Broadway Rush and Standing Room Only Policies
By Matthew Blank
01 Nov 2009
To make tickets more affordable to students and other theatregoers on a budget, many Broadway shows have implemented rush, lottery, and standing-room-only (SRO) policies. Anyone willing to wake up and get to the box office early, spend some time in a line, or stand during the show, can get greatly discounted tickets to the majority of shows on Broadway.
It all started with Rent, which, at the peak of its popularity, sold all seats in the first two rows of the orchestra for $20 to whomever would get to the box office in time on the day of the performance. Naturally, students embraced the opportunity and lines formed at dawn. Since then, Broadway has offered rush and SRO tickets to encourage an enthusiastic theatre community.
Rush and SRO tickets are sold on the day of the performance, usually as soon as the box office opens, unless otherwise specified. Many policies are restricted to students and require valid student IDs. Seat location varies with different shows, from front row to rear mezzanine. A wait in line is usually inevitable. For more popular shows, it's reasonable to anticipate a wait spanning a couple of hours. Also note that many box offices only accept cash for rush and SRO tickets.
Standing-room patrons must stand in numbered spaces that are the width of a regular seat. They are usually located at the back of the orchestra. SRO tickets are trickier to get because they are generally only available if the show is sold out. There's no definite way to predict in advance whether a performance will sell out, although shows that sell out often include Wicked, Mamma Mia!, The Lion King and Jersey Boys. Unless otherwise specified, one SRO ticket is sold per person.
Here are the rush and SRO policies of different Broadway shows. Also included are shows offering low-priced regular tickets.
All Student Rush ticket purchases require a valid and current student ID. All Lottery Rush ticket purchases require a photo ID. Broadway box offices typically open at 10 AM (12 noon on Sundays) and close between 8:15 and 8:30 PM.
Note: This feature is updated frequently, but policies are subject to change without notice. Please email mblank@playbill.com regarding any information that is no longer accurate.
The 39 Steps
Student Rush: $26.50 - available at the box office beginning two hours prior to performance. Subject to availability. Limit 2 tickets per valid ID. Cash Only.
39 select orchestra and mezzanine tickets to each performance are sold for $39. May be purchased in advance. Visit The 39 Steps for further information.
After Miss Julie
General Rush: $26.50 - limited number of tickets sold on the day of the performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability. Limit 2 per person.
Student Rush: Limited number of half-price seats sold at half hour before curtain. Subject to availability. Limit 1 per valid ID.
Hiptix: $21.50 - Roundabout's Hiptix program allows registered patrons between ages 18 and 35 to purchase 1 pair of tickets per production at this price. Free registration is required. Ticket may be purchased in advance as availability dictates. All IDs checked when entering theatre. Info at: http://hiptix.com/
This production accepts credit cards for the above discounted tickets.
Billy Elliot
Student Rush: $41.50 (for tickets regularly priced at $80) - available at the box office two hours prior to performance. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurday performances only. Subject to availability. Limit 2 per valid ID. Availability may be extremely limited during peak (summer and holiday) months.
Tickets in Rear Mezzanine rows G-J are priced at $41.50 for all performances. Tickets in the side sections of Rear Mezzanine rows D-F are priced at $41.50 for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances. These tickets may be purchased through Telecharge or at the box office.
Burn the Floor
Student Rush: $26.50 - sold on the day of performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability. Only available to current students. Limit 2 tickets per valid ID. Credit cards accepted.
Bye Bye Birdie
General Rush: $26.50 - limited number of tickets sold on the day of the performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability. Limit 2 per person.
Student Rush: Limited number of half-price seats sold at half hour before curtain. Subject to availability. Limit 1 per valid ID.
Hiptix: $21.50 - Roundabout's Hiptix program allows registered patrons between ages 18 and 35 to purchase 1 pair of tickets per production at this price. Free registration is required. Ticket may be purchased in advance as availability dictates. All IDs checked when entering theatre. Info at: http://hiptix.com/
This production accepts credit cards for the above discounted tickets.
Chicago
General Rush: $31.50 - tickets available at the box office only, when the box office opens. Limit 2 per customer. Not available for Saturday evenings. Subject to availability.
