Wicked Lottery

[Allen S Bishop]

Posted: 9/12/18 at 9:54am

What's the in-person lottery looking like these days?  My son wants to try on our upcoming trip in October.  I figure if we don't win we could just head over to TKTS and pick up TPTGW or something else he will surely like.

I won 10ish years ago when I was in Chicago for a business trip.  I was by myself and just happened upon the theatre and walked in to inquire about a ticket for that night and they were 5 minutes away from the drawing so I entered.  Maybe 75 people there, drew 10 names.  Front row, dead center.  I even talked with the conductor before the show and during intermission.  Pretty cool experience

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/12/18 at 10:10am

It can still attract a large crowd. It's not unusual to see 50+ entrants.However, be forewarned. The lottery seats for the Broadway production are in the rear orchestra. I personally don't think they are very good seats.

[greenifyme2]

Posted: 9/12/18 at 10:42am

I disagree, I sat in the rear orch on a lottery win and thought it was fantastic for the price. The back of the orch is stadium seating so it was a completely clear view of the stage, albeit a bit far. I’ve sat in some bad lottery seats and this was not one of them.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 9/12/18 at 11:01am

I did the lottery for a Saturday matinee in August. I'd say there were maybe 50 people there? More people seemed to win than lose. They offered single (no pairs) $69 partial view seats for losers though. 

Partial view seat was fine, and having won the lottery in the past, so is the rear orchestra.

[NYC Cheapo]

Posted: 9/12/18 at 7:04pm

How recently did you enter the lottery for Wicked?  I'm wondering if post-Labor Day things get easier?  Is there a "slow season" for Broadway shows, where it is easier to win an in-person lottery?

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/13/18 at 12:50am

Winter after the new year was the only time Wicked had a special deal for cast members to invite friends to attend with a special code to mention at the box office before showtime, so I guess that is their slow season.

But I doubt there is any season where people don't want to see Wicked for cheap.

I'd go sooner, since you can also enter the Once On This Island lottery 30 minutes later if you lose at Wicked, and also see a better show in the process.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 9/13/18 at 3:38am

Good luck with the Broadway lottery! I’ve seen Wicked on tour four times, but never on Broadway. Twice the first time it toured through Tulsa in 2009. Then twice again last week on the same day! I had a paid ticket for the Thursday matinee and loved it to so much I entered the lottery for the evening performance! And I’m driving to Tulsa again tomorrow (I live in OKC) to hopefully win the lottery for the evening performance and if I don’t win, I’m just going to buy the best front Orchestra seat available (I do have a discount code). So I guess you’d say I like the show quite a bit lol (it’s probably my second favorite after Hamilton). So tastes are individual. I personally think Wicked is 100x better than OOTI, but I know others feel differently. I do think I need to finally see Wicked on Broadway soon.

Updated On: 9/13/18 at 03:38 AM

[Dkinny23]

Posted: 4/26/19 at 11:14am

Was wondering how the in person lottery has been lately. Considering going tomorrow for either of the two Saturday shows. How many people are typically there? Also do they have regular rush, if so how much are the ticket prices? I've seen wicked a few times and do not feel like spending the $69 for student rush or for their "lottery loser partial-view" seats.

[alex814]

Posted: 4/26/19 at 7:18pm

Dkinny23 said: "Was wondering how the in person lottery has been lately. Considering going tomorrow for either of the two Saturday shows. How many people are typically there? Also do they have regular rush, if so how much are the ticket prices? I've seen wicked a few times and do not feel like spending the $69 for student rush or for their "lottery loser partial-view" seats."

I just played tonight (Friday 4/26). I counted about 86 people just minutes before names were pulled. I’m not sure if it’s always the same but the guy said 26 tickets would be given away. I didn’t win but we were offered $69 loser tickets. Our seats are Orchestra S, 27 and 29. Not marked partial view. I asked the guy before he sold them to me. Your mileage may vary depending on how sold the performance is.

I don’t think Wicked has, or has ever had, a rush policy in NYC. The $69 tickets sound like your best (and cheapest) bet if you don’t win.

[Dkinny23]

Posted: 4/26/19 at 8:07pm

 

 

alex814 said: "Dkinny23 said: "Was wondering how the in person lottery has been lately. Considering going tomorrow for either of the two Saturday shows. How many people are typically there? Also do they have regular rush, if so how much are the ticket prices? I've seen wicked a few times and do not feel like spending the $69 for student rush or for their "lottery loser partial-view" seats."

