Student rush with no student ID?

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 9:42pm

So, I'll be in NYC with my family this summer. I have a student ID, but my sister changed schools and her new school does not give student IDs (I think she got rid of her old one). She's 14 and quite obviously a student. Is an actual student ID the only way to get the rush tickets, or is there another proof of student-ship that is acceptable?
Thanks!

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 9:48pm

I'm pretty sure most of the theatres require an ID. I could be wrong though.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 9:53pm

There are a few shows that just have general rush. I can't remember which ones though off the top of my head.

[winston89]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 10:17pm

For student rush they requier a student ID. I get off school at 12:30 on a wednesday and I often go to a show that afternoon. Even though I walk into the box office with my backpack on and get a student rush ticket they ask for my ID.

I have had a few situations where depending on the guy working at the box office they would see that I am young and clearly a student just by looking at me and figuring out how old I am and they would give me a student rush ticket without ID. But, it's not like a given theatre does this. This has happened with the person working at the box office. They see that I am clearly young enough to be a student so they give me the student rush without asking for ID.

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 10:26pm

I've NEVER been to a Broadway show (using student rush) where the box office staff have asked for a Student ID. I assumed that it was kinda like the cigarettes rule....If you look too young, they'll card you...In the SR case, I figured, if you LOOK like a student, they assume you're a student.

In any case...it might be a safe bet to go to the Board of Education and get a Proof of Enrollment. My school didn't have student ID cards, so on my trip back in high school to NYC I brought my proof of enrollment, just in case...but like I said..I never had to dignify it...

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 10:28pm

I rarely get asked for my ID.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 10:29pm

When I was in high school there was an instance where I didn't have my ID. I brought a copy of my report card and another piece of photo ID, and was able to get a ticket (this wasn't all that long ago, I only graduated last year).

[jojoaintashy17]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 12:21am

How ironic that you wrote this because tonight I went to Little Mermaid and you HAVE to have a student ID for each person getting a ticket. You cannot have one ID and then get one for your friend. I asked why and the box office lady gave me attitude saying that it's only for students blah blah blah and that I'm lucky to get this discount anyway.

Then I tried A Chorus Line across the street and he did the same thing. This is the FIRST time I've ever had to show my student ID EVER and I've been going regualarly for 2 years.

So I settled for Cry Baby and got GREAT seats (P aisle on the aisle) but I just was NOT a fan of this show. But you can get great tickets for student prices.

Good Luck and please keep posted on what happens.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 10:11am

They wouldn't let you get two tickets at ACL? That's odd.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 10:16am

I did it for Gypsy without it. But it was a small challenge. (I am a student but don't have the ID yet.) The guy at the box office sold me the tickets very begrudgingly. (and warned me I might get checked that night-and I wasn't.) I did it at August: Osage County with a letter from my school. (Don't recall but it did have a school name and my name-I showed my license after to prove I was in fact the person.) They were easier about it at August.

[jojoaintashy17]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 10:59am

First, he asked where my friend who was using the ticket and I said he wasn't there. He said that he has to see an ID for each ticket because it's a student discount. He said he was sorry but this is the rules of the theatre.

I dunno. Maybe he didn't like my face. So this is odd right and they usually give two tickets at ACL right? Im glad because Mario wasn't performing again until June 7th or somewhere close to that date so I can wait.

[twitchy+bitchy+manic]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 11:05am

can one normally get student rush tickets on any day? Like, even in late july around tourist season? I'm coming to NYC around then, but can only afford to book around two shows in advance. is the system the same as london, where it's around £20 for best available seats?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 11:15am

I always show my ID anyway, but one time I loat mine, and I'm a college student, so I wasn't sure if they'd give me a ticket. Anyways, I went to rush Bee and I showed them a printed unofficial school transcript with my name on it and my license for proof that it was mine. They ended up giving me a ticket. Dunno if it'll work for all situations.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 11:16am

It depends on the show. Some (The Little Mermaid I know) only have it for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Some don't offer it on Saturday nights.

As far as location, it varies from theatre to theatre. Some it's whatever's available. Others it's a designated row/rows or section.

There's a page on playbill.com that lists the policies for rushes and lotteries.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 11:47am

Maybe if your sister tells the box office she's only 14, they won't bother. It's one thing when it's an adult in their 20s (or beyond) who COULD be a student or could just be trying to swindle cheap tickets out of them, but someone that's obviously that young shouldn't need to prove she's really a student when it's illegal for her not to be in school.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 7:09pm

I didn't want to start a whole new thread for my questions, so I'll just ask here:

Where are Sunday... George general rush seats located? Do they set aside seats for rush for all performances, or is it whatever that's left? (I'm thinking about trying it for the closing performance)

[alliez92092]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 7:11pm

I don't know if theaters in New York do this, but in Boston we can bring in a report card from the year or some sort of transcript to get a ticket.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 7:21pm

COOOOLKid ~ General rush tickets (which anyone can get) are $26.25 and on the sides or very back of the rear mezz ~ still great seats. Those are available when the box office opens. Student rush tickets are half-price of whatever's left 30 minutes before curtain.

Don't know if they'll have either for the last performance...a lot of shows don't anymore.

Updated On: 5/26/08 at 07:21 PM

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 8:24pm

A lot of the time, they ask for a student ID. I take it out, and they NEVER look at it.

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 8:49pm

If I were to see The Little Mermaid with a student ID, what would I pay for let's say a seat in the mezzanine?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 8:55pm

Only a few times in my many years of purchasing student rush have I been "carded."

Recently, I didn't have the cash to pay full price, so I decided to try for student rush despite the fact that I was no longer a student. I chose a fairly unpopular show, and when he asked if I were a student, I told him that I was going to start grad school in the fall but didn't yet have my ID. He bought it.

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 8:57pm

How many tickets can you get per student?

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 9:02pm

Depends on the show. Sometimes 1, sometimes 2.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 9:23pm

Thanks for all the info, everyone!

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 10:18pm

One more question!

I might try Student Rush for Mamma Mia on Sunday night. Do you think they still have tickets left if I get there at around 2 pm?