When did rear mezz start costing $100?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/23/15 at 3:17pm

Another "tickets are expensive" post, but seriously, when did this happen? As recently as 3 years ago, they were all $50-$80 max.

I was looking at Finding Neverland tickets and the price difference between orchestra and rear mezzanine is only $50. I'm so bothered by the thought of spending nearly $100 to sit in the last row of the theatre that the extra $50 for an orchestra ticket doesn't seem that bad. It's the same across the board in other theatres- rear mezz tickets are all hovering around the $95-100 mark now.

Has the price gap between the worst seats and the best seats shrunk or is crossing the $100 threshold just making it seem worse than it is?

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/23/15 at 3:19pm

http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/discount-tickets/finding-neverland_306563/

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/23/15 at 3:26pm

However you look at it, it is a joke.

I like the effort of trying to build a new audience. Eventually, it will be too expensive for everyone so that is a wasted effort. This and the weak dollar for tourists will make theater going for this important group less likely to see a show.

There will be more casualties this year than normal.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 3/23/15 at 3:45pm

Regular rear mezz seats are $72 and with a coupon, they are available for $59. I'm no math wiz but no matter how long I stare at them, neither of those numbers looks like $100 or even "nearly $100". With widely available coupon codes, rear mezz seats in the $50-60 range seem available for most other shows opening this spring as well. What am I missing?

[Bwaydide92]

Posted: 3/23/15 at 3:47pm

OrangeSkittles, I think your own post answers the 'why' of your question.

"I'm so bothered by the thought of spending nearly $100 to sit in the last row of the theatre that the extra $50 for an orchestra ticket doesn't seem that bad."

They want to sell out the orchestra first. Get the expensive tickets sold, and if they can't sell the mezz, offer a discount code, so people think they're saving money. And if it does keep selling well they get the money from expensive orchestra and mezz seats. They really can't lose. (Unless nobody buys tickets, but that doesn't seem to be happening. They're already over the 1 mill mark.)

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/23/15 at 6:54pm

FishermanBob, sorry- Finding Neverland calls it "mid-mezz" and they start at $97. Finding Neverland was just an example because I happened to be looking at it, but $97 for anything farther back than front mezz is a very recent phenomenon.

I'm aware discounts are available, but proportionally, it seems like the cheaper tickets have gone up more than the rest of the theatre. Premium orchestra tickets for Book of Mormon are the same price as what they were for The Producers with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. Why aren't those ticket prices going up?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/23/15 at 7:10pm

Be glad they have not

This phenomenon started when balcony seats became rear mezzanine. Sounds like you are getting better seats for more money. You are getting the same crappy seats for a higher price.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 3/23/15 at 8:06pm

Calls what midmezz? You said the last row in the theater. They call that rear mezz and it's $72. You want to be the 400th person to whine about ticket prices, feel free. But the facts on which you base your complaint are inaccurate.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/23/15 at 8:08pm

Orangeskittle, here's a short answer to what you're really asking : Harvey Weinstein.