A Chorus Line Lotto Rigged

[avab802]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:27pm

Last Saturday, 6/23, my partner & I decided to try lotto for the evening show of ACL. As we were waiting for the names to be drawn, we noticed Alisan Porter and Heather Parcells hanging out outside the theater, each with a group of family/friends. As they began drawing the lotto winners, we understood why. Every person from their groups of family/friends got in. They took half of the 20 available lotto seats. It's obvious it was not just a coincidence either, because the winning cards were pulled inside the lobby, out of view of the lotto entrants.

I am not a sore loser by any means, but this just seems wrong to me. Cast members have other means of getting tickets for their friends and family members. The lotto system is there for people who cannot afford to pay full price to have a chance to see the show, and for the cast to take advantage of it really rubs me the wrong way.

I've talked to friends about what happened, and it seems that ACL usually pulls the lotto winners out of view of the entrants. One friend also told me that last time she was there Paul McGill's parents won. (I'm not going to assume this was rigged, since it was only one winner, but it is suspicious.)

I am thinking of writing a letter to someone about the situation. I've been told lotto falls under the house manager's jurisdiction - is this correct?

Has anyone else here encountered a similar situation at ACL lotto?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:32pm

If this is true - it's a shame.

This is one of the reasons why the lotto should be drawn in view of everyone out of a hat or something.

There was nothing wrong with the cast members' family/friends entering the lotto; however, if it was rigged so they'd all win - now that's wrong.

Updated On: 6/27/07 at 01:32 PM

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:33pm

Stop whining.

These are the actors IN THE SHOW. The only way for the actors to get seats for their families is to buy house seats (at $111.25 a piece), which gets deducted from their weekly paycheck

While it may not be exactly "fair," I'm pretty sure the theatre has the right to give the lotto tickets to anyone they want.

As far as I know, they ALWAYS pull the cards inside the lobby.

Updated On: 6/27/07 at 01:33 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:36pm

They ALWAYS draw inside the lobby, then announe outside.
Technically, some shows allow cast members to use a certain number of lottery seats ahead of time..
But really.. I am sure you would be griping still if you had lost and they had as well..
Updated On: 6/27/07 at 01:36 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:37pm

I was there one time when a girl who the woman doing it obviously knew came up with her parents and she was like "It'll be their first show..." So the woman took those cards and folded them herself...and big surprise, they got all the tickets they needed. It was cold then, so we were all inside and watched her draw them...but I'm fairly sure she folded them different to the others.

I was there Saturday night too...and was one of the last drawn when they redrew. I didn't realize who all was hanging out outside until I heard the people behind me talking. Someone else..Chryssie I think...had a father and friend of his sitting in the front row too. They were next to me.

I'd heard from a friend it was rigged a while back. And yeah, it does suck. I try to look at the positive...at least you don't have to pay to enter. Then it really would suck even more.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:39pm

Avab, is your problem moreso that they entered period or that it seemed all of them were rigged to win?

Again, I don't see anything wrong with them entering, but the part about them all winning sounds fishy to me.

"Technically, some shows allow cast members to use a certain number of lottery seats ahead of time."

If this was true, they should do that ahead of time and lessen the amount of seats to be lottoed off.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:41pm

I understand your frustration, but imagine the frustration of being an actor in the show and having to truck your tush outside the theatre to wait and see if your family and/or friends are going to get in that night. They deserve a little bonus for actually busting their butts in the show every night-I see no problem with them getting the lotto. I guess the gripe is that the box office shouldn't do it in plain sight of others. Also, I doubt it happens every night. Cut Curly Sue a break.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:41pm

Jessica won yesterday at lottery and it wasn't even her name, but she answered to whatever it was - Marlene or something. I almost said "hey um... you're in the show" but since nobody else in the lottery group seemed to know who she was or notice, I figured... whatever. My friends and I noticed though.

I feel like maybe they should have just pulled two lottery tickets out of the running and just not drawn for them at all. I don't think that's unfair. It was just a little weird.

