Dear Evan Hansen - Cancellation Line/Lottery

[Shannonigans]

Posted: 3/27/17 at 7:31pm

Hi all,

 

I'm heading up to NYC in two weeks to celebrate my 21st. I'm a huge theatre geek and I was hoping to secure tickets for DEH... but of course a few months ago when I first checked I didn't book and now they're all but sold out! I know there are broker ticket options from StubHub or BroadwayBox and I'm definitely open to those - but preferably as a last resort due to the exorbitant ticket prices.

I was wondering whether anybody on here has experience with the cancellation line or the lottery (both digital and in-person) for the show. Regarding the cancellation line, would I pay full-price of the cancelled ticket (so.. around $400 if it was an orchestra seat)? Is there anything that can be done to increase you chance at the lottery?

Thank you all for your help!

[djoko84]

Posted: 3/27/17 at 8:01pm

I was able to score a cancelled ticket an hour before a Wednesday matinee about a couple months ago for the regular orchestra price - $189. There wasn't a cancellation line; I just went to the box office window and asked if there were any cancelled tickets. Not sure how it is for other days or times.

[Shannonigans]

Posted: 3/27/17 at 11:06pm

Thanks for your help! Was there a line when you went to the ticket office?

(also, bump for other opinions)

[djoko84]

Posted: 3/28/17 at 7:17am

The line wasn't that long at all, but it also depends on what time of day you go. For matinee go about an hour before and for a night show go early afternoon and then again an hour before the how if you had no luck the first time.

[Big Apple2]

Posted: 3/28/17 at 8:32am

I'm also looking into hopefully scoring a cancellation ticket when I'm in town in May. Right now I see that as my best chance of seeing the show without paying the exorbitant prices at StubHub.  Thanks for the tips. 

[HunterK]

Posted: 3/28/17 at 11:37pm

So I am going to get my butt up early tomorrow and try for SRO for the matinee or a cancelation. Just wondering where the line starts? Is the first person in line looking at The Marriott Marquis or The Imperial? I just don't want to get there and screw it up, I have heard stories. They sell SRO at 10am when the box office opens? I have been searching for the original post, but couldn't find the details, please don't yell at me!  

Have a great night 

[Wick3]

Posted: 3/28/17 at 11:45pm

Good luck! line starts right outside the box office. The line then goes towards the Imperial. For two-show days, people who ended up not getting SRO tend to stay for cancellation for the matinee.

[HunterK]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 12:41am

Thanks Wick!

Yes, I most likely will be someone waiting for cancellations if I don't get SRO. Thank you for the info. I plan on getting there pretty early. Hopefully by 10am thing will be good and I can go take a nap. Do you happen to know how much SRO tickets are? Cash only or card? 

I appreciate your kindness!

[Megsamegatron]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 8:33am

HunterK said: "Thanks Wick!

Yes, I most likely will be someone waiting for cancellations if I don't get SRO. Thank you for the info. I plan on getting there pretty early. Hopefully by 10am thing will be good and I can go take a nap. Do you happen to know how much SRO tickets are? Cash only or card? 

I appreciate your kindness!

 

"

SRO are $42 either cash or card. Sending positive thoughts, the show is worth the wait!

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:58am

Trying today. Do they come outside to the people waiting in line first or if someone just walked in and asked for one, would they be given one?

[HunterK]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 12:45pm

I got to the line at 5am this morning and there were at least 20+ people waiting. I walked right back to the hotel and went to sleep. Got up at 10 and walked over. Cancellation line was outside and only had 2 people. I honestly didn't know it was the line. So I waited in the box office line to ask, there were 10 people in front trying to buy for today or in the future. When I finally got up to the window, the very nice lady said the line is outside. I turned my heard and the line went from 2 people to 12, all the people in front of me in the box office line went and waited. I knew I didn't have a chance. I asked the box office lady if she had anything tonight or tomorrow and she said "hold on" and went and talked to the woman at the other window. All I heard was "I can release it?" She smiled and said I have Row F Mezzanine seat 108 for $169. I couldn't put my card down fast enough. Got my ticket for tomorrow night. The people behind me then asked for tomorrow as well and she said sold out. So I do not know how I got so lucky! Very excited!

Thanks for the positive thoughts!

