Broadway Rush and Standing Room Only Policies

By Matthew Blank
October 4, 2008

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.


13, a New Musical
Student Rush: $25.00- available at the box office on the day of the performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability. Limit 2 per valid ID.

Standing Room: $21.50 - available at the box office only on the day of the performance. Only available when the performance is sold out.

The 39 Steps
Student Rush: $26.50- available at the box office beginning two hours prior to performance. Subject to availability. Limit 2 per valid ID.  Cash only. 39 tickets priced at $39 are available for each performance and may be purchased in advance subject to availability.  Visit the show site for more info. 

All My Sons
Student Rush: $26.50 - available on the day of the performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability.  Limit 1 per valid ID.

Standing Room: $26.50 - available at the box office only on the day of the performance. Only available when the performance is sold out.

 
August: Osage County
Student Rush: $29.50 - available on the day of the performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability.  Limit 1 per valid ID.  Cash only.

Standing Room: $29.50 - available at the box office only on the day of the performance. Only available when the performance is sold out. Cash only.
 

Avenue Q
Lottery Rush: 12 tickets will be sold at $21.25 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.

 
Boeing-Boeing
Box Seat Rush: May be sold for $20 on day of performance when the box office opens.  Subject to availability and discretion of management.

Tickets in the last 3 rows of the balcony (rows E-G) are priced regularly at $36.50 for all performances.
  

Chicago
General Rush: $26.25 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: $21.25, available at the box office, day of performance, only when the performance is sold out.    

Gypsy
Student Rush: $27.00 - 10 tickets in the front row sold on the day of the performance when the box office opens.  Once these tickets are sold, box office may continue to sell student tickets in various partial-view sections of the theatre at management's discretion.  On 2-show days, both performances are sold at the start of the day. Limit two per valid ID.

Standing Room: $27.00 - may be available at the box office on the day of the performance - only when the performance is sold out.

This production accepts credit cards for the above discounted tickets.
 

Hairspray
Lottery Rush: 25 tickets will be sold for each performance at $25 each for seats in the first row of the orchestra. Each person may enter only one name into the lottery. The individual whose name has been entered must be present to purchase tickets (2 tickets per person; cash only; photo ID required).

Standing Room: When the show is sold out, a limited number of standing room tickets are available at the box office for $20. Limit 2 tickets per person.
 

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-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
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.
 

Legally Blonde
Student Rush: $26.50 - available on the day of the performance when the box office opens. Approximately 24 seats available for each performance. Limit 2 per valid ID. Student IDs checked both at time of purchase and when you enter the theatre.  Only available to college/university students.

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.

A Man For All Seasons
General Rush: $21.25 - limited number of tickets sold on the day of the performance when the box office opens. Subject to availability. Limit 2 per person.

Mary Poppins
Standing Room: $20 - available at the box office only on the day of the performance - only available when the performance is sold out. There are 16 standing room positions. Credit cards accepted.


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. 
 

Spamalot
Standing Room: $21.50 at the box office only on the day of the performance. Tuesday through Sunday performances. Limit 2 per person.
 

Speed-the-Plow
Student Rush: $26.50 - available at the box office beginning two hours prior to performance.  Subject to availability.  Limit 2 tickets 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.  

 
Spring Awakening
Student Rush: $27.00 - available on the day of the performance when the box office opens. Limit 2 per valid ID. Subject to availability. Cash only.

Online General Rush: $40.00 - orchestra and front mezzanine tickets available via same-day online rush.  Sign up between 12am and 3pm (2pm on Tuesdays) on day of performance at Spring Awakening Digital Rush Signup.  Discount code will be sent via text message by 4pm (3pm on Tuesdays).  Code must then be redeemed for discounted tickets by visiting Digital Rush Confirmation & Purchase before 6pm (5pm on Tuesdays).  Code only valid for redemption on the same day as sign up, and tickets are released on a first come, first served basis.  NOTE: Availability and allotment varies daily, and receiving the code is not a guarantee that tickets will be available.  Purchases must be made online.

Standing Room: $27 - available at the box office when the performance is sold out. There are approximately 20 standing room positions.

Onstage Seating: $40 - 26 bleacher seats located on the stage offer a rear/side view. These tickets may be purchased through Telecharge or at the box office.  

 
A Tale of Two Cities
Student Rush: $27 - sold on the day of performance when the box office opens, to those with valid student ID.  Subject to availability. Limit 2 tickets per ID. 
 

To Be or Not to Be
Student Rush: $26.50 - available on the day of the performance when the box office opens. Must show photo ID verifying current enrollment in a degree or diploma program. Limit 2 per valid ID. Subject to availability. Credit cards accepted.

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.

Young Frankenstein
Lottery Rush: $26.50 - a set number of front-row seats for each performance, sold via a lottery system. Entries may be submitted at the box office starting 3 hours prior to performance, for 45 minutes. Limit 1 entry per person per day and limit 2 tickets per entry. Lottery takes place 2 hours before curtain at the McDonald's on 220 West 42nd Street (directly across the street from the Hilton Theatre.) Lottery winners must be present at the McDonald's drawing and may then purchase the seats at the Hilton box office beginning 90 minutes before curtain time. Cash only. Winners must show photo ID for name verification both at the drawing and at the Hilton box office when purchasing tickets.
 

[title of show]
Lottery Rush: $26.50 - 18 tickets for each performance, sold via a lottery system.  Entries are accepted beginning 90 minutes prior to performance, and the drawing takes place 1 hour before curtain.  Winners must present photo ID.  Seats are located in the first two rows of the orchestra.  Limit two tickets per winner.

Tickets in the last two rows of the balcony (rows F-G) are regularly priced at $26.50 Sunday through Friday and $36.50 on Saturday.