Updated On: 6/27/07 at 01:41 PM

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:43pm

Thesbijean, in what world is it OK for people to cheat at lotto? If the show wants to set them aside, great. But your assertion is ridiculous.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:45pm

"I am thinking of writing a letter to someone about the situation. I've been told lotto falls under the house manager's jurisdiction - is this correct?"

Each show is different. I believe when Spelling Bee had a lottery, it was run by the show's general management company. I believe it is the same way for A Chorus Line, which means the House Manager has no control over the lottery person.

[NJgirl]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:48pm

if its the same lady who usually runs lotto there...she's also an usher? I believe taking/scanning tickets at the door? And she always pulls lotto inside out of view.

This wouldn't be the first time that lotto seats would be "reserved" for a cast members friends or family as someone pointed out earlier.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:49pm

If it's last minute, it's hard to coordinate ahead of time.

So? She answered to a different? She wrote down what is on her photo ID. maybe she uses a stage name. get real people.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:49pm

It's not cheating if they can give the tickets to whoever they want.

The lottery isn't one of the 10 Commandments, it's a privelage, and you should be glad that shows even do it, as opposed to whining when someone from the show gets tickets.

The actors, who bust their buts 8 times a week (though in ACL's case, more like 6 times a week), have every right to secure tickets for their families, and calling my assertion ridiculous goes to show that you don't respect the performers.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:52pm

Thes,

My problem has nothing to do with the families getting tickets. That's totally cool (although I've never heard of it being done before.) My problem is them doing it AT lottery, and making everyone else at lotto think they've got a chance, when a certain amount of seats are already reserved.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:53pm

^ what WaltSummers said. :) If 10 tickets will be used be cast members, simply say "This evening we have 10 seats available in lottery." Don't say you have 20 if you know half are already gone.

Updated On: 6/27/07 at 01:53 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:55pm

what does it matter WHAT they say? There is a limited number? If you buy a ticket for the $$$ lottery, do they tell you how many tickets they sold before they draw? I mean.. really...

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:55pm

It has nothing to do with respecting the actors. Sheesh.

If they want to pull the seats for the actors beforehand, great.

But don't pull this stunt about everyone having a FAIR chance at winning the lotto. We're not IDIOTS. Just play straight with us.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:56pm

And house seats aren't always decucted from the person's paycheck...at all.

They can be paid for in ANY manner.

And, I don't mean to sound harsh, but if I were making $1000+ a week, I sure as hell wouldn't hesitate to purchase a $111 ticket for a family member if they couldn't afford it.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:57pm

everyone DOES have a fair chance... you have a chance at being one of the names drawn for an available seats.. just like for the 30 some odd seats at wicked.. or the 12 at ave q.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:57pm

what does it matter WHAT they say? There is a limited number? If you buy a ticket for the $$$ lottery, do they tell you how many tickets they sold before they draw? I mean.. really...

It does matter.

Because I don't appreciate being LIED to.

Just tell us! Is that too much to ask?????

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:58pm

Time to send Riedel at The Post a little letter exposing this. I'm sure he'll get to bottom of this.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:58pm

When you are whining like a 5 year pld that didn't get the doll at k-mart that you want? yes.

[ben4]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 1:59pm

I see no problem with the theater setting aside tickets for cast members at a discounted price, but to leave 40-50 people standing outside the theatre thinking they have a chance of winning, when in reality it's been fixed, is absolutely f*cking ridiculous.

It's false advertisement.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 2:00pm

broadwayguy, I don't see anyone whining in this thread.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 2:00pm

everyone DOES have a fair chance... you have a chance at being one of the names drawn for an available seats.. just like for the 30 some odd seats at wicked.. or the 12 at ave q.

*you* don't seem to quite get it in your head.

how is it fair when the results are predetermined???

we get it. they want to set the seats aside. fine.

But don't patronize us by pretending that ALL the tickets are available for the lottery, because they ARE NOT.