I just played tonight (Friday 4/26). I counted about 86 people just minutes before names were pulled. I’m not sure if it’s always the same but the guy said 26 tickets would be given away. I didn’t win but we were offered $69 loser tickets. Our seats are Orchestra S, 27 and 29. Not marked partial view. I asked the guy before he sold them to me. Your mileage may vary depending on how sold the performance is.

I don’t think Wicked has, or has ever had, a rush policy in NYC. The $69 tickets soundlike your best (and cheapest)bet if you don’t win."

Thanks so much for the reply! Wow 86! Definitely wouldn’t have thought that many for a show that’s been on for long. Good to know though, I’ll see how it goes tomorrow. Congrats on getting tickets for tonight, hope you enjoy it!

[alex814]

Posted: 4/27/19 at 11:08am

Dkinny23 said: "Thanks so much for the reply! Wow 86! Definitely wouldn’t have thought that many for a show that’s been on for long. Good to know though, I’ll see how it goes tomorrow. Congrats on getting tickets for tonight, hope you enjoy it!"

I haven’t played the Wicked lotto a lot but from what I’ve read around online, it’s busy often! It still appeals to the family-oriented and tourist crowds so I guess that could explain it.

The show was fantastic and our seats were really good especially for the price. Please let us know how you fare at the lotto. Fingers crossed for you!

[Dkinny23]

Posted: 4/27/19 at 11:51am

alex814 said: "Dkinny23 said: "Thanks so much for the reply! Wow 86! Definitely wouldn’t have thought that many for a show that’s been on for long. Good to know though, I’ll see how it goes tomorrow. Congrats on getting tickets for tonight, hope you enjoy it!"

I haven’t played the Wicked lotto a lot but from what I’ve read around online, it’s busy often! It still appeals to the family-oriented and tourist crowds so I guess that could explain it.

The show was fantastic and our seats were really good especially for the price. Please let us know how you fare at the lotto. Fingers crossed for you!"

Good to know the seats are pretty good! And yea that makes sense with tourists/families. Didn’t end up doing it today - got tickets for another show. But I’ll update once I try it out!

 

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 4/27/19 at 11:56am

And this is the last in-person lottery on Broadway right now, right? I'm thankful for online lotteries, but damn I wish some other shows were still doing in-person ones too, seems like a lot of fun

[JuneJune]

Posted: 4/27/19 at 12:08pm

DoTheDood said: "And this is the last in-person lottery on Broadway right now, right?"

I know Beetlejuice was doing it every Tuesday during previews, but they stopped.

 

What time does Wicked start taking names? (on any given day)

Website says 2.5 hours to curtain, but I've also had people telling me they take names at 4:00 and pick at 5:30

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 4/27/19 at 12:20pm

According to Playbill:

WICKED (Gershwin Theatre - 222 W. 51st St. between Broadway and 8th Ave.)
In-Person Lottery
Price: $30
How: Submit a written form into the bucket for an in-person drawing.
Where: Outside the main entrance at the Gershwin Theatre
Time: Lottery opens two-and-a-half hours before curtain time, closes two hours before curtain time
Payment Method: Cash only
ID: Photo ID
Tickets Per Person: Limit 2
Seating Locations: Orchestra
Number of Tickets Available: 26
Special Policies: Limit one entry per person per performance. Winners must be present at time of drawing.

Student Tickets
Price: $69
How: Discounted tickets for students available in advance at select performances at certain times of the year.
Where: Gershwin Theatre box-office
Time: Available dates listed at wickedthemusical.com
Payment Method: Cash or Credit Card
ID: Valid student ID
Tickets Per Person: Limit 2
Seating Locations: Determined at the discretion of the box office
Number of Tickets Available: Subject to availability.
Special Policies: Currently available through April 14. See website for details.

Military Tickets
Price: $79
How: Discounted tickets for active military available in advance at select performances at certain times of the year.
Where: Gershwin Theatre box-office or through www.GovX.com.
Time: Available dates listed at wickedthemusical.com
Payment Method: Cash or Credit Card
ID: Valid military ID
Tickets Per Person: Limit 2
Seating Locations: Determined at the discretion of the box office
Number of Tickets Available: Subject to availability.
Special Policies: Currently available through April 14. See website for details.

[alex814]

Posted: 4/27/19 at 12:39pm

DoTheDood said: "And this is the last in-person lottery on Broadway right now, right? I'm thankful for online lotteries, but damn I wish some other shows were still doing in-person ones too, seems like a lot of fun"

Fun but nerve wracking sometimes, haha. But they can be miserable during the cold winter months. I hope that other shows can offer lotto again soon.

Posted: 5/3/19 at 4:33pm

Does anybody know what is the lotto like for the Wednesday matinee? Thanks!