Digital Takeover: Broadway Embraces Virtual Lotteries and Fans Rejoice!

Welcome to the digital world. Every day our lives become more and more infused with text messaging, social media, and new technology, and Broadway is keeping up with the times. For years, Broadway and Off-Broadway shows have offered theatre-goers a chance for last-minute tickets through student rushes, general rushes, and the ever-popular lottery system. These traditions invite fans straight to the theatre box offices so that they might snag a discounted pair of tickets just hours before the curtain goes up. CLICK HERE to read more about all of the Broadway lotteries/rushes.

The times are a-changin' however, as this morning A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER joined the growing list of productions that now offer a digital lottery. That's right- no more waiting in line in the cold/heat at the crack of dawn; no more joining the hoards of people in the street for the chance that your name might get chosen. One question remains- how long until the rest of Broadway joins the bandwagon?

Read more about the current digital lotteries below:

CYMBELINE (Shakespeare in the Park): The Public and TodayTix will offer tickets to Shakespeare in the Park via TodayTix mobile lottery app. A pair of tickets will be available for each performance of CYMBELINE beginning on July 23. The lottery will begin each day at midnight for the performance that same day, and winners will be notified by 2:00 p.m. Winners will pick up the tickets at the Delacorte Theater box office between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER: A digital lottery allows potential audience members to purchase $42 day-of tickets. One entry per person (no age restrictions), with two tickets per winner. The entry period for a given performance will be from the curtain time of the previous performance until 3.5 hours prior to the curtain of the desired performance date. Tickets are subject to availability and may be partial view. Entrants will be notified 3 hours prior to the performance that they have won, and must pick up and pay for their tickets no later than 30 minutes prior to the performance at the Walter Kerr Theatre box office (219 West 48th Street).

FUN HOME: Fun Home partners with TodayTix to allow its members to enter a mobile lottery via the TodayTix app, available in the App Store or Google Play Store. The entry period begins each day at midnight, and continue until winners are notified via push notification 3-4 hours before the selected performance begins. Winners will be offered the opportunity to purchase either one or two $32 tickets, and can pick up them up from the box office of the Circle in the Square Theatre. Lottery tickets and seat locations are subject to availability.

KINKY BOOTS: The complete rules and regulations for the new digital lottery policy are as follows: 1. A limited number of tickets for each performance are sold via lottery. 2. Entries will be accepted online (http://lottery.kinkybootsthemusical.com) beginning at the curtain time of the previous performance up to 3.5 hours prior to curtain of the desired performance. 3. Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner â€" entries will be checked for duplicates. 4. Three hours prior to the performance time, names will be chosen at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $37.00 each, and entrants will be notified via email. 5. Winners may pick up and pay for their tickets any time between the drawing and 30 minutes prior to the curtain time. 6. Tickets are subject to availability. 7. Tickets may be partial view.

ON THE TOWN: TodayTix allows you to enter the mobile lottery via the app, available in the App Store or Google Play Store. The entry period begins each day at midnight, and continue until winners are notified via push notification 3-4 hours before the selected performance begins. Winners will be offered the opportunity to purchase $20 tickets, and can pick up their tickets from the uniformed TodayTix concierge outside of the theatre. Lottery tickets and seat locations are subject to availability.

SOMETHING ROTTEN: A limited number of tickets, including front row, per performance are sold to winners of a digital lottery drawing. Tickets are $25 and limited to two per person. For details and entrance to the digital lottery beginning March 26th, visit lottery.rottenbroadway.com. Entrants will be notified of their status two-and-a-half hours prior to show time. Tickets must be claimed and paid for at the St. James Theatre box office no later than 30 minutes prior to the performance.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus