If so, those seats may now cost a bit extra. A few Broadway shows — including one incoming production — have adopted a new pricing policy for aisle seats located in the orchestra section of the theatre.
For the upcoming Broadway revival of The Seagull — which arrives at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre Sept. 16 co-starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Peter Sarsgaard — aisle seats will cost theatregoers an additional $25. Orchestra seats for the production are priced $110, with orchestra aisle seats on sale for $135. However, the aisle seats can only be purchased in pairs (with only one of those seats actually on the aisle), so that's an extra $50 for the ticket buyer. Those who wish to spend a little less can purchase balcony seats for $41 or mezzanine seats (Rows G-J) for $77.
Similarly, the 2007 Best Musical Tony Award winner, Spring Awakening, is also offering the orchestra aisle seats option. At the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, where the Duncan Sheik-Steven Sater musical plays, orchestra seats are priced $122 with orchestra aisle seats going for $145, a $23 jump. Again, however, aisle seats must be purchased in pairs. It should be noted that tickets for the rock musical span a wide range, with onstage seating available for just $40.
The acclaimed revival of Gypsy — which recently picked up Tonys for each of its stars, Patti LuPone, Boyd Gaines and Laura Benanti — has also adopted orchestra aisle pricing. The Stephen Sondheim-July Styne-Arthur Laurents musical at the St. James is charging $18 for the chance to sit on the aisle. Again, though, the aisle seats must be purchased in pairs. Orchestra seats for Gypsy are priced $117; the aisle seats are $135. Lower-priced tickets are also available; in fact, balcony seats (Rows G-H) are priced $32 or $52 for Rows A-F.
It remains to be seen whether other Broadway productions will adopt similar pricing structure.