Here are the rules of the game.
Here is what the lottery looks like:
I’d say that you’d have had a 10% chance of winning on Preview Night.
Realize that the scalpers and scam artists are going crazy right about now, so paying $29 for a seat what’s worth north of $290 IRL might strike you as a good deal.
Get lucky!
This is it.
This is the biggest Broadway roadshow to hit town since forever.
Book of Mormon will play at our Curran Theatre from November 27th to December 30th 2012 and then it will be gone.
There is no way that the run of this smash musical comedy will be extended as the BoM crew will start up in Portland the day after New Year’s.
So here’s what you need to know:
1. This thing is going to be huge – everybody’s going to be talking about it. You know, because it’s ”the best musical of this century” per the New York Times ‘n stuff.
2. You want to go to this show whether you know it or not, even if you’re not into Broadway. Yes, Book of Mormon is profane, but it’s also “an atheist’s love letter to religion.”
3. Tickets are beyond sold out. So the scalpers and the scam artists are going to have a field day.
Check it, from the craigslist:
So that’s hundreds of dollars per seat for tickets what originally cost way less than $100.
So here’s what you do, you show up at the box office on Geary two hours early and enter the lottery.
At $29 a ticket for the winners, this is a steal.
If you don’t want to go through this kind of hassle day after day, then don’t do it because you are not a true fan, (The SHN / BoM people are making you jump through hoops for a reason, don’t you know.)
Now I’ll tell you, when they did this for Rent, back in the day, they lotteried away the two front rows for $19 a piece.
Good times.
Of course the angle was sort of ridiculous and you would see things you weren’t meant to see, but this was quite nice for students of the theatre.
(I don’t know which seats lottery winners will get – they might not get to sit right up front.)
So, have at it.
You Can’t Win If Don’t Play.
Our Schools Win Too.*
PRE-SHOW LOTTERY ANNOUNCED! THE BOOK OF MORMON Lottery Ticket Policy:
THE BOOK OF MORMON will conduct a pre-show lottery at the box office, making a limited number of tickets available at $29 apiece; cash only. This lottery will be held prior to every performance.
Entries will be accepted at the SHN Curran Theatre box office beginning two hours prior to each performance; each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to purchase on a card that is provided. One and a half hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $29 each.
Only one entry is allowed per person. Cards are checked for duplication prior to drawing. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Tickets are subject to availability.
Nine 2011 Tony Awards® say it’s the Best Musical of the Year. Vogue says, “It’s the funniest musical of all time.” And The New York Times says, “It’s the best musical of this century.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the Broadway phenomenon from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez. The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart calls it “A crowning achievement. So good, it makes me angry.” Contains explicit language.
For more information please visit www.bookofmormonthemusical.com.
If you come across any website other than shnsf.com claiming to sell THE BOOK OF MORMON tickets for the San Francisco engagement, buyer beware! SHN has no way of validating, or replacing tickets that have been purchased through any website other than shnsf.com. We cannot seat or refund you for an invalidated ticket.
If you have any questions, please call 1-888-746-1799 before purchasing.
*Oh, that’s just a saying – our schools won’t actually win.
The Book of Mormon, the so-called “best musical of this century,” is coming to town November 27 – December 30th, 2012 at our SHN Curran Theatre on Geary in Union Square.
This thing is going to sell out with extreme prejudice due to:
1. All those recent Tony awards, including Best Musical 2011;
2. Extremely good reviews;
3. A relatively small theatre (The Curran is big but the Orpheum and the Golden Gate are bigger); and
4. A short, five-week engagement – this show will bug out of here for Portlandia on Dec. 30th, 2012 NO MATTER WHAT, no extensions
And for the first time in my life, I can articulate a reason to have an AMEX card. The remaining decent-priced good seats at (those not already promised to SHN Members) will get sold today starting at 10:00 AM.
Choose or lose…
“AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDMEMBER EXCLUSIVE - GET EARLY ACCESS TO THE BOOK OF MORMON TICKETS!
BEGINNING WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12 AT 10AM
Nine 2011 Tony Awards® say it’s the Best Musical of the Year. Vogue says, “It’s the funniest musical of all time.” And The New York Times says, “It’s the best musical of this century.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the Broadway phenomenon from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez. The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart calls it “A crowning achievement. So good, it makes me angry.” Contains explicit language.
Coming to the SHN Curran Theatre for a strictly limited five-week engagement, November 27 – December 30.
SHNews customers: if you are an AMERICAN EXPRESS® cardmember, you can purchase tickets beginning today at 10 am, before the general public on sale which begins Friday, Sept. 21 at 10am.
To purchase, click here or call 888 746 1799. We recommend purchasing online for faster transaction process.
Please note: Tickets for the American Express® pre-sale can only be purchased using the above link or by phone. They are not available at any SHN Box Office.
Hurry! This exclusive offer ends Thursday, Sept 20.
Good for American Express® cardmembers only.
For more information, please visit
www.shnsf.com/online/
See the crew after the jump
Well, as they say:
“There’s nothing like a three-time Tony Award winning musical about a civil rights titan who used his distinctly original brand of big-band music to fight against injustice to usher in inspiration during the holidays.”
Indeed.
Now I missed Opening Night of Fela yesterday at SHN‘s Curran Theatre in Union Square, but Rachel Masters was on the scene:
“Amazed by Fela @SHNSF. Beyond incredible story, music & dance. Thank you to the cast for such a moving performance! “
Get all the deets right here, from Elena Park.
Oh, and don’t miss this update: ‘Fela!’ joint sends buzz through audience.
