jroth

Managed to get tickets to Merchant of Venice in Central Park. Haven't done this in years but since I now live near the park I was able to get there at @ 7:30 am and joined the senior line (a row of benches at the theater). You wait until 1 pm when the tickets are distributed. This line started to form around 6 am and I was near the end of the bench sitting area - but was fortunate to get two tickets. The regular "line" started to form - at 9 pm the night before - they slept all night in the park. My question was and is (and it was asked of the staff) - How come if everybody who will get tickets is there by about 8 am they don't just give them ouot then instead of waiting until 1 pm? The answer: Tradition. Not a good answer.
The show was superb - one of New York's great theater productions. Al Pacino was great as Shylock as was the rest of the cast.
Tourists: Not exactly the best experience - since if you are under 65 you have to wait with the regulars - all night or get there maybe like 3 am and wait until 1 pm to get tickets -- not a great way to spend your limited time in this city.

nyer

"How come if everybody who will get tickets is there by about 8 am they don't just give them ouot then instead of waiting until 1 pm? The answer: Tradition. Not a good answer."

The answer is not just tradition. The Public Theatre operates like any business-it opens certain hours (Not 8 am) and sets a time when tickets will be distributed. If people line up for 3 days should they give out the tickets 3 days in advance? If all the tickets are gone to people who are there by 4 am, should someone be giving out tickets at 4 am then?

I agree that the line has gotten crazier, You used to be able to go at 1 or 2 pm even on a weekend and sit around for a couple of hours and get tickets.

There are generally fewer free tickets availablethan there used to be years ago since corporate sponsors and Public Theatre members get first dibs on about half of them.

nytraveler

No matter how early you started giving out tickets people would start lining up much earlier to be the first there and be sure of getting them. No point in giving them out any sooner.

jroth

>>The answer is not just tradition. The Public Theatre operates like any business-it opens certain hours (Not 8 am) and sets a time when tickets will be distributed. If people line up for 3 days should they give out the tickets 3 days in advance? If all the tickets are gone to people who are there by 4 am, should someone be giving out tickets at 4 am then?>>
Apparently the Merchant of Venice is a special case - rave reviews and - Al Pacino. Thus people are sleeping over in the park or arriving in the very early am. By 8 am (or earlier) there is present all possible ticket holders. And by 9am - staff is present - we met them - so what point is there in waiting until 1 pm to distribute? And - I am not talking about distributing 3 days in advance if they are lined up -- they distribute for that day's performance only.

SueNYC

Ok Joe, you shamed me into finishing a blog post about Shakespeare in the Park. I haven't seen Merchant yet, but I did manage to see Winter's Tale.

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...tral-park.html