by Helen Young

Created on: May 21, 2007   Last Updated: May 22, 2007

With the sky-rocketing prices and limited availability for popular productions, the availability of Rush and Standing Room Only tickets are key for theatre enthusiasts who want to see a Broadway show. Often sold at $20-$36.50 each, these tickets allow decent, sometimes excellent, seats to popular (if not sold-out) shows at a more affordable cost. Both Rush and SRO tickets are only sold the day of the show and are available directly from the box office.

Rush seating requires a little bit of insider-knowledge but can definitely pay off in the end. Only certain shows sell Rush tickets, and these seats go on sale usually 2-3 hours before the performance, usually offering seats at the very front/sides of the orchestra (though the locations really vary from production to production). Rush policies can usually be found on a show's official website and can be one of three types: general rush, student rush, or lottery.
General rush is open to the public and simply requires a photo ID and a cash payment (usually two tickets can be sold per ID). Current Broadway productions such as The Color Purple and Chicago have a General Rush.

Many other shows offer Student Rush, in which one must provide a valid student ID in order to purchase tickets. Most theaters that have Student Rush allow two tickets to be purchased per student ID (though it varies depending on the theater), and both people attending the show do not have to be students. Current shows offering Student Rush include: Jersey Boys, Spring Awakening, and Legally Blonde. When rushing any show, research about the show is key. Depending on the popularity of the production, you may have to wait for a very long time. Jersey Boys, for example, has people often showing up as early as 6:30 in the morning on almost any given day. The best time, in fact, to rush a new show is before the Tonys, as the buzz surrounding a new award winner will often draw a crowd afterward.

Another way to obtain Rush Tickets without having to stand in long lines is through lotteries. Though only select shows offer a lottery, all you have to do is show up during the submission period (which is usually about an hour long), write your name and how many tickets (up to 2) you are requesting on a piece of paper, and put it in a box. 2-3 hours before curtain, they will hold a drawing and the winner (who must be present) is allowed to buy up to two tickets at the box office. The likelihood of winning a lottery depends on the popularity of the production.

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