Printer Friendly - $h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Johnnycantdecide 2013-02-11 21:56:51

What a fvcking disaster. I would raise hell if I had bought tickets.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Jordan Catalano 2013-02-11 21:59:23

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Hopefully people will be able to get their money back for this.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by frogs_fan85 2013-02-11 22:04:06

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If they changed it to general admission, I'd hope that all of the tickets were the same price.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by CarlosAlberto 2013-02-11 22:11:42

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Ooooh the way they handled this is so GHETTO!

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by CapnHook 2013-02-11 22:11:57

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If the venue is at fault, they should issue a 50% refund to patrons at their OWN expense (still providing 100% of the profits to the charities).

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Jordan Catalano 2013-02-11 22:16:26

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That's how they do it in the heights, I guess.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by SondheimFan5 2013-02-11 22:18:30

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What's the capacity for this place? Is it a theatre or an arena? (I hadn't heard about this event).

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by frogs_fan85 2013-02-11 22:20:57

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The total capacity is somewhere around 3,300 seats. I have no idea if they actually sold out though. Was box office pick-up the only option? No e-ticketing or mail?

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by wdwfreak 2013-02-11 22:24:09

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The thing that boggles my mind is that the venue knew how many tickets they had to give to the patrons that were will-call. They had plenty of time to figure out a way to separate the lines by last names or something else. Having everyone stand in one line and have the box office person have to look through all of the tickets each time was not time efficient.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Bettyboy72 2013-02-11 22:29:47

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They probably were thinking will call is easy basically handing out tickets-all you need is some looking to purchase tickets or someone whose tickets are misplaced and then it all goes to hell if you dont have enough staff.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by bwayphreak234 2013-02-11 23:28:49

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They probably were thinking will call is easy basically handing out tickets-all you need is some looking to purchase tickets or someone whose tickets are misplaced and then it all goes to hell if you dont have enough staff.

Coming from someone who works in a box office, this could not be more true... Will call is a total pain the ass. It's NEVER as simple as just handing out tickets. Half the time people don't know what name their tickets should be under, sometimes they never bought tickets in the first place because they forgot to click "finish and buy", then there are the people that went through scalpers and their tickets aren't there when they spent $300 a pop... Shame on them for not having this more organized.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by dtzumbrunnen 2013-02-12 00:00:58

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There were definitely different levels of pricing for the tickets. I think $40-$100+ per seat.

They were sold through Telecharge (ugh), and I think Will Call was the cheapest option, which is clearly why most people went with it. By about 8:35 they started letting anyone with a printed confirmation or that could show the confirmation e-mail on a smartphone in, without continuing to wait in the Will Call line.

If you stuck it out, the energy in that venue was great - and the inside of the house was gorgeous. I'm sure it'll be up on that video sharing site soon, as everyone and their abuela were filming it.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by tagiunagi 2013-02-12 00:06:38

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Absolute clusterf*ck is the only was to describe this evening. Beautiful performances but that's not what this thread is about.

First, let's start with the two reasons why there was such an unbearable line to get in the theater 1.) when purchasing the ticket, there was no option to print out your ticket at home like any normal theater/venue allows and 2.) there were 2 people manning the Will Call. I got to the theater at 7:30 and didn't get in until 8:30. I was told by 2 ushers that "the producers are allowing people to take any seat." I took any seat as I was told, then the person who had actually paid for that seat came in and I was hussled out of that seat. By that time, the opening number had already started (forget about missing Lin's father's speech) so I missed that. Then we were permitted to stand off in a corner until half way through "Breathe" another usher tells us we have to move because of the fire safety (could he not have told us this during a blackout instead of halfway through a song?) So I missed that too as I was hurried into the depths of the balcony where I remained out of fear that I would be hussled out once again.

Where were these ushers when people ran all about the theater in the middle of songs? Where were these ushers when people stood up in the middle of a song to cheer on the actors? This theater's management could teach a master class in incompetence.

All sarcasm aside, how do I get in contact with the theater's management? I want a refund.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by FindingNamo 2013-02-12 00:11:12

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Sounds like a real hastle.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by CapnHook 2013-02-12 00:34:02

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mikef@unitedpalace.org
(212) 568-6700 x41
http://unitedpalace.org/index.php/upca

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by tagiunagi 2013-02-12 00:40:10

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Thank you so so much for this info. I really appreciate it. I'll contact them tomorrow.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by CapnHook 2013-02-12 00:42:54

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That info is a starting point. They're going to refer you to someone else for a refund, likely. It's the producers who have to decide how to handle refunds. Even if the venue is at fault.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by mikem 2013-02-12 00:43:25

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Maybe I'm not understanding the situation, but I'm having trouble figuring out how this happened in the first place. Wasn't the show at a venue that regularly sells tickets? Do they have this problem all the time?

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Play Esq. 2013-02-12 00:57:15

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Really have to agree with dtzum on this one: PAIN IN THE A$$ to get to seats (and ya...someone tried to pull that GA crap on me...), but once settled, a fantastic experience!

I intentionally avoided ITH on Broadway, thinking it wasn't my thing. Having since seen the cast in various other projects, I felt bad for having missed this show. Gotta love second chances! The cast was simply electric tonight and were clearly having a great time. The audience was comprised almost entirely of ITH junkies, and they were all having an absolute ball! That energy only translated to more energy on stage.

Despite all the BS getting in...quite a night!

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Play Esq. 2013-02-12 01:01:31

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Maybe I'm not understanding the situation, but I'm having trouble figuring out how this happened in the first place. Wasn't the show at a venue that regularly sells tickets? Do they have this problem all the time?


