Something Rotten Ushers and House Manager

[PanaroFan111]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 8:14am

This past Wed matinee, my wife and I grabbed the 2 last rush tickets at 1230pm at the St James box office. We were both seated in Front Mezz in Row B respectively . One seat was extreme far stage left and the other far stage right, we didn't mind we were just so happy to get seats. A usher ( who I regret didn't get her name) noticed we were together but sitting apart called us over without us even asking, asked us would we like to sit together. Within 3 min the house manager came over and ever so kindly told us to go sit in the center section row F in seats 105 and 106. On top of the show being AMAZING I just wanted to say thank you to them both. With me and my wife averaging 2 Broadway shows a month it was so nice seeing how the St James staff know how to treat there patrons with the ultimate customer service.

[bfreak]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 8:24am

Thank you for posting this. It's always nice to hear such a positive story like this instead of something negative. Glad you enjoyed the show!

[romain2]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 8:47am

That is such a cool story! 

[ImpossiblePrincess]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 9:10am

What a great story, glad you enjoyed the show.  I just wanted to add my experience with the St James ushers too.  I saw the show on Sunday night and the view from my seat was obstructed by the bar at the front of the mezz.  It was driving me nuts, so I asked the usher if there was anywhere I could move to (I was happy to move further back if it meant I didn't have to keep moving my head round the bar to see) and she offered me a centre aisle seat further back and a booster cushion.  LOL!  I felt like a little kid as my feet were dangling now, but I had a perfect view.  Great show and GREAT ushers.

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 9:20am

Oh thanks for reminding me about this!

I attended an early preview of Something Rotten and I also had a very positive experience with the house manager, (I didn't get his name) and two ushers. They were so polite and accommodating for me. It was an excellent experience that made for a wonderful evening. 

[Anshel2]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 11:32am

I had the same experience.  My friend and I were standing in line to buy tickets when the house manager came up to us, outside, asked if we were looking for tickets for that afternoon's performance and handed us two house seat tickets for free.  Nicest staff ever.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 12:06pm

I agree about the staff @ the St. James & also the Hirschfeld... Must say that Jujamcyn Theaters have the best overall staff (give credit to Jordan Roth-new uniforms etc. as he cares) next being the Shubert's and lastly the Nederlander Organization have the worse staff in their theaters.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 9:36pm

Happened to me at Pippin. The usher scanning tickets noticed my box seat and said "Go in and see Jim." (I don't remember his name, but Jim works), and so I got to my seat and said "I was told to see you." And he moved me to a great Center Mezz seat. The other people in my box weren't so lucky as they didn't move? So I guess it pays to be nice? I dunno haa.

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/2/15 at 10:50pm

What time is Rush for the show? Also, are all the Rush tickets in the Mezz?

Updated On: 5/2/15 at 10:50 PM

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 5/3/15 at 11:53am

How nice. All these stories. When I see SR in September, I'll be sure to make a mention to our usher how their reputation as having some of the nicest staff is true. (Assuming it is)

Updated On: 5/4/15 at 11:53 AM

[delongpre]

Posted: 5/3/15 at 10:45pm

My daughter and I had TDF tickets for Something Rotten that placed us in rear orchestra behind the tallest/widest man on Broadway. When we mentioned it to an usher, we were told to please wait for a minute, and then the house manager came over, introduced himself, and escorted us to seats with a clear view. When we thanked him profusely he said that they keep seats available for just this purpose. Big smile. I actually wrote the management to thank them the next day. I love the good stories when so often the stories stink. The house manager for If/Then at the Rodgers (Tim?) was also amazing and accommodating.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 5/3/15 at 11:11pm

I do agree that there are some theatre companies that have great ushers, and others not so much. Truth be told, it makes for a better theatre experience, at least in my opinion when the theatre staff is easy to deal with.

 

For example, I was at a performance of Hair where there was a group of friends moving round, some, like me won the lotto and were in the boxes others weren't. It was clearly driving the usher there up a wall and was bothering me. When I mentioned that to him, he said that I should go tell the house manager of what's going on. So, I did. The house manager told me to wait a moment in the lobby while he went upstairs to check on the situation himself. Once he saw what was going on he said that he was going to allow me to move. He had me follow him to my new seat. Turned out being front row center. Can't complain at all. 

 

The only negative one I have isn't with house staff per se but more the box office. I was at the Lunt box office to buy a standing room ticket sometime between Beauty and the Beast announcing its closure and it actually closing. The woman behind the window took one look at me and refused to sell me one. Not because those were sold out (they weren't.) But, she refused to sell it to me because she was convinced that the wall was going to be too tall for me to see. Now, I am five foot seven, not super tall but not insanely short either. I had told her that even if it was, it's my money and if I wanted to spend it on that risk, why is she to stop me. Her co worker turned to her and told her to sell it to me. She eventually did, but she wasn't happy about it. 

