Broadway Rush and Standing Room Only Policies
By Matthew Blank
30 Jun 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.
9 to 5
Lottery Rush: Two hours prior to each performance, 38 tickets will be sold by lottery at $36.50 per ticket. These tickets must be purchased with cash and there is a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery entries will commence two hours prior to each show with the drawing taking place 90 minutes before curtain time.
Avenue Q
Lottery Rush: 12 tickets will be sold at $21.50 each at a specified time prior to each performance. Tickets are cash only. A card will be provided, on which you will have to print your name and the number of tickets you would like if your name is chosen. Limit of 1 card per person and two tickets per card. The drawings take place as follows: 6 PM for weekday and Saturday evening shows, 12 noon for the Saturday matinee, 12:30 PM for the Sunday matinee, and 5:30 PM for Sunday evening. Cards are available starting 30 minutes prior to each drawing.
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.
Blithe Spirit
Student Rush: 26.50 - available at the box office two hours prior to performance. Subject to availability. Limit 2 per valid ID.
Tickets in the last three rows of the Balcony are regularly priced at $36.50 ($31.50 for Wednesday matinee). These tickets may be purchased through Telecharge or at the box office.
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.
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.
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.
Jersey Boys
Mobile Student Lottery: $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.
The Little Mermaid
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.
Standing Room: $26.50 - available at the box office on the day of the performance only when the show is sold out. There are 12 standing room positions. Credit cards accepted.
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.
Mary Stuart
Student Rush: $29.50 - sold on the day of performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability. Limit 2 tickets per valid ID.
Next to Normal
General Rush: $25 - limited number of rush tickets available on day of performance when the box office opens (10 AM Mon-Sat; 12 noon Sunday). Limit 2 tickets per person.
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.
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.
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.
Shrek
The Duloc Ticket Lottery: $26.50 - 16 tickets per performance, sold via a lottery system. Entries accepted at Shrek's Swamp Shoppe (located on the third floor of M&M's World at 1600 Broadway). Starting at 10:00AM each morning, patrons are invited to enter a lottery drawing to purchase a limited number of rush tickets priced at $26.50 to that day’s performance. Names will be drawn at random for 16 rush tickets at 11:00AM. There will be a limit of two tickets per person and winners must be present with valid identification at the time of the drawing to purchase their tickets. On two show days, both drawings will take place at 10:00AM, but patrons can only enter one drawing.
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.
Waiting for Godot
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. Info at: http://hiptix.com/
This production accepts credit cards for the above discounted tickets.
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.
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