frustration with the Public theatre
frustration with the Public theatre
#1frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 1:27pm
I just kind of have to vent about this because I find it very irritating. I was planning to go down to the Public today to get a student ticket to see Privacy, as you can only buy student tickets at the Box Office. Tickets went on sale online today at 10am, but the box office doesn't open until 2pm, and tickets are already sold out for the whole run. I called the box office to ask if they held any student tickets aside, and they said no.
I understand student tickets are privilege and not a right, and I understand that the Public has no obligation to hold aside tickets. But it frustrates me that they would create a situation in which they "offer" student tickets, but there was never a window of time in which one could be purchased, since the production sold out online before any students could have possibly had the opportunity to buy a ticket.
It seems the situation could have easily been avoided by (a) holding aside some tickets at the physical box office (for students or non-students) (b) opening the box office at the same time that tickets went on sale or (c) providing some means for students and/or youth to get discounted tickets online of over the phone - which many other theatres are able to do just by asking for an ID when picking up tix.
Sorry if this comes off as entitled or whatever. I know we're lucky they offer discounted tickets in the first place. I also know it wasn't their fault that it sold out so quickly, though I think they could have easily anticipated it given how quickly their celebrity-driven productions have sold in the past. It's just a really frustrating situation.
Sorry for the rant.
#2frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 1:35pm
the public does not have a set-aside. student tickets are, in essence, a headstart, at a small premium, on rush tickets, limited to student. What you want is a different substantive policy, but you are expressing it as a procedural issue. That said, ranting is free.
#3frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 1:38pm
They really ought to change their name
rjm516
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/09
#4frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 1:41pm
That's so stupid! Of course the box office should open at the same time online tickets go on sale if only for pure accessibility reasons. Saying they'll have a certain kind of ticket but not doing anything to actually have them reeks at best of poor follow through and at worst a line just used for PR without any intent to ever follow through.
#5frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 1:45pm
Really? Change their name?
The free theater in the park isn't good enough for you?
The fact that they're incredibly devoted to producing theater that reflects their community isn't good enough for you?
The Mobile Unit and all the Public programs they offer isn't good enough for you? Sheesh.
College students are rarely an underserved or disadvantaged community.
Jesus saves. I spend.
Cupid Boy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/5/13
#6frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 1:50pm
rjm516 said: "That's so stupid! Of course the box office should open at the same time online tickets go on sale if only for pure accessibility reasons. Saying they'll have a certain kind of ticket but not doing anything to actually have them reeks at best of poor follow through and at worst a line just used for PR without any intent to ever follow through."
But they never guarenteed they'd even have student tickets available. And I don't think making that guarentee to students was ever their intention in offering this type of discount.
#7frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 2:06pm
KJisgroovy said: "Really? Change their name?
The free theater in the park isn't good enough for you?
The fact that they're incredibly devoted to producing theater that reflects their community isn't good enough for you?
The Mobile Unit and all the Public programs they offer isn't good enough for you? Sheesh.
College students are rarely an underserved or disadvantaged community. "
Seconded. I get that this particular situation is frustrating, and I don't think the Public is perfect by any means, but name me another major theatre in this city that is as committed to making a lot of great work available to a very broad audience. Just because the work isn't necessarily being done for people here doesn't mean it's not being done.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#8frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 2:14pm
I'm sure they'll be offering free first preview tickets via TodayTix so there's that + a daily TodayTix lottery when the show begins its run.
Relevance81491
Broadway Star Joined: 2/11/16
#9frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 2:22pm
I have never had a problem before (able to get Student Tix to Dry Powder, Eclipsed and twice for Hamilton) I anticipated this being a problem for this production, so I became a member and got fantastic seats. The Public is my favorite places in New York and I am incredibly proud to be a supporter
rjm516
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/09
#10frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 2:27pm
Cupid Boy2: "But they never guarenteed they'd even have student tickets available. And I don't think making that guarentee to students was ever their intention in offering this type of discount."
I took from the OP that they said they would have student tickets available. If they didn't, then I withdraw my comment.
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
#11frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 2:29pm
For the 2016-2017 season I'm most interested in Saint Joan so I just hope tickets to that aren't impossible to get. It seems like it's really the star-driven vehicles (which likely help bring in subscribers and revenue for their other work) which are difficult to get tickets for. I understand the frustration of not being able to see a show, but such is life.
indytallguy
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/08
#12frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 2:33pm
I don't know if it will help in this situation at all but I have found their administrative and marketing staff to be among the most helpful anywhere when I have encountered ticketing or other issues. I was always very polite but expressed my challenges in writing in great detail. This often produced either an email exchange or a phone call that was able to help resolve my problem.
#13frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 2:37pm
rjm516 said: "Cupid Boy2: "But they never guarenteed they'd even have student tickets available. And I don't think making that guarentee to students was ever their intention in offering this type of discount."
I took from the OP that they said they would have student tickets available. If they didn't, then I withdraw my comment.
"
Student Tickets: Subject to availability and production
is the very first line on the Public Theater's website.
#14frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 2:42pm
rjm516 said: "Cupid Boy2: "I took from the OP that they said they would have student tickets available. If they didn't, then I withdraw my comment."
It's not that they said they would be available, it's just that it's a ticket policy that they have for all their shows. There would have been student tickets available if there had still been tickets left when the box office opened. Again, I'm mainly irritated that the ticket sale-times and student policy are set up in such a way that would allow this to happen so easily. If students tickets were available online, or if the box-office opened at the same time that tickets went on sale, I wouldn't be bothered by it at all.
AGAIN: I know I'm not entitled to those tickets, and I know they didn't do anything wrong by not holding some aside (though it would have been nice if they did).
#15frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 2:44pm
KJisgroovy said: "Really? Change their name?
The free theater in the park isn't good enough for you?
The fact that they're incredibly devoted to producing theater that reflects their community isn't good enough for you?
The Mobile Unit and all the Public programs they offer isn't good enough for you? Sheesh.
College students are rarely an underserved or disadvantaged community.
"
I was being facecious and they do great work, but their ticket prices are hardly accessible for the general public.
Few non-profit theaters really are.
#16frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 2:50pm
"I was being facecious and they do great work, but their ticket prices are hardly accessible for the general public."
That is totally fair, and I didn't mean to overreact or anything. I do wish their ticket prices were lower, but for my money they do a lot more work than many other non-profits to make theatre accessible, and I just don't like to see that kind of work go unrecognized because of high ticket prices to mainstage shows.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#17frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 3:02pm
Few non-profit theaters really are.
Yes and for very good reasons, too.
nasty_khakis
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/15/07
#18frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 3:06pm
I just got back from the Taub Box office and there was an older gentleman in line ahead of me who got two tickets during the final week. He was astonished they only had that one date for the student tickets. I had a wider range of availibility and told the box office attendee whenever that wasn't a Wednesday matinee and he could only seem to find one for quite late in the run, but that was fine by me.
I understand they don't have to set aside a single one and they offer two shows for completely free in the summer as well as their mobile labs that travel throughout the year, but it would be nice if they set aside even 2 for "in person only" student rush per show., but I guess mobile lotteries take care of the fairness now. I was happy I decided to go today in person when they opened since even before being open to the general public tickets were "99.9%" sold out.
#19frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 3:33pm
Wait, are you saying that there WERE tickets left when the box office opened? Because if so then I'll feel like a real schmuck for making such a fuss. Though I did call the box office and ask about student tickets and they told me they didn't have any, and this was before 2pm
Updated On: 5/24/16 at 03:33 PM
nasty_khakis
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/15/07
#20frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 3:55pm
The gentleman in front of me got one, I got one, and I believe the girl behind me got one so they definitely existed.
LightsOut90
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/2/14
#21frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 4:34pm
i just called, they apparently had a few returns around 3 thats they sold off, told the girl i was not pleased to hear that as id been told at 1:45 that there was no reason to bother, -.-
#22frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/24/16 at 4:37pm
LightsOut90 said: "i just called, they apparently had a few returns around 3 thats they sold off, told the girl i was not pleased to hear that as id been told at 1:45 that there was no reason to bother, -.-
"
Because the person you spoke to at 1:45 should have know that there would be returns at 3?
#23frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/25/16 at 8:07am
There are now tickets available for a week of performances in mid-August.
#24frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/25/16 at 8:38am
Tons of tickets are now available that week. But holy moly, $95?? Were the tickets that pricey for the beginning of the run?
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#25frustration with the Public theatre
Posted: 5/25/16 at 8:44am
The Public weirdly does not have an under 30 system like basically every other nonprofit in town. I don't know why they don't. MTC, LCT, Roundabout, and even the smaller nonprofits like the Vineyard, 2St and Atlantic all have better cheap ticket or youth ticket options. But the one that claims to be "public" is the toughest. I don't get it either.
I'm also a member of the Public, but $75 is too high for me for this show.
