Buddy said: "Update: shows we’re thinking of:

Wicked
West Side Story
Book of Mormon
Harry Potter
Evan Hansen
Aladdin
Come From Away"

Um, yeah, keep thinking.

What prevents either of you doing the morning rush lines as normal?

 

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 8:53am

chuckydisc said: "Broadway Buddy said: "Update: shows we’re thinking of:

Wicked
West Side Story
Book of Mormon
Harry Potter
Evan Hansen
Aladdin
Come From Away"

Um, yeah, keep thinking.

What prevents either of you doing the morning rush lines as normal?

We could, I don’t think she’ll be up to it though. She’s definitely not a morning person. Also she’s an a -3 hour time change, but by then she’ll be adjusted to Eastern time. So I guess we could, but right before the show starts we wouldn’t have to get up really early. Also, there are two kinds of ticket windows. Will call, and advanced sale. There’s a reason why there are two. So it doesn’t really matter when we go up.

 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 10:59am

So, you want cheap, rush tickets to some of the most popular, normally sold out or close to it shows and could get there earlier but really don't want to have to be there more than 10-15 minutes before showtime. Good luck! And theaters don't normally consider "advanced sales" to mean "5 minutes from now" but you seem to know more about this than we do so I'm sure you're right.

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 11:16am

UncleCharlie said: "So, you want cheap, rush tickets to some of the most popular, normally sold out or close to it shows and could get there earlier but really don't want to have to be there more than 10-15 minutes before showtime. Good luck! And theaters don't normally consider "advanced sales" to mean "5 minutes from now" but you seem to know more about this than we do so I'm sure you're right."

I’m not saying I’m right. Actually I was just assuming that. But I see everyone’s points. I’ve done it before but it was a show that is selling terribly. I am just trying to gather everyone’s opinions on which shows I can walk up and get a cheap last minute seat for my sister and I. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 11:22am

None of the shows you listed will be available minutes before curtain...for rush.

You want cheap tickets for successful shows, you're going to have to put in the time.

[RainyAgwe]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 11:34am

Broadway Buddy said: "Hi there! Im going to the city nextSaturday for an audition. Itll be done about half an hour before matinees start. My sister is home from college and shes going to take me in so we can see a show together. What are some shows that you have been able to walk up to the box office 5-20 mins before curtain and get a rush/standing room ticket. Ive done this with Lightning Thief, but have no interest in seeing that show again. Luckily I paid $42 instead of fave value.
Thanks!"

So what everyone has said is correct, however what I would personally suggest is have your sister about an hour before the shows check out stubhub. While it’s not exactly the same discount wise as getting a rush ticket this would A. Give you more options of shows and B. Potentially give you a massive discount on good seats (maybe not a 40 dollar ticket, but for Moulin Rouge I’ve seen $400 tickets go for ~$100 right before the show). Hadestown also tends to get into the $50-60 range at that time via Stubhub too!

For the shows you listed in particular... if it HAS to happen at that time right before the show you’ll be cutting down on your potential options. 

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 12:21pm

RainyAgwe said: "Broadway Buddy said: "Hi there! Im going to the city nextSaturday for an audition. Itll be done about half an hour before matinees start. My sister is home from college and shes going to take me in so we can see a show together. What are some shows that you have been able to walk up to the box office 5-20 mins before curtain and get a rush/standing room ticket. Ive done this with Lightning Thief, but have no interest in seeing that show again. Luckily I paid $42 instead of fave value.
Thanks!"

So what everyone has said is correct, however what I would personally suggest is have your sister about an hour before the shows check out stubhub. While it’s not exactly the same discount wise as getting a rush ticket this would A. Give you more options of shows and B. Potentially give you a massive discount on good seats (maybe not a 40 dollar ticket, but for Moulin Rouge I’ve seen $400 tickets go for ~$100 right before the show). Hadestown also tends to get into the $50-60 range at that time via Stubhub too!

For the showsyou listed in particular...if it HAS to happen at that time right before the show you’ll be cutting down on your potential options."

