We're checking out the seating chart at the Gerschwin Theater in NYC. Is anyone familiar with the theater? WHY are tickets more expensive farther back in the orchestra section than in the front few rows? Is the stage so far elevated that we'd get neck cramps if we purchased within the first five rows in the orchestra section? How is the front mezzanine? Very few tickets left...so please reply quickly!!! Thanks

If you're in the first couple of rows you can miss action that happens at the back of the stage. I can't give details - since we usually sit in row 10 to 12 in any theater - but with this show there are things you can miss.

I don't think the first few rows are cheaper than the bulk of the seats. But there are a few rows a little further back that are preferred or premier seating. They are considered better because you are not too close to the action. I really don't think the stage is that high. I personally love being able to see faces and expressions, so I would not hesitate to buy those close up -- particularly second or third row. Extreme sides maybe not so good.

If front mezzanine seats are available, grab them!

It is a gigantic theater, and I suspect you can't see very well at all in the first few rows. Seats on the first two or three rows in any large Broadway theater are really too close to the stage (not unlike the front row of a movie theater). Well, that's my opinion.

I believe Wicked also has some day-of-performance discount tickets that are a lot cheaper, and those are usually on the first few rows.

There are lottery tickets available on the day of performance, but I don't think there are any day-of-performance discount tickets available for purchase.

Ah ... ok. I was confused. I thought the lottery tickets were cheaper. The OP is finding expensive prices right now because you have to buy tickets to Wicked a few months in advance; I suspect only premium seats are available. But if they aren't sold in the day or two before the performance, they will sometimes show up for regular price on Ticketmaster. However, in the busy tourist season you can't really count on that.

Doug, you are correct. Wicked has a lottery in which 25 tickets @ $26.50 are available for each performance. I believe they are tickets in the first row or two.
Otherwise, you'll find no other tickets priced below the regular (full) rates for Wicked.

There are lottery tickets available - but it's a lottery.
You show up 2.5 hours before the show and stand around.
You go in, one at a time, and put your name on a card.
They draw for the winners.
The winners get to buy the tickets - cash only.
Max = 2 tickets
The whole process takes about an hour.
Usually about 1/10 of the people present "win" the chance to buy the 2 tickets.
It's a normal lottery, but for high demand tickets so the odds aren't that great.
I know. I tried.

BTW, I searched for single seat tickets while I was here and three options were available from this week to the end of April.
Three.
Three shows that had ONE seat available - through April.
While I was doing the lottery, I asked at the box office to see if they had any tickets (just in case).
No.
IMO, if you see tix for sale, buy them!

Thanks everyone...we got GREAT seats and a GREAT big price to go with them!!! HA As starrs mentions, there were so few seats left for when we were going in June. We got nervous and bought them. Seriously, we would check on seats and compare them to another night then go back to the original seats and they would be gone. So we found some that worked and didn't compare again...we just bought them. I received an e-mail todcay that our tickets should be delivered to us tomorrow! WHEW...that was a close one. Many thanks for all your help.