Standing Room: $26.50 - available at the box office, day of performance, only when the performance is sold out.
Fela!
Preview General Rush (available thru Nov. 23): $27 - tickets available at box office two hours prior to performance. Subject to availability and number may vary. Limit 2 tickets per person.
Finian's Rainbow
Student Rush: $27 - tickets available to current students on day of performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability and number may vary. Limit 2 tickets per valid ID. Cash only.
God of Carnage
Standing Room: $26.50 - approximately 20 tickets sold at the box office beginning two hours prior to curtain. Only available when performance is sold out.
Hair
"Be-In Box" Ticket Lottery: $25 - a limited number of box seat tickets sold via lottery system. Entries accepted at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre box office beginning two and half hours prior to each performance. Names will be drawn at random two hours prior to curtain time. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person, and two tickets per winner. Cash only. Seats may be partial view.
Standing Room: $25 - available at the box office only on the day of the performance. Only available when the performance is sold out.
Hamlet
Student Rush: $35 - a limited number of student tickets will be sold on the day of performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability and number may vary. Limit 1 ticket per valid ID.
NOTE: $25 Rear Mezzanine tickets are completely sold out for the run of the show.
In the Heights
Lottery Rush: $26.50 - a set number of front-row seats for each performance, sold via a lottery system. Each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to purchase on a card that is provided. Only one card is allowed per person. Cards are checked for duplication prior to the performance. For Tues 7pm performances, cards are available at 4:30pm for a 5:00pm drawing. For Wed-Sat 8:00pm performances, cards are available at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm drawing. For Wednesday and Saturday matinee performances, cards are available at 11:30am for a 12:00pm drawing. For Sunday matinee performances, cards are available at 12:00pm for a 12:30pm drawing. For Sunday 7:00pm performances, cards are available at 5:00pm for a 5:30pm drawing.
Standing Room: $21.50 - available at the box office only when the performance is sold out.
Tickets in the last three rows of the Rear Mezzanine (Rows F-H) are regularly priced at $41.50 for all performances. These tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the box office.
In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)
Student Rush: $21.50 - available at the box office beginning two hours prior to a performance. Limit 1 ticket per valid ID. Subject to availability and disretion of management.
Jersey Boys
Mobile Student Lottery (SUSPENDED THRU JAN. 5, 2010): $27 - students may enter via mobile text messaging and email for the chance to purchase a limited number of discount-priced tickets. Only available for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances. Entries are accepted via text message (text STUDENT to 38568) or online up to three hours prior to performance. Winners are notified via text message or email 1 hour after close of entry hours, two hours prior to performance, and are given a half-hour window in which to purchase tickets at the box office. Winners must present winning text/email and a valid student ID. Subject to availability. Cash only. Visit Jersey Boys for full info and entry hours.
Standing Room: $27 - available at the box office only two hours prior to the performance. Limit 1 ticket per person. Only available when the performance is sold out. Cash only.
Mamma Mia!
Standing Room: $21.25 - available at the box office on the day of the performance only if the performance is sold out. Goes on sale two hours prior to curtain. Limit is 2 per person.
Mary Poppins
Student Rush: $30 - sold on the day of performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability. Only available to college/university students. Limit 1 ticket per valid ID.
Memphis
Student Rush: $26.50 - limited number of tickets available day of performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability. Limit 2 tickets per valid ID.
Next to Normal
Lottery Rush: Beginning 2 hours before each performance, patrons may enter a lottery drawing to purchase a limited number of $25.00 tickets to that day's performance. Names will be drawn at random. Names are drawn 90 minutes prior to the performance. There is a limit of two tickets per person and winners must be present with valid identification at the time of the drawing.
Tickets in the last row of the Mezzanine are regularly priced at $36.50. These tickets may be purchased through Telecharge or at the box office.
Oleanna
Student Rush: $25 - may be available on day of performance when box office opens. Subject to availability. Limit 2 tickets per valid ID. Cash only.
The Phantom of the Opera
Standing Room: There are $26.25 tickets available at the box office only, only when the performance is sold out. There are only 28 standing room positions.
Tickets in the last two rows of the Rear Mezzanine are priced at $26.25 for Monday through Thursday performances. These tickets may be purchased through Telecharge or at the box office.
