I can't believe I forgot to include this experience in the last post. My excuse is: I have no pictures of it to show you. But still . . .
My Chicago-dwelling daughter had learned that if there's a (live) theater show you want to go see, but you don't want so spend hundreds of dollars for a good seat, there's a secret!!
The box office opens at 10:00 am sharp. If you happen to be one of the first ten people in line on the day of the performance, you can buy seats in the orchestra, FRONT ROW, CENTER, for $25 each! These seats would normally cost you $250.00 each! (Shhhh! You have to ask for "rush tickets.")
They don't sneer at you, or laugh at you. They smile and ask how many you want.
We got to the box office well before 10:00 am, but there were 14 people already in line. As I'm experiencing an instant a sinking feeling that we'd blown it, daughter pipes up with, "Don't worry. Some of these people probably are just here to buy regular tickets, or tickets for another day's performance. Very few people know about these "rush tickets."
We went to see "Jersey Boys," a superb musical telling the story of Franky Valli and the Four Seasons.
The cast was fantastic, and they performed all of the old Four Seasons' hits:
Sherry
Big Girls Don't Cry
C'mon Marianne
Dawn (Go Away)
Rag Doll
Workin' My Way Back to You
Can't take My Eyes Off of You
Stay
Big Girls Don't Cry
C'mon Marianne
Dawn (Go Away)
Rag Doll
Workin' My Way Back to You
Can't take My Eyes Off of You
Stay
And lots more! I knew and could sing along with every one of them.
But let me tell you about the seats. Have you ever been front row center in a Broadway-type show? I never had!
The only downside was that the stage was about a foot higher than our heads, so when the action moved back towards the rear we had to hike ourselves up some to see it. But most of the action was near the front.
And WHEN the action was near the front it was right on top of us! I could have (literally) reached up and touched the shoes of the performers when they stood on the edge of the stage. Which they did frequently when they sang.
It was a thrilling, unique experience (unless you've got LOTS of money to spend at the theater), and one I won't soon forget.
So . . . Next time you're in Chicago and have time to take in a show, remember about "rush tickets."
It could save you a bundle, and provide you with a really exciting theater experience.
6 comments:
OOOOOOOOOOO!
I LOVED Jersey Boys... front row, center, of course!!!
Wicked was AWESOME, too. Front row, center, of course.
The conductor's head was in my way just a tad, but it's a small price to pay, I'd say! He turned around and talked to us before and after the show, and during intermission.
Those are two nights I'll never forget.
My daughter saw that on Broadway and said it was great! She knows how to get cheaper tickets there - but I don't think they call them "rush".
I was front row center to see Baryshnakov on my birthday about 12 years ago, and I wish we had been back further. It was hard to see all of the dancing so close to the stage. I learned my lesson with that one!
Unfortunately (for me) I have never been front row center for anything. Sounds like a great experience! I hear "Jersey Boys" was really good.
Wow! Great seats, John.
I've heard nothing but rave reviews about "Jersey Boys."
By the way, I want to thank you for ingratiating yourself upon me by noticing my egregious error on my post. I'm sure you know that the word I wanted and should have used was: "infuriates."
For the record, I appreciate being corrected on such obvious mistakes.
It's sounds like you had a wonderful time with your daughter.
There's nothing like being up close and personal for live theater. When I was training in New York for 3 months for my job, I went to see 13 Broadway shows. We were so close we were spit on and had sweat flung on us by John Lithgow in M Butterfly.
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