Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Teen seeing Hamilton alone
miatamel
Swing Joined: 5/30/16
#1Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:35pm
The only thing my (now) 15 year old wanted for her birthday was to see Hamilton. So, family pitched in yesterday and she got a "tentative" ticket to go in September, Oct. or early November. I know prices are sky high so I'm only going to be able to afford ONE ticket. We will be traveling from MS so of course I will be there when she goes in and there when she comes out. I had hoped for a matinee for our comfort in waiting and her being alone, but the prices aren't any lower on Wednesday at two.
My questions are:
Is this okay for her you think to see it alone? (She seems okay with it but only because she's excited about the thought of seeing it)
I have clicked thru and priced every performance for those three months. (Aside: Lord at the prices!!) I did stumble upon one for $423 but I'd have to buy two, which at this point would be the same as the price of 1 other times but it's in the very, very back--Rear Mezz, Row G. I can't go and leave her younger sis, so I'd probably have to resell. Worth it for that price, that far back?
Or would it be better for these options: I can pay a few hundred dollars more and get one ticket in Orch, Row V, Orch Row E, or boxes G, H, F, or E at other dates.
I would really appreciate any help or advice you can give as this will take months of planning and saving to pull off and I'd at least like to do it right :)
(Or should we just wait and see what the Chicago tickets drop at since LMM isn't going to be there in the fall anyway??)
Thank y'all!
#2Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:40pm
There's nothing wrong with a 15-year-old sitting in a theatre, seeing a show, without companionship if that's what you're asking.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#3Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:40pm
Did you say 2016 after September, October, or November? If not, you can go much cheaper in 2017.
As for seeing it alone? There won't be any issue with that. But if you're flying in, and going through all of that. Just get yourself a ticket, too. If you're buying plane tickets and scalped show tickets, may as well make it a shared experience.
#4Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:49pm
I have been going in on my lonesome to see shows, from outside Manhattan, since I was 14 on a regular basis. She will be fine.
miatamel
Swing Joined: 5/30/16
#5Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 1:14pm
okay, so she goes it alone. Any opinion on those seat choices? If I get the very rear tickets I'll just send her not-as-enthusiastic sister with her to see it. Just wonder if it's worth it for the non-enthusiastic or just splurge for the Box or O tickets instead for one.
#6Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 1:16pm
Don't get the box seat, it feels impersonal. The theater isn't that large so rear would be fine. Orchestra row M or before is probably best.
#7Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 1:23pm
When I was 16, All I wanted was to see Wicked for my birthday and my aunt could only get one ticket for me, so what she did was she walked me to the theater and then met me at stage door after then we walked back to our hotel together. If her security is your issue, I'd suggest a similar plan so that you know she gets in and out alright. As far as seeing the show alone, I don't see anything wrong with it since I know plenty people (including myself) who have been doing solo trips since their teens.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
Updated On: 5/30/16 at 01:23 PM
BroadwayMomma
Understudy Joined: 5/23/16
#8Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 1:24pm
Personally, I wouldn't buy any tickets for fall until after Lin (and whoever) else leaves in July. The resale prices might come down after that. By waiting you might also be able to compare who is in the current NYC cast and the Chicago cast. In terms of seats, I would splurge on a single seat closer up.
schubox
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/16
#9Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 1:49pm
BroadwayMomma said: "Personally, I wouldn't buy any tickets for fall until after Lin (and whoever) else leaves in July. The resale prices might come down after that. By waiting you might also be able to compare who is in the current NYC cast and the Chicago cast. In terms of seats, I would splurge on a single seat closer up.
"
Was coming to say this. Once most of the OBC leaves and the Tony buzz wears off I imagine resale prices will come down. Maybe not a ton, but I doubt you'll be seeing $1k+ for rear mezzanine anymore
#10Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 2:10pm
I've been going to shows alone since I was 16. I'm 20 now, she'll be fine. You go to see the show, not to socialize (give or take).
playbill-love
Featured Actor Joined: 7/30/13
#11Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 2:20pm
Likewise, I've been seeing theater and concerts alone, sometimes up to 2 hours from where I lived as a teen, since I got my driver's lisence and could drive myself. If you're concerned for her drop her off and pick her up at the theater but there's nothing that's going to be unsafe or weird for her while she's watching the show. Agreed about holding off to buy resale tickets since the price may drop.
jjohnson5
Chorus Member Joined: 4/14/12
#13Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 3:06pm
Your teen will be fine. I starting going into NYC alone at about 15. I would take the NJ Transit to NY Penn Station and then walk to whatever show I was seeing and I never had any problems.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#14Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 3:21pm
I was 10 years old and saw the original Broadway production of CHICAGO about 10 times. This was the summer of 1975 in a gritty, drugs and porn theatre era of NYC. A 15 year old in a Disney-fied NYC is more than safe.
NOTE: my parents were content with seeing CHICAGO once but I persisted and haggled to see it again (and again) so they compromised with dropping me off at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers Theatre) and picking me up after the performance. Yes, a 10 year old was a bit more saavy in a 1970s NYC, but alas that's why I saw CHICAGO by myself so many times at the age of 10.
jdra
Understudy Joined: 5/9/16
#15Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 3:43pm
My 12 year old boys saw it alone in April. And when I walked by theater yesterday, I met a woman waiting outside while her 9 year old daughter was in the show.
