RENT Offers $20 Seats Avaliable Through Pre-Show Lottery

Twenty-three seats in the front row of the orchestra will be made available for $20 for every performance of Rent, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony® Award-winning musical, coming to Ovens Auditorium, Jan. 27 - Feb. 1. The seats will be available through a day-of-the-performance lottery.

Each day, 2½ hours prior to show time, people who present themselves at the Ovens Auditorium box office (2700 E. Independence Blvd.) will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a total of 23 orchestra level seats at $20 each, cash only. You must be present when your name is drawn to win (valid identification required) and you must purchase your seats immediately. Each winner drawn may purchase a maximum of two tickets at $20 each, cash only.

The Ovens parking lots will be open for lottery participants starting three hours before curtain and there will be no charge for parking. Please identify yourself as a lottery participant to the lot attendant.

"In keeping with the spirit of the show and the vision of Jonathan Larson (the show's creator) we are happy to be able to offer prime seats to people who otherwise would not be able to purchase them," explained original Rent producer Kevin McCollum. "Jonathan was himself a struggling artist and his dream was to create a universal piece of musical theatre that's available to everyone."

The tradition of the $20 tickets was started in New York when the show moved to Broadway after a sold-out run in a small downtown theatre. The producers of the show are committed to continuing the tradition of offering orchestra seats for $20 in each city the show will play.

Rent makes its Charlotte return to Ovens Auditorium on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The $20 tickets are available at the Ovens Auditorium box office, (2700 E. Independence Blvd.), only. For general ticket information, call 704-372-1000.

LOTTERY SCHEDULE
DATE LOTTERY ENTRY BEGINS WINNERS DRAWN PERF TIME
Tues, Jan. 27 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Wed, Jan. 28 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Thurs, Jan. 29 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Jan. 30 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 8 p.m.
Sat, Jan. 31 11:30 a.m. noon 2 p.m.
Sat, Jan. 31 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 8 p.m.
Sun, Feb. 1 11:30 a.m. noon 2 p.m.
Sun, Feb. 1 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center serves the Carolinas as a leading cultural, entertainment and education provider. For more information, call 704-372-1000 or visit BlumenthalCenter.org. The Center receives operating support from the Arts & Science Council and the North Carolina Arts Council. The Center is also supported through the generous aid of its sponsors, including Presbyterian Hospital, The Official Healthcare Provider; U.S. Airways, Official Airline of Blumenthal Performing Arts Center; and Stanford Financial Group, sponsor of the Stanford Broadway Lights Series.