Fools Rush In

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Katherine here--Well my mom sure knows how to give some details but not all to keep the suspense, doesn't she? With all the pressure, this blog better be good, huh? Well, I'll just let you know what happened and you can make of it what you will. Like you all know, Steve called us to see if we wanted to try getting rush tickets again today. The way this process works is you stand in line and walk up to a table where you are given a flashcard and a pen. You write your name and they put that in a box. After the whole line does this, the names are picked from the box and whoever is called can come up and claim their tickets whether they asked for one or two. If the person does not have an ID or enough money in cash for the tickets, another name is called and the tickets go to them. The tickets are front row for only $26 and change for a regular $122 price. The more people you have with you, the better the chances someone will be called and you will at least get one pair. So today, we all met at the Gershwin Theatre where Wicked is performed and we got in line. We had eight of us all together with my mom, dad, David, and I as well as Phil, Steven, Brie, and their friend John. We all put our names down and waited for the drawing. But they were only giving out 13 pairs with well over 250 people in the crowd. That is less tickets than yesterday and almost twice the crowd. It was a long shot but we went for it. They called out the first name and then the second. And who would have guessed that it would be David. So we gave him the money and he walked up there to claim them. Then after a few names were called later, my mom was called as well. What were the chances that two Beeskaus won two of the 13 pairs. So my mom gave Steven and Brie her pair so us kids could all go together. It's amazing how entirely different a show is in the front row. The actors sometimes look right at you, not just into the crowd and you can see the makeup and costumes up close and even backstage sometimes. It was such an amazing show and I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to see a Broadway show. You don't have to see it from the front row, though, because it is good from any seat in the theatre. After the show we went to dinner at a place in Hell's Kitchen called Galaxy Diner and then to Stevens apartment to say hello to some of his friends. Then Steven and Brie drove David and I to Stamford arriving at just after 1am. Steven and Brie went back to Yonkers while David and I raved about the show before crashing in our rooms from the long, exciting, and eventful day that we had.

Ann here -- I decided to add to this blog... it was one of those things, however, that doesn't quite translate on a blog... you really had to be there to appreciate the excitement. Evidently, many of the theaters in Manhattan offer rush tickets for their performances... you just have to know to ask... you show up at the theater 3 hours before a show, wait in line with a group of fools, put your name on a paper and hope they pull yours. Very exciting thing... like Katherine said, David's name was pulled and he didn't hesitate a bit... he started pushing his way through the crowd to get to the front... they lined us winners up in front of the crowd. Very festive! Like Katherine said... they escorted the 13 of us into the theater to pay for our tickets... they had us in order of the way our names were drawn... I didn't make a big deal with David... didn't want the huge crowd to know that two from our group got tickets... anyway, I wish I had my camera with me! David stepped up to the counter to pay.... with all the confidence of a seasoned adult... passed his Jr High student ID through the window along with his money... they guy at the counter looked at his ID and said "I don't need this"... you had to be there, it was a very cute sight! So it's my turn at the counter... I pass my ID and money through the window... the guy looks at my ID and said "are you David's mom?", I said "Yes", and he said "well all be. what are the odds of that!". Like I said, out of the 250+ people there, no other group had multiple winners. The kids said when the usher seated them, they congratulated them... felt much like a Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory scene... they won the golden tickets!

Today was our last day in the city (for this trip). Pretty awesome way to spend their last day/evening in the city!

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Photos

Rush
Rush is open to eeveryone, as apposed to Student Rush only for people with a valid Student ID. This is just a portion of the crowd, with more on either side that were cut out.

Wicked
The ticket and Playbill from the show

Comments

[catsie]

Awesome experience
You just can't plan these things, can you?? Steven is a Dear--you can tell him I said so. I didn't realize Yonkers was so close to Manhattan.

[Chris]

Wicked
How exciting, you were able to get tickets for Wicked. I don't know if you remember my girlfriend who's sister was on American Idol, Katie Webber; she is in Wicked. I'm sure she was there that evening! We were there as an office last February and couldn't get tickets to see the show. Katie was not even able to get tickets for us, but we had a group of nine! I heard it was a great show. You lucky bums!

[beescowbunch]

Very cool!
Katherine just checked the Playbill... she remembered Katie... she played the Wicked witches mom... she's in a scene in the beginning and near the end. Bummer you all weren't able to see it. It was a once in a lifetime thing for the kids... front row seats. They said it was an awesome show!

[Sar-Bear]

NYC
Well, I couldn't choose an entry to comment, so I picked the one I wish I was in on! :) Your trip looks, and sounds, like a blast!! I can't wait for you to come back so I can hear all about it first-hand! Katherine: I must say, NYC definitely suits you! Take a bunch of amazing pictures of everything else you are doing so we can analyze and discuss the external aesthetics of everything that you see! :) Talk to you all soon, and have an amazingly great time on the rest of your trip!!