[Wick3]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 1:06pm

Lucky you!!!!!!!!! I have heard mixed stories about cancellation line at DEH (some days they give a few seats some days only 1 seat and others none.) the fact that you got a ticket in center mezz with barely any waiting needed is a great deal, in my opinion.

now go see Hello Dolly! I heard there are cheap tickets for the matinee today on stubhub.

[Shannonigans]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 4:02pm

Luck you HunterK!!! That's the dream!

My main issue with doing the lines is that it's all up to chance... this is probably the last time I will be in NYC until July, and I'm worried about catching OBC before some of them start to leave.

Worth the risk or worth the money?? Such a hard choice!

[Megsamegatron]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 6:54pm

Shannonigans said: "Luck you HunterK!!! That's the dream!

My main issue with doing the lines is that it's all up to chance... this is probably the last time I will be in NYC until July, and I'm worried about catching OBC before some of them start to leave.

Worth the risk or worth the money?? Such a hard choice!

 

"

If you have the money, it is worth it to see the OBC! Though waiting in line for 6 hours for SRO for me was the best option, if I was visiting and didn't want to wait for so long I'd spend the money. As for the lottery, I know more people who've won the Hamilton lottery than have won for DEH. The SRO from a couple of weeks ago were skeptical of if they actually set aside seats for the lottery. 

Hope this helps!

[DebraR]

Posted: 3/30/17 at 1:34am

By any chance did you ask what time the first person got there?  My daughter will be giving it a shot next Thursday and that is the only day she can go.  She was thinking 4:30.  I want her to go early but not too early.

Thanks!

[Wick3]

Posted: 3/30/17 at 8:40am

Debra, I've heard reports of people going as early as 2am! It's spring break period the next 2-3 weeks so I can see people getting there early.

[DebraR]

Posted: 3/30/17 at 11:01am

Thanks!  I was there at 4 last month and thought that was crazy. Hopefully more folks will post in the next few days and it wont go quite that early but I know if she wants to be guaranteed, she'll have to do it.

 

Wow!

 

 

[akmiller_98]

Posted: 3/30/17 at 12:13pm

I'm curious.

Has anyone here won or know someone that has won this lottery?

How many tickets are they drawing names for and where are the seats?

 

[djoko84]

Posted: 3/31/17 at 3:21pm

akmiller_98 said: "I'm curious.

Has anyone here won or know someone that has won this lottery?

How many tickets are they drawing names for and where are the seats?

 

 

"

I do know from asking the box office about the box seats that they now set them aside for lottery. They used to sell them for an amazing price - I think like $69. I wanted to buy them after people on this board said the view was totally worth it, but when I went to purchase them the box office told me they're for lottery now. I was lucky enough to get a regular price cancellation ticket instead - which was also totally worth it.

[@z5]

Posted: 3/31/17 at 4:40pm

Wow...I went on a Tuesday in the last week of December and got there around a little after 8 and got tickets no problem. Happy I did it back then. 

[DebraR]

Posted: 3/31/17 at 6:43pm

Did anyone happen to go today or yesterday to wait for SRO? Am curious what time you got there and if you were successful.

 

Thanks!

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 3/31/17 at 7:23pm

Thought I'd leave my GREAT experience with the cancellation line. I got in the SRO line at 9:55, knowing I wouldn't get anything, but hoping to maybe get a cancelled ticket. I got to the front and there wasn't anything, but she said that they do start handing out cancellation tickets around 12 (for the 2pm matinee), so it was around 10:30 and I was first in the cancellation line! At 12:15ish, I was pulled in and got my Premium Row G seat for $189! Amazing seat, amazing show. 

[djoko84]

Posted: 3/31/17 at 9:42pm

The cancellation line is really the way to go for this show. And most likely, matinee is your best bet for it.

[DebraR]

Posted: 3/31/17 at 10:25pm

Unfortunately can't afford to do cancellation, standing room is the only option.  Its supposed to rain the day she is going to try, maybe that'll help (but wont be fun).  Still curious what time folks got there yesterday or today and whether they were successful.

 

Thanks!

[Shannonigans]

Posted: 3/31/17 at 10:41pm

Thanks all! These stories are making the cancellation line sound better and better...

I will be in NYC both Saturday and Sunday so that gives me two opportunities for matinee. Would one be better than the other?

Also regarding the actual queueing... if the matinees are at 2pm and 3pm, does that mean arriving around 10am for both? Where does the cancellation line start?