[wonkit]

Posted: 5/3/15 at 11:35pm

I am going to be attending the matinee this Wednesday, and the St. James sent a nice, clear, polite and helpful email about every question anyone could possibly have about the theater and the performance. A wonderful high bar for a professional attitude towards audience members. I'm already impressed.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/4/15 at 9:18am

Jujamcyn has the best staff of any Broadway theaters.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 5/4/15 at 12:49pm

I'm thrilled to hear this, whereas i'm presently in Past Dating limbo (long story). This gives me hope that I may actually be able to get seats sometime soon.

[sorano916]

Posted: 5/4/15 at 3:07pm

I had seen American Idiot far more than I would care to admit, but after it closed, the next time I returned to the St. James (for On A Clear Day), the house manager actually remembered me and welcomed me back.

Also, back when How To Succeed was still playing, I had bought tickets from Givenik (which is ran by Jujamcyn). I was excited and tweeted to them that it was for my birthday (it was still with Daniel so decent tickets were kinda hard to come by). When my family & I got to the theatre and our seats, a theatre representative came to our seats to wish me a happy birthday and gave us drink/food vouchers. It was really sweet.

All of these experiences with the Jujamcyn theatres have made them above the others. Glad to hear others' stories.

[fyeahmaria]

Posted: 5/4/15 at 5:15pm

I had a bad experience at the Eugene O'Neill box office a few years ago (for Mormon), and I wrote a polite email to the Jujamcyn customer service expressing my concerns. I got a quick reply which was very apologetic and assured me the problem would be dealt with. They also asked for my address, and I was happily surprised to receive several pieces of Mormon merchandise shortly after at my Europe address.  

[Golenboybway]

Posted: 5/4/15 at 7:42pm

I find that the Jujamcyn Theatre group is the best. I've had many issues with other theatre groups but Jujamcyn was the best at fixing my problem with them. I had recently won the online lottery for Something Rotten and because my train arrived into Penn to late I ended up losing my tickets! The next day I emailed Jujamcyn and got a quick response apologizing and offering to set up a pair of rush tickets for me for a performance of my choice. They really are a great place.

[JujamcynTheaters]

Posted: 5/4/15 at 10:11pm

You guys, we’re blushing.  Thank you all for your kind words about our staff!  We think they’re pretty great too!

 

Corine2, the St. James box office starts selling rush tickets for $35/each on the day of the performance when they first open (Tue-Sat at 10 a.m., Sun at 12 p.m.).  Availability does vary from performance to performance, as does the location of the tickets, but rush tickets may be located anywhere in the theatre, including the sides of the orchestra which have a slight partial view.  Also, a limited number of $35 tickets, including front row, are also available for each performance to winners of our digital lottery drawing.  For more details, visit: https://jujamcyn.turnkeysurveyor.com/se/4D0A7D4901A135F2/.

 

Jonartdesigns, if you can email us directly at [e-mail], we can help you get out of your past dating limbo.

 

Thanks again for all of your loving posts!

 

Warmly,

Jujamcyn Theaters

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/4/15 at 10:31pm

Wow, I had no idea theatre companies browsed BWW.  Cool.  

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/4/15 at 10:32pm

Impressed by Jujamcyn Theaters response as it says a lot about the organization...

you would never get that from the Shuberts or Nederlanders!

[starcatchers]

Posted: 5/5/15 at 11:12am

The house staff at the St. James has always been one of my favorites. Same for the Music Box. A friend and I were there last week and sitting across the theatre from each other. The ticket taker in the mezzanine saw that and said "Go ask the usher upstairs if you can sit together." We did, and they moved us to better seats. 

[rjm516]

Posted: 5/5/15 at 1:03pm

I can't see Something Rotten until September because I live in London now, but my excitement for it just went up a little, if that's even possible. It will be SO nice to have good ushers and house staff after the past few months dealing with awful West End theatres. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/5/15 at 3:28pm

Another voice into the positive echo chamber: I've almost always had excellent dealings with the house staff at Jujamcyn Theatres. The ones that weren't excellent were at least good!

[brdway411]

Posted: 5/6/15 at 1:35am

I rushed the show early in the run. Was first in line. Was sold "slight partial view" tickets.  Fine with me. There was a glitch with the way rush tickets were being given out and ended up with HORRIBLE seats (the seats were EXTREME PARTIAL VIEW), the people next to me had virtual rush tickets, which were cheaper and better seats. I contacted the show about the problem and was offered 2 tickets to another performance. The house Manger came over to us after we were seated and apologized for the glitch and gave us comp drinks at intermission. Great staff.