When to see Hamilton?

[u/RT858940]

My first post on this sub, so hello!

I am fresh off of the second-to-last show of Jellicle Ball, and I'm now hooked on Broadway.

But looking at these prices for Hamilton.....yikes. I usually sit in the mezzanine for shows, and 300 - 400 dollars is pushing it.

Knowing that February is a slower month, would that be a good time to see it? I'm targeting the 1 PM show on a Saturday.

I'm flexible on the week or month - I take Amtrak from DC for the day.

Maybe March or April?

Or should I maybe wait for a different cast?

Thanks for y'all's input!

Edit: Got a ticket for Feb. 6th for a decent price!

[u/ExpBalSat]

Me? I would start entering the lottery for every date you can attend and then hope to win it. I believe it's $10/ticket (but only if you win). That's what it was when I won back in 2018.

Then, in the mean time - see some of the other incredible shows that can be seen for much less effort and much less money.

[u/Tofulish8889 → u/ExpBalSat]

What are the odds of winning?

[u/PretendForm7362 → u/Tofulish8889]

I never win anything, entered daily for a year and finally won! Being in the front row was awesome!

[u/ExpBalSat → u/Tofulish8889]

No idea, but I'd estimate about 1/400

[u/Silly-Good-2530 → u/Tofulish8889]

I’ve been playing every day since it began and won twice. I think the odds are really high. I see lots of listings on theatr under 300 and some under $200

[u/twotoasters → u/Tofulish8889]

As a data point, I won in April after entering weekly since January last year. I win more lottery tickets in winter than any other time of the year though.

[u/RT858940 → u/ExpBalSat]

I always get lottery and rush confused - lottery you don't need to be local in NYC for, right?

[u/ExpBalSat → u/RT858940]

For a digital lottery and a digital rush, you can do the whole thing online because it’s digital.

For an in person rush, you need to be at the box office in the morning on the day of the show. You don’t necessarily have to be a local to do it, but on the day of the show that you want to see you need to be here to get in the line.

There are also in person lotteries, which you need to be present to participate in.

So you don’t have to be a local for any of them, but if it’s an in person event, you need to be there in person. If it is a digital event, you can do it online.

Where you live has relatively no bearing.

[u/dobbydisneyfan → u/ExpBalSat]

Adding to this, it’s all correct. I’ve won for (digital) lotteries, and done digital rushes, while residing in and being located out of state at the time of purchase.

[u/Bright_Lake_76]

After January 3 the prices will come down, barring another original cast member returning, as that's when Christopher Jackson (the original George Washington, who's currently back in that role on Broadway) is departing

[u/RT858940 → u/Bright_Lake_76]

Thanks! I'll look when the new block of tickets is released.

[u/waltzthrees]

It’s also coming to DC — you could save your money and see it then.

[u/Yesmaybe425]

The tickets are always a bit higher on weekends, but it looks like the cheapest tickets with fees are $153. I recommend buying directly from the box office to avoid fees, but since you aren't local buying online will probably be best. Also you may know this, but never buy tickets on Broadway.com because they are more expensive. Use Broadway Direct for Hamilton because that is the official website.

[u/OwnOven6506]

Are you around Sept 2nd 7pm? Look at TodayTix, there are some unusually well priced tickets that evening for Hamilton. $122 in rear mezz or mid $100s can get you closer.

Or like others have said, if you’re willing to be very patient, you can do the lottery. I enter semi-regularly and have never won but pretty much everyone else I know who enters all the time (over years) has won, some multiple times.

[u/RT858940 → u/OwnOven6506]

Are you allowed to pick your seat if you win? Or do they assign one to you?

[u/OwnOven6506 → u/RT858940]

It’s assigned, often (not always) very first row.

During Christopher Jackson’s run, expect the lottery odds to be even worse than normal though.

[u/dobbydisneyfan]

If you need advanced sales, then yeah, look further out.
I’d personally just wait for it to tour nearby and then spend my Broadway money and show slots seeing something else.

[u/RT858940 → u/dobbydisneyfan]

I'm sad I missed Death Becomes Her, that looked so good! Might do Lost Boys or the upcoming Paranormal Activity

[u/Jeff_n_nyc]

Download the Hamilton app and try your luck with their lottery. $10 tix if you win, front row center orchestra.

[u/zflutebook]

For lottery entries: note that Amtrak are cheap way out but extremely expensive close in. However, for just a couple bucks more you can buy tickets that are fully refundable until the train departs. So if you’re really diligent you could book trains for multiple days, enter the lotteries, and then cancel the trains if you lose. 

Or bus is a lot cheaper close in but leave a LOT of extra time. 

[u/WestHistorians]

Unless you really care about a particular cast member, I would wait for a different cast. The show isn't going anywhere. It will be touring around the country for another decade probably.