BEWARE of JERSEY BOYS Rush (Not a Normal Rush Thread)

[popular_elphie]

You know, I used to complain that JERSEY BOYS had decided to cancel rush, and now I completely understand why.

My roommate, wicked_mimi, and I got to the rush line at 1AM, and were behind a group of a dad, mom, and a college student. They were very nice, and we seemed to feel at ease. The morning was fine, if not a little cold. We felt safe.

At 5:30 AM, a group of four black, hispanic, or latino (I'm not sure of their origin, and I don't mean to sound racist) guys and two girls show up. They were incredibly mad that there were only two tickets left for the show tonight. Thus, they started harassing us in line - taking video of us, taunting us, trying to get us out of the line. We figured that it would be fine when the box office opened because we were first. However, the boys kept saying, "Oh, yeah, we're getting eight. We're getting six, man." One kept lamenting about he wasn't "going to get his money". Clearly, these boys didn't want to see the show.

At about 7AM, one of the theater workers came to the theater, and the boys walked up to her and were talking to her kind of shadily, without us being able to hear. We all felt that something was going on, so the college student said something along the lines of, "Hey, we've been here since 12:30 in the morning! They're not in front of us!" The box office woman had believed they had been in front of us, and then believed us, because apparently those boys are at the box office every day. She took off the list she was making of their names, and threw it in a puddle.

I don't know if it was because of the fact that everyone was turning on them, and people were going to get tickets and not them, but all of a sudden, the biggest guy runs up and PUNCHES the college kid in the face. As the big guy (and his friends) run away, the kid falls back onto the concrete ground. I believe he was unconscious for a while. However, his tooth had come through his skin on his lip, leaving a nasty hole, and he had a huge bump on the back of his head, with blood everywhere.

All of us called 911, but I believe I was the only person to get through. The cops took 15 minutes to get to the scene, and were incredibly rude about it all. While we were trying to interject to tell what happened, he would talk down to us. We found it rude and annoying. We gave the descriptions of the guys, and the cop said he would look for them, but there was most likely a chance he would not find them.

Throughout the rest of the time there, my friends and I were scared to keep waiting for tickets, as there is no security at the August Wilson, and we were afraid they would come back. We're still afraid they may come around showtime - you just don't know.

There are two days of rush left - Saturday and Sunday. I ask you guys that you PLEASE BE CAREFUL rushing. Any one of us on the line could've been bloodied up, possibly even stabbed depending on what they had on them.

My roommate says that even if they were to implement rush again, she would not come back. I have to say that I agree.

Please, if you rush JERSEY BOYS the next two days, be careful.

[alliez92092]

Oh wow, that's scary. I'm glad you're okay though.

[LizzieCurry]

Holy ****! No musical is worth that much trouble. Wow.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Jesus! That's f*cking frightening. They should eliminate rush immediately. That is absolutely horrendous. Forget about Saturday and Sunday. Is the box office aware of what happened on the theatre's site? Is the theatre administration aware?

[Clara's Pony]

First of all, starting to queue at 1am takes dedication, I'm impressed. But your experience sounds horrendous, I feel sorry for that poor college kid.

[FosseForever3]

That is insane. I am SO glad that you and your friend came out of that ok. You're seeing the show tonight? If so, definately be alert.

That poor guy! His parents must have been shocked

[popular_elphie]

The people that were working at the theater were told, I believe. My roommate emailed a cast member to tell him what happened, he's notified the powers that be, and he's personally asking that lottery be implemented to be safer and still give the students a chance.

I couldn't believe this wasn't posted yet.

[dancingthrulife04]

That's scary! I'm glad you're both okay. I passed by there around 9AM today and everything seemed fine. I had no clue.

[FosseForever3]

Wait, I'm confused, why were the cops being so rude to you guys? I went to school in that area and they're usually so friendly

[musicalsFan]

I waited in line for Standing Room one time.
1 young punk had tried to cut in line to join his 2 buddies.
Others in line complained, and the box office manager came out and told them that unless they fessed up to which one cut in line then all 3 weren't going to get any tickets.

The theatre people know what's what.
They weren't going to believe the 4 punks. The thing to do was keep cool.

[wicked_mimi]

The cops didn't even take down names or anything if they found the people to press charges. They were very unprofessional and didn't even know another car came before they did. Then when they said if they did catch the group the only one liable would be the one who hit the kid. I stated that all the others were subject to harrassment and the cop told me not to recite the penal code to him. Excuse me for knowing my rights and I've only take a couple semesters worth of undergraduate law courses.

It wasn't the theater's fault. It is these horrible people and I am so happy they are ending rush. I hope they post signs that it is done today because I would think these people would come back. It is dangerous and for a show... just not worth it. We're seeing it tonight but the whole experience has been darkened by this morning.

And, dancingthrulife04, the reason it was ok at 9 was because the boy had already gone to the ER.

Seriously all.... PLEASE be careful. Bring pepper spray if you can. It's insane.

[mll85]

Wow. That is one crazy story, and what happened to the college student was horrible. I would have to echo Lizzie's post. No musical is worth that much trouble. I'm hoping that there wasn't a string of similar incidents that we haven't heard about, but with everyone talking about the scalper situation, I wouldn't be suprised if someone was previously attacked in the line.

