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Seeing Green: Hilton Box Office Opens Sept. 10 for Young Frankenstein
By Kenneth Jones
10 Sep 2007
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Megan Mullally and Roger Bart star in Young Frankenstein.
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| photo by Paul Kolnik | A long line of theatregoers is expected to form on 42nd Street Sept. 10, when the Hilton Theatre box office opens for sales to Young Frankenstein, the new Mel Brooks musical.
Those wishing to avoid surcharges that come with purchasing by phone or those hoping to snag tickets from a special box-office-only allocation of $120 orchestra seats (called "prime center section" seats) will queue up long before the 10 AM start of sales.
Young Frankenstein producer Robert FX Sillerman stated, "To protect those consumers who prefer purchasing at the box office, we are making this special allocation of $120 prime center section seats available only at the Hilton Theatre box office as part of its opening celebration Sept. 10. Too often, internet and phone sales deplete the inventory of good locations, penalizing those who prefer the box office. This, along with our lottery for $25 front row seats, is part of our continuing effort to provide fair access to everyone."
It was not announced how many of these prime center-section seats would be available, where the seat locations are or the date range of future sales, but the allocation continues beyond Sept. 10. That is, the prime center-section offer isn't a one-day gimmick (unless, of course, the fixed number of seats sells out Sept. 10).
For the record, the highest priced ticket will be $450 per seat on Saturday nights for a "premier" ticket — in rows within the center orchestra. On weeknights, those "premier" seats are $350. Such seats are now the norm on Broadway, offering the producers a chance to compete with scalpers who would jack up prices based on what the market will allow.
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In the age of phone sales, long lines at box offices have become a thing of the past, although Mel Brooks' earlier hit, The Producers, was known for throngs at the box office during its celebrated run.
Young Frankenstein tickets — including $120 seats and higher-priced "premium seats," plus cheaper seats at $50-$80 — have been on sale by phone and on the internet for several weeks.
Young Frankenstein, directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, begins performances Oct. 11 and opens Nov. 8.
The Sept. 10 Hilton box-office opening also launches the start of the producers' lottery offer, which makes $25 front-row tickets available to those who might not be able to pay $120 (or more). On Sept. 10 a lottery list will be made, followed by a 7 PM drawing to determine who will snag $25 front-row orchestra seats to performances except Saturday evening during the show's first two weeks. This kicks off a lottery program for $25 front-row seats for every performance except Saturday evenings throughout the show's entire run.
(A $1.50 theatre restoration charge is added to all tickets purchased at the box office, bumping those lottery seats to $26.50 each.)
The Hilton Theatre is located at 213 West 42nd Street. "In anticipation of sizable crowds," the producers state, "it's recommended that ticket buyers arrive well before 10 AM." (This also helps create some free advertising in the form of a crowd on 42nd Street.)
For the box office opening, McDonald's at 220 West 42nd Street will provide free coffee and doughnuts to those in line.
Lottery Details
Lotteries for all performances of the first two weeks of the show's run (except Saturday evenings) will be held on Sept. 10.
Lottery entries will be accepted at the Hilton box office from the time it opens at 10 AM until 6 PM Sept. 10. The drawing will be held at 7 PM at McDonald's at 220 W. 42nd Street.
The regular day-of-show lottery routine will begin with the performance on Oct. 22.
Each performance day, the Hilton Theatre box office
will accept lottery entries for that day's show(s) beginning three hours before curtain for 45 minutes. Limit one entry per person per day and limit two tickets per entry.
Two hours before curtain, McDonald's at 220 West 42nd Street (directly across the street from the Hilton Theatre) will host the lottery drawing for the chance to buy these front-row seats at $26.50 each (including theatre restoration
charge).
The winners may then purchase the seats at the Hilton box
office, cash only, beginning 90 minutes before curtain time.
Lottery winners must be present at the McDonald's drawing and must present a picture ID for name verification both at the drawing and at the Hilton box office when purchasing tickets.
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During previews, Young Frankenstein performances are scheduled Monday-Saturday evenings at 8 PM, and Saturdays at 2 PM. Beginning Nov. 13, Young Frankenstein will play Tuesday evenings at 7 PM and Wednesday-
Saturday evenings at 8 PM with matinee performances on Wednesday and
Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 3 PM. (Exceptions: There will be Wednesday
matinees on Oct. 31 and Nov. 7 at 2 PM, a Sunday matinee on Nov. 4 at 3 PM and no performances on Nov. 2 and 9).
Tickets range from $121.50 to $51.50 (including a $1.50 facility fee).
Young Frankenstein features a book by three-time Tony Award winner Mel
Brooks and three-time Tony Award winner Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics
by Brooks. Musical supervision is by Glen Kelly.
The production stars Roger Bart (Frederick Frankenstein), Megan Mullally
(Elizabeth), Sutton Foster (Inga), Shuler Hensley (The Monster), Andrea
Martin (Frau Blucher), Fred Applegate (Inspector Kemp/Hermit) and
Christopher Fitzgerald (Igor).
For information, visit www.youngfrankensteinthemusical.com.
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Sutton Foster and Roger Bart star in Young Frankenstein.
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| photo by Paul Kolnik |
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