Matilda Lottery

[claruga]

Posted: 5/19/13 at 10:10pm

Are there a lot of people for this lottery? it is sold out and this is the only way i will get to see it. i am looking at the lottery for this coming sunday matinee.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/19/13 at 10:13pm

Lotto is always crowded, and there is only twenty for certain tickets. As for Sunday matinees, I know sometimes they only have lotto on certain days - ie: Saturday evening, but not Saturday matinee, mostly because of how well sold the show is.

[getatme]

Posted: 5/19/13 at 10:15pm

The lottery has been pretty busy, usually around 150 people or so, but if it's your only chance to see the show, it's worth a shot!

As for days they don't have lotto, those dates were only May 11, 12, 18, and 19th.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 5/19/13 at 10:17pm

Lottery is packed. When I was there yesterday, the usher I was chatting with said there were over 300 people there for the last lottery this past week..good luck. Someone has to win.

[gchris11]

Posted: 5/20/13 at 7:13am

I won on a day with 150 people there.

[Movidude742]

Posted: 5/20/13 at 7:47am

Since the lottery was a late creation, some shows are sold out and there is no lottery, tho that will change as the dates wehre the lottery seats have been sold get moved past.

I was on hand Saturday night to help friends lottery and we managed 2 wins to get all three of them in. I would say about 300 people on hand or more.

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 6/19/13 at 7:21pm

It wastes everyone's time (potential winners plus theater staff) to have a lottery with such insanely low odds of winning. Most lottos have 26 seats or more, but this one only offers 20 seats. That makes a big difference when there are often 300+ people waiting. At least with rush or standing room, you know that if you wait 5 or 10 hours, you're guaranteed the ticket (assuming you're at a good spot in the line). With lottery, you can waste 3 hours round-trip * 10 tries = 30 hours or more, and still not get a ticket. Bring back the rush to save the time of everyone involved.
Updated On: 6/19/13 at 07:21 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/19/13 at 7:26pm

But you'd have to get there ridiculously early, thus STILL 'wasting' gads of time.

Yes, if your commute is that far away, you are looking at a time investment anyway.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 6/19/13 at 8:47pm

"It wastes everyone's time (potential winners plus theater staff) to have a lottery with such insanely low odds of winning."

It probably doesn't waste the time of the people who do win. If you're going to bitch that much the fork out the dough and buy a ticket in the cheap seats.

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/19/13 at 9:24pm

Dude, read Broadway Spotted Rush Report. There are not getting tons of people. Word is out the show is all hype. I predict it will be gone in about 1.5 to 2 years. There were about maybe 75 people there tonight for lottery.

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 6/19/13 at 9:26pm

Not sure why they don't offer standing room, since I believe Spamalot at that theater had standing room. That would be a major help. [I've heard many balcony seats are partial view, have poles in the way, and have limited leg room.]
Updated On: 6/19/13 at 09:26 PM

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/19/13 at 9:28pm

because a lot of the action take place in the audience

[VotePeron]

Posted: 6/19/13 at 11:16pm

I've seen the show twice, both times in the last row of the Balcony. Once on house right, the other center. The view was fine, if not perfect for this type of show. You can see everything and the seats are so heavily raked that leg room is not a problem, and I am 6'5.

They don't offer Standing Room because the children and cast run throughout the aisles, and of course exit back behind the orchestra. Im guessing it's a safety issue for all involved, and its better to not have people standing there.

And as for "the show is all hype", if thats what you consider a show with $21 million advance sales to be, then yes indeed, Matilda The Musical is all hype.

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/19/13 at 11:24pm

Just because it is selling well does not mean it is good. Look at Motown, which is out selling everything. MOTOWN SUCKS (except for the Jackson 5 numbers).

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 6/19/13 at 11:28pm

But you just implied it wasn't good because not that many people were going to lotto...
There are not getting tons of people. Word is out the show is all hype. I predict it will be gone in about 1.5 to 2 years.

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/19/13 at 11:43pm

He said it is selling well. Again does not mean it is good. It is all hype, and the show is not that good.
And there are not that many people doing the lotto. Again Check Broadway Spotted.
And I stick by the 2 year closing. It will not last.

Edit to correct a misspelling.




Updated On: 6/19/13 at 11:43 PM

[VotePeron]

Posted: 6/19/13 at 11:46pm

Yes, Gchris, we all know you think Matilda is "cold" and that Pippin is the best. I and many others understand and respect your opinion. I think that Matilda is an excellent show, and I am glad it is selling well. We can't expect all lotteries to be like BoM. Just because YOU dont like the show doesnt mean that THAT is the reason the lottery is not meeting your standards for capacity.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 6/20/13 at 12:03am

gchris, for someone who has a wonderful boyfriend and an amazing life you sure act like a miserable little man that seriously needs to get laid.

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/20/13 at 12:04am

I never mentioned Pippin in this thread and I am sorry you still have sour grapes that Matilda did not perform as expected at the Tony awards. And who said it is not meeting my standard. Steve and Movie dude are the ones throwing out big numbers. I am merely reporting that I saw 75 people there tonight and checked Broadway Spotted to confirm that there are not that many people beating down the door to do lottery. And I respect your opinion that Matilda is an excellent show, but it is not my cup of tea. Wow people are so touchy.

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/20/13 at 12:08am

Also what are they going to do when Bertie leaves. That is part of the draw/hype of the show. Annie may have the same problem once Jane leaves in July. I am expecting them to close after the Christmas season, if not sooner.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 6/20/13 at 12:15am

Sadly, not a single tourist is buying a ticket to Matilda because of Bertie Carvel. Besides, as far as I know, he is contracted with the show with the standard contract so they won't need to worry about a replacement until NEXT spring. Annie is another matter entirely that was never a hot ticket before Jane came and still isn't even with her there. I doubt it'll last much past the end of summer. Comparing Annie and Matilda in sales is absurd.

Gchris, you're being a tad ridiculous. I like Pippin too and also happen to like Matilda but to deny that Matilda is selling well with a 20 million+ advance and 100% capacity for several weeks running is absurd. You may be right that its staying power won't be much more than a couple of years, but let's not forget that that's still quite a healthy run. You're grasping at straws now.

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/20/13 at 12:21am

According to this He is only under contract until SEPTEMBER 1st
Also I am not denying it is selling well. But selling well does not mean it is good, or that most of it's popularity is not hype. Sh#t, Pippin just broke it's fourth record at the Music Box. And it the first musical to play there to break the million dollar mark. BUT AGAIN you brought up Pippin. NOT ME.

Bertie Carvel NYTIMES Updated On: 6/20/13 at 12:21 AM

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 6/20/13 at 12:24am

Ah, thanks for the link. My point still stands.

[jackieoh]

Posted: 6/20/13 at 12:28am

I've been under the impression that Bertie Carvel and Lauren Ward are both contracted until September 1st. I've been waiting to hear about replacements or contract extensions but I bought tickets for August just in case.

Bertie is not drawing audiences to this show, the material is.

Just a daily reminder that theatre is art and art is subjective. And at the end of the day, the number of people attending the lottery has nothing to do with how "good" the show is.

[bdn223]

Posted: 6/20/13 at 3:01am

I could see Lauren Ward extending simply because she is an American so there is no equity exchange required. Also Minchin (Ward's husband) is on tour with Jesus Christ Superstar and it may be easier to keep their kids with her in NYC than having to move back to England.

Updated On: 6/22/13 at 03:01 AM