Box Office Staff Appreciation Thread

[LuminousBeing]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 9:59am

I'm not sure if there's a thread about this, but since theres an awesome Usher Appreciation thread, I thought it would be nice to have a thread highlighting great box office staff. I've never been in a position to pay full price for a show, so I rely on rush/discounts/dumb luck to get my theater fixes, and the box office staff one gets can have s huge impact on one's experience of a show. B.O. staff interaction, if notable, gets tied up in my recollections about shows: for example, on Friday at around 5:30 (when my bus from Boston came in), my friend and I decided to see if there were SRO for "Color Purple." The gentleman at the box office (who was very dapper, btw) said no, but that there were secondary partials in the rear mezz for $45 left. Knowing from this board that the front boxes provide a great view, I told him I'd come back in the morning. He said, "great, but you have to get here very early." We're arrived at 6:40 and we're 8th and 9th in line. The box office gentleman from the previous evening was working that morning, equally dapper: he recognized me, asked me what time I'd arrived, and let me pick the box and seats therein. He just had great energy and enthusiasm, which, added to the fact that I got exactly what I wanted, i.e. the best possible view for the rush price, will factor into my memories of that show experience. I've also had memorable (positive) experiences with B.O. staff at Circle in the Square and the Public, among others. Anyone here have standout memories about box office staff/experiences or want to drop some appreciation for them here?

Updated On: 8/21/16 at 09:59 AM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 10:06am

I don't recall her name, but there was a notorious usher at the Belasco during Hedwig (who I believe has been at the Belasco for a while) who took absolutely no s*** from theatergoers who had their phones out before the show began. I loved her. Broadway needs more badasses like her.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 10:07am

BroadwayConcierge said: "I don't recall her name, but there was a notorious usher at the Belasco during Hedwig (who I believe has been at the Belasco for a while) who took absolutely no s*** from theatergoers who had their phones out before the show began. I loved her. Broadway needs more badasses like her.

 

"

This thread is about box office workers, not ushers.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 10:10am

Whoops, my mistake... for some reason, interpreted that to mean theatre staff. I need more coffee...

But in any event, LuminousBeing, I have to agree that the box office staff at the Jacobs is fantastic. I had tickets to a performance of Purple in which Erivo called out, and the person who assisted me couldn't have been more enthusiastically helpful (and "dapper!". It was so appreciated. 

Updated On: 8/21/16 at 10:10 AM

[Relevance81491]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 10:17am

I agree with your admiration for the BO staff at The Public  I was there afiew weeks ago to buy a Student Ticket, the man initially said there were no more left for the run. As I was walking away he said "Wait a minute!  There is someone trying to return a ticket over the phone". He was so excited to be able to help me out. 

The entire FOH crew at The Public deserves a giant round of applause 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 12:22pm

I've also had nothing but positive experiences with the BO staff at The Public.

[BroadwayKiwi]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 12:26pm

The tall, long haired, strawberry-blonde girl at the Brooks box office is so nice (and also heaven. Anyone know her name?)...

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 9:09pm

There is a woman at the Golden who is awesome!  I used my audience reward points for the first time to see eclipsed in June. Even though my receipt said I had tickets for Eclipsed at the Broadway theater, somehow audience rewards screwed up and got me tickets to Fiddler. No one involved had heard of something weird like that happening before and they couldn't figure out why the tickets on the back end were different than my receipt. Anyway the transaction was taking forever and curtain time was getting close. She ended up comping me tickets and said they were refunding the Fiddler tickets and I just wouldn't be charged any points. It was so nice especially since it wasn't their fault!  Meanwhile she was dealing with some super angry lady who had been given incorrect information by the Public box office about some discount or something and she stayed calm but firm. She was a real class act. While we were waiting some girls came up and brought her magnolia cupcakes because I guess she had helped them out at the matinee somehow. So it wasn't just me. :)

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 9:14pm

I'll add my vote for the Jacobs box office staff. They've been wonderful when getting tickets for THE COLOR PURPLE, ONCE & IT'S ONLY A PLAY.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 9:17pm

I have to tip my hat to one gentleman at the Imperial theater who had to deal with this women in front of me on line who insisted he open up the theater (it was the middle of the morning) so she could try out the seats before she bought them - while speaking to her friend on her cell phone so they could evaluate which was better. She needed to stand in both the orchestra and the mezz to make the right decision.

Patiently but firmly and politely, he explained why this could not happen but she did not give up her fight easily...and we could see his head about to explode. Finally she stepped aside to allow others to move forward while she continued to discuss this with her friend. (my order took like 30 seconds happily). I never waited around to see what she decided.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 9:34pm

I had a good experience with staff from the Belasco. My ticket for Hedwig was a computer print out and I guess water or something spilled in my bag on it. I went to the box office and explained and showed them what happened.  They had no problems reprinting it for me.

And I have no idea who I was dealing with with the Manhattan Theater Club back when Murder Ballad was playing,  but they were good too. I had requested tickets through 30 Under 30 I guess it was random assigning because I remember seeing my requested time was not what I ended up with.  But, they sent me a second email verifying and it had my original performance listed as having tickets for.  So I emailed to ask which it was.  they were prompt with responding and they did let me switch to my original performance request. 

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 8/21/16 at 9:39pm

Jillian at the Brooks Atkinson Box Office was the most helpful and kind person I've experienced lately at any box office! When I was having a problem with a group sale (for Waitress) she helped me out tremendously over the course of a few days and I'm still so grateful for her assistance!

 

[Robbyne]

Posted: 8/22/16 at 6:30pm

Rosie and Jackie at the Richard Rodgers are two amazing ladies! They are both awesome and extremely helpful. When the cancellation line for Hamilton was out of control, they handled things and got it all worked out so that everyone was treated fairly and accommodated properly. 

Updated On: 8/22/16 at 06:30 PM

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/10/16 at 8:36pm

Bumping this up for the box office person at the Irish Repertory Theatre. I went today to buy some tickets for Finian's Rainbow.  I went before noon, not realizing they didn't open until then. So I went away and returned and they still weren't opened. I waited around to see what would happen and some people did show up a few minutes later.  They were prompt with opening up and were so nice. I guess because it was so hot he offered water to me and the other 2 people waiting.  Purchasing was so easy too. Now I can't wait to see the show.

[asmith0307]

Posted: 9/10/16 at 11:15pm

ChiTheaterFan said: "There is a woman at the Golden who is awesome!  I used my audience reward points for the first time to see eclipsed in June. Even though my receipt said I had tickets for Eclipsed at the Broadway theater, somehow audience rewards screwed up and got me tickets to Fiddler. No one involved had heard of something weird like that happening before and they couldn't figure out why the tickets on the back end were different than my receipt. Anyway the transaction was taking forever and curtain time was getting close. She ended up comping me tickets and said they were refunding the Fiddler tickets and I just wouldn't be charged any points. It was so nice especially since it wasn't their fault!  Meanwhile she was dealing with some super angry lady who had been given incorrect information by the Public box office about some discount or something and she stayed calm but firm. She was a real class act. While we were waiting some girls came up and brought her magnolia cupcakes because I guess she had helped them out at the matinee somehow. So it wasn't just me. :)"

Haha. Do you remember any identifying info? I met those ladies a few times this summer.

 

I have to give a shoutout to the Ambassador staff. I finally went to see Chicago over the 4th of July weekend. A nice gentleman talked me through the entrance process, including the house open time, when the line outside is usually the shortest, and event which door to go through. I think they are used to have people who never go to Broadway (most of my seat neighbors weren't speaking English), so as a person who was around her 75th show at the time it was nice that it was helpful and not patronizing.