LetTheSunshineIn2
Understudy Joined: 3/10/12
#16Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 4:12pm
A 15 year old will be completely fine alone in the theater. A city kid (any city not just NYC) or a well travelled kid who is used to getting around by herself will be perfectly safe and fine meeting up with you somewhere within a few blocks of the theater so you can avoid the post show crowds in that area and wait in more comfort. As an adult female, I've never felt unsafe alone in the theater district at night. If you live in a small town and don't travel much, or just have a more sheltered child, then I would drop off / pick up right at the theater doors.
hes16
Stand-by Joined: 2/6/16
#17Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 4:32pm
Your daughter will definitely be fine. As for the tickets, my parents sat on the left side of the second row of the rear mezz and loved the seats. I sat in orchestra row g center which is one of the last rows without the overhang. While I would encourage you to go for the orchestra seats, make sure that the seat isn't at an extreme end or far under the overhang because that would most likely be partial view.
gatorgirl2
Understudy Joined: 4/6/16
#18Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 4:32pm
I second waiting till the OBC makes the announcement they will leave (probably in July) and ticket prices will hopefully go down.
#19Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 4:42pm
I agree with the others to wait buying resale ticket prices until after OBC leaves.
I started watching shows on my own when I was 16 as well and I think your teen will be fine too. If demand does die down, you may as well go to the cancellation line that day and see if you can score $177 tickets. I have a feeling after Tony's the $177 price will go up... probably $199?
rebeccmam31
Featured Actor Joined: 10/21/15
#20Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 4:58pm
miatamel said: "The only thing my (now) 15 year old wanted for her birthday was to see Hamilton. So, family pitched in yesterday and she got a "tentative" ticket to go in September, Oct. or early November. I know prices are sky high so I'm only going to be able to afford ONE ticket. We will be traveling from MS so of course I will be there when she goes in and there when she comes out. I had hoped for a matinee for our comfort in waiting and her being alone, but the prices aren't any lower on Wednesday at two.
My questions are:
Is this okay for her you think to see it alone? (She seems okay with it but only because she's excited about the thought of seeing it)
I have clicked thru and priced every performance for those three months. (Aside: Lord at the prices!!) I did stumble upon one for $423 but I'd have to buy two, which at this point would be the same as the price of 1 other times but it's in the very, very back--Rear Mezz, Row G. I can't go and leave her younger sis, so I'd probably have to resell. Worth it for that price, that far back?
Or would it be better for these options: I can pay a few hundred dollars more and get one ticket in Orch, Row V, Orch Row E, or boxes G, H, F, or E at other dates.
I would really appreciate any help or advice you can give as this will take months of planning and saving to pull off and I'd at least like to do it right :)
(Or should we just wait and see what the Chicago tickets drop at since LMM isn't going to be there in the fall anyway??)
Thank y'all!"
I sent my 14 year old and her (also 14 year old) best friend alone to Hamilton on the 14th of this month while I went to Waitress. I walked them to the door, had my daughter text me when she got through having her ticket scanned, and was back to meet her at the door before they got out (as Waitress has a shorter running time). There were absolutely no hiccups, they never felt in danger, and they LOVED the experience. Don't give it a second thought. It will be fine.
miatamel
Swing Joined: 5/30/16
#21Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 8:13pm
Ah! I never considered waiting until July. I figured after the Tony's they were just going to go up, up and up again. I've seen $300+ increases in rear mezzanine seats just in the last week (I've been tracking and keeping a log, trying not to screw this up). And I was GOING to go Stubhub because they were so much cheaper than TM...then read the story about the Shark Tank guy. Sure wouldn't want that to happen.
I guess I wasn't worried so much about her safety as the social aspect as she has been flying alone each summer since she was 12 to different colleges for summer camps (TX, NC, MA). But she's a social being and I guess I worried most that she would miss out having someone to experience it with and talk to it about. She is really overwhelmed about the gift of getting to go and I wish I could afford another dang ticket to take a friend!
Anyway, the other "affordable" tickets besides RM, Row G right now are box seats. I know they are obstructed so probably not worth it? I guess I'm going to have to really decide about putting off buying another six weeks or so.
Thanks again for all the help.
#22Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 8:40pm
Lower box seats B and D are very good. They are partial view, but you miss only a smal part of the stage on the extreme side. I sat there earlier in May with two friends and we all were pleased with the view. It's possible that boxes A and C have some lights hanging off them. I wished I had asked the people in that box how their view was, but I was too distracted. I feel the upper boxes are too high up. I would prefer the lower boxes to the rear orchestra, personally.
KathyNYC2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
#23Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 9:37pm
miatamel said:
"I guess I wasn't worried so much about her safety as the social aspect as she has been flying alone each summer since she was 12 to different colleges for summer camps (TX, NC, MA). But she's a social being and I guess I worried most that she would miss out having someone to experience it with and talk to it about. She is really overwhelmed about the gift of getting to go and I wish I could afford another dang ticket to take a friend!
"
It's highly likely that the person sitting next to her will be equally excited to be there and they may strike up a conversation as I often do when going alone to the theater. So I don't think she'll be lonely. ..especially in a highly charged situation of bring in the Hamilton audience where people are so excited to be there and will probably want to talk about Hamilton non-stop.
KathyNYC2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
#24Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 9:37pm
Oops..double post. Sorry...
Updated On: 5/30/16 at 09:37 PM
StephieElise
Featured Actor Joined: 11/12/12
#25Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:02pm
I think she'll be fine. While I've never gone to the theatre totally alone I have sat by myself and it's fine and I've even ended up having a nice time chatting to the people next to me. In fact, my mum and I are actually sitting separately when we'll see Hamilton (the evening of 28 September if she's going that night and wants someone to say hi to at interval!).
#26Teen seeing Hamilton alone
Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:08pm
I used to go by myself on the transit train up to Penn Station and walk to a show all by myself at 15! Your kid will be fine and love you for it.
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