Thank you for the good advice. We like stubhub due to the fact that prices get really low, but but fees are stupidly high. But yeah, that may be our best bet. Or tick pick. That new stubhub but with no fees. 

[Rosette3]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 12:52pm

Broadway Buddy said: "Update: shows we’re thinking of:

Wicked
West Side Story
Book of Mormon
Harry Potter
Evan Hansen
Aladdin
Come From Away"

Unless I'm mistaken, WSS & CFA are the only two shows you listed that even offer rush tickets so your options have reduced significantly without even considering popularity. 

If your sister has her student ID she might be able to get student tickets for Wicked I think it's $59 or $69 for non peaks times i.e. matinees but available dates change often I'd check. 

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 1:00pm

Rosette3 said: f your sister has her student ID she might be able to get student tickets for Wicked I think it's $59 or $69 for non peaks times i.e. matinees but available dates change often I'd check."

Totally forgot about that. Thank you for reminding me. That may be what we will go with. When we were talking about the shows last night, she said she wants to see it again. She saw it for her 10th birthday which was a decade ago. I saw in June and didn’t love it, but I would see it again to spend time with her. She’s across the country, so we never really get to see her.

[Rosette3]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 1:23pm

Broadway Buddy said: "Rosette3 said:f your sister has her student ID she might be able to get student tickets for Wicked I think it's $59 or $69 for non peaks times i.e. matinees but available dates change often I'd check."

Totally forgot about that. Thank you for reminding me. That may be what we will go with. When we were talking about the shows last night, she said she wants to see it again. She saw itfor her 10th birthday which was a decade ago. I sawin June and didn’t love it, but I would see it again to spend time with her. She’s across the country, so we never really get to see her."

On topic of student discounts Ain't Too Proud is another show that advertises $29 student tickets but subject to ticket availability. You also have more discounted tickets options for plays as Roundabount, MTC, Lincoln Center Theater, and 2nd St all have shows with either student and/or age base discount tickets in $30-40 range. 

Last option Broadway Roulette is $59 but little choice in shows you see (hence roulette part, it's a surprise)

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 1:35pm

Another good walk up rush (from what I heard) is the New World Stage shows off-B'way, like The Play That Goes Wrong, Jersey Boys, and maybe Rock of Ages. 

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 1:48pm

DoTheDood said: "Another good walk up rush (from what I heard) is the New World Stage shows off-B'way, likeThe Play That Goes Wrong,Jersey Boys, and maybe Rock of Ages."

Good point! She is known as the queen of fun in our family, so I’m sure she would like the play that goes wrong. And I would love to see it again. I saw it on Broadway and would love to see the new cast as well.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 12/26/19 at 2:07pm

I believe Book of Mormon has SRO starting an hour before the show but not sure if you can get 2 tickets per person or not. I'd check the terms just to be sure.

[chuckydisc]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 3:34am

Rosette3 said: "Broadway Buddy said: "Update: shows we’re thinking of:

Wicked
West Side Story
Book of Mormon
Harry Potter
Evan Hansen
Aladdin
Come From Away"

Unless I'm mistaken, WSS & CFA are the only two shows you listed that even offer rush tickets so your options have reduced significantly without even considering popularity.

If your sister has her student ID she might be able to get student tickets for Wicked I think it's $59 or $69 for non peaks times i.e. matinees but available dates change often I'd check."

In what universe is Saturday during Christmas week not considered "peak"?

 

[alex814]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 12:15pm

The last time I tried (and lost) the Wicked lottery, we were offered $69 lotto loser seats. We were in the Orchestra, full view. It was definitely worth it. But your mileage may vary considering how sold the show is that day.

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 5:05pm

alex814 said: "The last time I tried (and lost) the Wicked lottery, we were offered $69 lotto loser seats. We were in the Orchestra, full view. It was definitely worth it. But your mileage may vary considering how sold the show is that day."

Thank you for telling me. We may do this, but I’ll check the Ticketmaster the day of to see if the lottery would even be worth trying or if it would be a waste of time.