[dancingthrulife04]

Wow. That was really unprofessional of the cops. I'm sorry you had to deal with this.

[ljay889]

Wow. Camping out just isn't worth it.

[MikeMagbaleta]

Extremely nuts! It's been years since I've lived in NY, and thought that Broadway was safe for all theatregoers.

That's the reason I always purchase full price, full view tickets for performances. At the Curran Theatre before matinees, I go to the theatre at 12PM to hang out with some of the Jersey Boys cast, but it still is crazy out there because the theatre borders the area where SF's skid row starts.

I'm extremely glad you're all safe and hope that these scalpers get their just desserts from the cops next time. They may mess with the wrong people if they pull those types of stunts again and will regret it.

[wicked_mimi]

As someone who is a big fan of the show.... I will echo that it isn't worth it. I hope there will be a lottery but we all know how easy to win that'll be... Luckily, everyone is ok though. The student was in good spirits and still plans on coming tonight.

[LizzieCurry]

That's the reason I always purchase full price, full view tickets for performances. At the Curran Theatre before matinees, I go to the theatre at 12PM to hang out with some of the Jersey Boys cast, but it still is crazy out there because the theatre borders the area where SF's skid row starts.

The area around the Curran is REALLY not that bad. I've gotten there at 8:30 a.m. and rarely had problems with anybody, plus there are plenty of businesses in the area and it's busy enough to not pose a problem.

Go ahead and keep paying your full price and NOT getting 1st row.

[wicked_mimi]

Lets not get rude in here, this is about one thing and that is safety. No snide remarks are needed. And all this happened at 7am when businesses are beginning to open in a VERY safe area of NYC. With a show this popular and the ability to scalp these tickets safety is a HUGE issue and the ONLY issue.

[CapnHook]

WOW! That is very very scary and I'm sorry about your experience.

When I rushed JERSEY BOYS it was around this time last year and I got there at 5am. I was third in line and had no problems.

The only bad encounter I had doing a sun-rise rush was for LEGALLY BLONDE. Bad encounter with a drunken homeless man. Didn't last long, he was taken away. But THEN the "omigod" song came on the loudspeakers and repeated over and over on the loop. It was horrifying! But you're story does top mine.

[worrell4077]

Oh My God! That is just horrible what happened to that kid. He just wanted to see the show, and that's what he gets, a sucker punch. I want to echo basically everyone else and say that I'm glad that you guys are all right.

I've never had anything like that happen when I've been on line because basically when the scalpers were there, they were first in line. I'm a big JB fan and I was hoping for rush to come back one day, but after hearing this, it's not really worth it. I'll be happy if they make it lottery because it'll still have cheap seats and the students that aren't going to be able to get rush would still have a chance to see the show for cheap as well as anyone else.

Let's all just hope that when JB rush ends, these F***** scalpers don't migrate over to the Spring Awakening rush lines.

[BroadwayBound86]

I'm terribly sorry that happened to you. I'm glad to know that everyone is okay.

I do think there needs to be some changes to the way shows to rush. Especially since it's so easy for people to make an easy buck off of them and sell them. Whether they start writing the names of the person who's ID is shown on the tickets and then easily check it at the door (typically only so many rush tickets are given out I don't think it will hold up the lines to get in too much.) I also like when shows offer them 2 hours before show time. That way people don't feel the need to get in line at 3 in the morning to make sure they get them. Yes I'm sure people will still line up early but probably won't show up until a decent hour in the morning. Something needs to be done to make rushing a show safer and to keep the scalpers away. It's bad enough they take what they can at TKTS and sell it.

[MikeMagbaleta]

It's just a matter of my schedule not allowing me to participate in the rush line. I see that there's a lot of the fans in rush that attend the public appearances, show up early to get their tickets and enjoy the performances to their fullest, then come here and the Jersey Boys Blog to share their experiences with all of us!

Maybe it's just because the SF "Tenderloin" area spooks me after lots of bad experiences with panhandlers and such. I wished they would be taken care of by the City of SF. Good people that just ran into bad luck in their lives.....

[mortega31686]

My God! I feel so bad popular_elphie! I remember you asking about the student rush two days ago on BWW. I feel extremely horrible that this happened to that kid, I really wish it would have happened when I was there instead of you guys. Any word on how the kid is doing? Was he at the show?
-Mike

[JerseyScoundrel]

Those damm scalpers are at it again. If its that dangerous, the theater should at least have police checking student ID'S starting at 5 in the morning.

[popular_elphie]

The kid was at the show today. He had gauze taped up over the back of his head and near his lip, but was in high spirits, and having a great time. Daniel Reichard thought he had a tissue stuck up his nose for the show. He was incredibly upbeat at the stage door, and said that it was worth it for the wonderful performance. Great attitude.

Jenn Naimo (Mary Delgado) told me she had read this thread on BWW and was horrified at what happened. All the cast were generally shocked and in awe about it. Some are asking that a lotto be instated. I hope it is.

[mll85]

Thanks for the update on the situation. Glad to know that the event didn't bring down the kids sprits and he still enjoyed the show.