Ragtime
Lottery Rush: $26.50 - two hours prior to each performance, patrons will be invited to enter a lottery drawing at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street) for a limited number of lottery tickets to that day's performance. Names will be drawn at random ninety minutes prior to curtain. Limit 2 tickets per winning entry. Winners must be present with valid identification at the time of the drawing to purchase their tickets. Cash only.
Rock of Ages
Lottery Rush: $26.50 - each performance day a limited number of tickets will be available via lottery. For 8 PM shows: signup at 6 PM, lottery held at 6:30, ticket pickup at 6:45. For 7 PM shows: signup at 5 PM, lottery held at 5:30, ticket pickup at 5:45. For 2 PM matinees: signup at 12 noon, lottery held at 12:30, ticket pickup at 12:45.
Student Rush: $36.50 - sold on day of performance two hours prior to curtain, immediately after lottery tickets are distributed. Subject to availability. Limit 2 per valid student ID. Cash only. Seats are side orchestra or mezzanine with partial view. Not available Friday or Saturday evening.
Shrek
Lottery Rush: $26.50 - 16 tickets per performance, sold via a lottery system. Each day, two hours prior to show time (12 PM for 2 PM matinees; 1 PM for 3 PM matinees; 5 PM for 7 PM performances; 6 PM for 8 PM performances), people who present themselves at the Broadway Theatre box office will have their names placed in a raffle drum. Thirty minutes later, names will be drawn at random. Winners must be present in order to win and this lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of 2 tickets per person. Winners must provide photo ID at the time of purchase. Only one entry is allowed per person.
Student Rush: $36.50 - available at the box office on the day of performance. Subject to availability. Limit 1 ticket per valid ID. Cash only.
Tickets in the last two rows of the Rear Mezzanine (Q-R) are priced at $41.50 for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances. These tickets may be purchased through Telecharge or at the box office.
South Pacific
Student Rush: $20.00 - available at the box office beginning two hours prior to a performance. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances only. Only available to college/university students. Limit 1 per valid ID. Subject to availability. Credit cards accepted.
A Steady Rain
Student Rush: $31.50 - available at the box office on day of performance beginning when the box office opens. Upon payment, the student will be issued a receipt, NOT the actual tickets. 30 minutes before showtime, the student must return and present both the receipt and his/her student ID again in order to collect the tickets. There are no refunds for tickets not collected by showtime. Subject to availability and discretion of management. Only available to current students. Limit 2 tickets per valid ID.
Standing Room: $31.50 - available at the box office, day of performance, only when the performance is sold out.
Superior Donuts
Student Rush: $29.50 - available at the box office on day of performance beginning when the box office opens. Subject to availability and discretion of management. Only available to current students. Limit 1 ticket per valid ID. Cash only.
West Side Story
Lottery Rush: $26.50 - limited number of front-row seats sold via lottery system. Entries accepted at box office beginning two and half hours prior to each performance. Names will be drawn at random two hours prior to curtain time. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person, and two tickets per winner. Cash only.
Wicked
Lottery Rush: Each day, two hours prior to show time (11:30 AM for 2 PM matinees; 12:30 PM for 3 PM matinees; 4:30 PM for 7 PM performances; 5:30 PM for 8 PM performances), people who present themselves at the Gershwin Theatre box office will have their names placed in a hat. Thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for 28 front-row seats at $26.50 each. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of 2 tickets per person, cash only. Photo-ID.
Wishful Drinking
General Rush: $26.50 - limited number of tickets sold on the day of the performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability. Limit 2 per person.
Student Rush: Limited number of half-price seats sold at half hour before curtain. Subject to availability. Limit 1 per valid ID.
Hiptix: $21.50 - Roundabout's Hiptix program allows registered patrons between ages 18 and 35 to purchase 1 pair of tickets per production at this price. Free registration is required. Ticket may be purchased in advance as availability dictates. All IDs checked when entering theatre. Info at: http://hiptix.com/
This production accepts credit cards for the above discounted tickets.
Contact Us | Advertise | Privacy Policy
Send questions and comments to the Webmaster
Copyright © 2009 Playbill, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|