Sahr Ngaujah as Fela Kuti - Photo by: Monique Carboni
Paulette Ivory and Sahr Ngaujah - Photo by: Tristram Kenton
Ever more deets:
Motivated by his mother, a civil rights champion, he defied a corrupt and oppressive military government and devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human dignity.
FELA! is a triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, featuring Fela Kuti’s captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones.
EVERYBODY SAY YEAH YEAH!
For more information on the show click here.
Time Out New York
The New York Post
Guidance for Parents - No Children under 5 allowed.
San Franciscans were very pleased with yesterday’s electrifying Opening Night of Richard III at our SHN Curran, the “intimate Broadway showplace.”
Per pirate-nurse Pat Mulkey:
“Kevin Spacey as Richard III was Incredible! Whole production blew me a-w-a-y.”
A standing ovation for cast and crew – the view from above the Grand Chandelier:
Click to expand
Spacey was sweating through his shirt from the end of the first act – he brought it.
And that thing at the very end, like what happens after his character dies, you know, with the thing? He’s still dominating the dojo.
And oh, Alan Scherstuhl offers his thoughts here - don’t miss that.
Hurray!
Kevin Spacey‘s run as Richard III from October 19th to 29th could very well be The Event of the Year – we’ll see.
The stage as it looks today:
Click to expand
Remaining tickets are expensive, or for less-than-ideal seats, or both. (And, of course, you can always take your chances on the craigslist.)
But, you know, it’s Kevin Spacey after all. (Digging up my binoculars now, I’m srsly.)
See you there!
Well, this is going to be huge, that’s all I’m going to say…
Click to expand
“SHN Announces
The San Francisco Engagement of
Bank of America presents
THE BRIDGE PROJECT
Produced by BAM, The Old Vic, and Neal Street
RICHARD III
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
DIRECTED BY SAM MENDES
FEATURING ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER
KEVIN SPACEY
IN THE TITLE ROLE
Co-commissioned by and produced in association with Athens & Epidaurus Festival, Centro Niemeyer Spain, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Istanbul Theatre Festival (IKSV) & Istanbul Municipal Theatres, Kay & McLean Productions, Singapore Repertory Theatre and SHN – Carole Shorenstein Hays and Robert Nederlander.
Curran Theatre – October 19 – 29
SAN FRANCISCO (August 8, 2011)…. SHN is delighted to announce the arrival of RICHARD III by William Shakespeare, featuring Kevin Spacey and directed by Sam Mendes, coming to San Francisco this Fall. The Curran Theatre is the only U.S venue, other than BAM in New York, to host this landmark event. Tickets for RICHARD III go on public sale Friday, August 19.
Known for carefully curated Bay Area-only theater experiences, SHN is expecting the show to be a highlight of the 2011 season.
“This is a really big deal for us, and for San Francisco,” says Carole Shorenstein Hays. “People will recognize the combination of Spacey and Mendes from American Beauty; now they’re interpreting one of Shakespeare’s best-known plays for a modern audience. It should be an amazing experience.”
RICHARD III places San Francisco on a roster of 11 locations around the world that have been chosen to host the production, including: London, Epidaurus, Hong Kong, Aviles, Spain, Istanbul, Beijing, Singapore, Sydney and New York. The Bridge Project’s production of RICHARD III is currently playing to sold out crowds at London’s Old Vic Theatre.
See interviews and sneak peek of RICHARD III in London at http://www.youtube.com/user/
Ever more deets after the jump
Tonight, July 18, 2011, is Billy Elliot Night at our Castro Theatre!
Sean Penn (you see him?) probably won’t be there at the Castro, but it’s not impossible since he’s been popping up all over town lately:
Click to expand
And then you’ll have until August 21, 2011 to catch the SHN play version of Billy at our Orpheum Theatre.
Hurray!
No matter where you fit in as a fan of the Theatre, you’re going to love Billy Elliot, now playing at SHN’s Orpheum Theatre through September 17th, 2011.
And the glowing reviews are in already, from Albert Goodwyn, for one:
“This inspirational musical celebrates a dream come true. SHN’s traveling production is seamlessly orchestrated and performed with a high level of polish. The musicians in the pit, led by Maestro Jon Rose on piano, found every nuance and compositional gesture of Elton John’s music.”
O.K. then.
Michael Brosilow
And the Twitterers, well they liked it too:
“Wow! Bravo to @shnsf & Billy Elliot cast! I left the theatre wanting to go dancing!!”
You’re going to love Billy Elliot.
(And if you go to the box office at 8th and Market, you really can tickets for just $35, no fees, no nothing.)
All right, see you there!
It’s the best show of the current season at SHN and it’s almost here. See?
New York Times, Variety, New York Post, USA Today, Opening Night in Canada is a Hit!, Billy Elliot nothing less than a triumph, All hail King Billy
Now, the time to get your tickets is right now and the place to get them is right here, or at the box office at 8th and Market (but sadly, it’s closed ’til June 19th, 2011 – check the days and hours here).
Oh yes, check the parental advisory:
“PARENTAL ADVISORY - Billy Elliot is most appropriate for children 8 years of age or older. It contains strong language and some scenes of confrontation between policemen and miners.”
Fair ‘nough.
In closing, OMG, Billy Elliot is almost here!
“BROADWAY’S “BEST MUSICAL OF THE DECADE” -Time Magazine
BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL is a joyous celebration of one young boy’s journey to make his dreams come true. Ben Brantley of The New York Times calls BILLY ELLIOT “THE MOST INSPIRING SHOW I’VE SEEN IN YEARS.”
Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising passion that inspires his family and his whole community. A big musical with an even bigger heart, BILLY ELLIOT will enchant the dreamer in all of us.
For more information on the show, click here.”