Yes -- but theyre probably used to the rock concert set (who arrive anytime after doors open) and not the 8 o'clock curtain crowd.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by everythingtaboo 2013-02-12 01:22:28

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I was there too, we were in the rear mezzanine. The problem was they made an announcement that anyone that is in the theatre, so please get to your seat, because we're letting everyone else in general admission - which led to a rush of people already sitting in their seats to run down to the front mezz to grab any seat they could. So this caused an even longer delay. The other problem was that the security folks did nothing except walk around while ushers did what little they could against the rush.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by winston89 2013-02-12 02:21:22

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I have only been to this venue once to see a Neil Young concert a few years ago. I remember the concert in and of itself being an enjoyable one. However, the issues arose with the theatre. Apparently, the fire department had to come because they had discovered (right before showtime) that the building wasn't fully up to fire safety code, and that they couldn't have people enter the theatre till it was. This left the fans standing outside in the cold for an hour and a half without knowing what the hell was going on.

When the Allman Brothers Band was playing the same venue as a substitute for their spring run at The Beacon (Banana Shpeel was playing there at the time) even though I love seeing the Allmans every spring, I avoided that year like the plague. From talking to my friends who are big concert goers, the general feeling is that it is a great venue to see a concert because the theatre itself is beautiful and is small and has great acoustics. However, it's not the best run venue out there in that there is always some issue with either getting in or the ushers or something, and for a lot of people that doesn't make it worth the trek to The Heights.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Anakela 2013-02-12 10:23:29

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The reunion concert last night was everything I wanted, and completely worth the fact that I didn't make it home until 12:30am. To see that cast onstage again, and hear those songs onstage again, Mandy Gonzalez making me cry again with her "Everything I Know," it was all perfect. My heart is full.

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And I will never be attending another event at that venue ever again, if I can help it.

I missed out on most of the will-call line debacle - friend was about three people from the front of the line when I got there - but did see enough to confirm that yes, there was literally *one* person at *one* open window handing out all of the will-call tix at approx 7:40pm, for an 8pm curtain. (There was a second person physically in the box office, but her job was 'not to hand out tickets.')

And then we got inside, where it was just as slow going to be seated. No idea if the problem was not enough ushers, or slow ushers, or what, but we spent a lot of time standing at door 4 waiting and watching while no one was seated, so that added to the time getting everyone in.

Then at about 8:30ish? (I'd lost track of time by this point) they made that general admission announcement, that you'd better be sitting in your seat, which sounded to people inside (well, at least to this person inside) like they were going to just be throwing open the doors to anyone. But apparently they were throwing open the doors to people already with tickets, they were just saying to the people outside with tickets that they might not end up in the seats they purchased? I still have no clue what this was all about.

And then, my favorite. We were sitting in the very last row of the orch, which at this venue apparently means the place where the ushers stand and talk during the show. I don't mean like in some theatres where sometimes sound carries, and you can hear staff working and whispering even if they're not near you. I mean the ushers were leaning on the standing room ledge that runs along the rear orch, having full-voice conversations, during the show. I shushed ushers *twice* last night, and I wasn't the only one in our section doing so.

Gotta love social media, though. When you turn on your phone at intermission to texts from friends who are not there that are all of the "is it as bad as people are saying online?" variety, there's a power in that.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Rainbowhigh23 2013-02-12 14:05:23

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Wepa! I've been watching the clips on LMM's Facebook page and wow - despite the clusterf*** with will call the concert was amazing. Orchestra front was the place to be.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Iris Chacon 2013-02-12 16:06:13

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Mostly a over enthused and ready to cheer at anything audience of supporters and friends. Frankly it was boring. The mess to get into the venue.while hectic and a pure disgrace was at least more interesting. LMM; Please... time to move on. Put a period on it. ITH is over. Let is rest at least 10 years.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by theaternut 2013-02-12 16:08:19

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Yep.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Jordan Catalano 2013-02-12 16:09:50

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"Mostly a over enthused and ready to cheer at anything audience..."

That's why I avoid pretty much any reunion that attracts kids/anyone under 30. I can't take the screaming and shouting and nonstop hoopin' and hollerin'. I think it's beyond rude for the actors and everyone around them, but they NEED to let the actors know they love them.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by theaternut 2013-02-12 16:13:20

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Is he trying to make this show his Dolly? He really needs to stop doing it. He was stale in it the 3rd time he joined the tour on the road . And the show is not that good to merit a reunion concert.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by oasisjeff 2013-02-12 16:22:57

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Amazing show, but yeah, pretty crazy venue issues...

I didn't get a ticket in advance, and just thought I'd show up right before showtime and see if the box office had anything interesting or, since it's a benefit, and groups always buy more tickets than they need, you can often get a decent deal outside the venue. So, when I saw that the line wrapped almost around the entire block (it went from the box office, south, and all the way around the building to the stage door, which is nearly back on Broadway), I figured the box office wasn't the way to go. So, I ended up grabbing a scalped $30 seat for $60, which was still better than some of the loge I was offered online earlier for $75.

But then when I was taking my seat, they announced that everyone should take their seats, as they were going to open up the doors to everyone, and there was some reference to doing thing Dominican style. So, I figured, if there's going to be a free-for-all, may as well start early, so I went back out, and went to the front of the house, and grabbed a sixth row aisle seat. Figuring the worst that could happen is I'd have to go back to the seat I purchased. But no one ever asked to sit in that seat all night, which was a $150 seat, so not a bad deal. I am a fan of the Dominican upgrade program.

But, as it turns out, I ended up sitting next to someone I assume was on the board or somesuch for the theater. So, while we were waiting, and before I had any inkling he was connected with the theater, I was asking him if this venue isn't used for a lot of events, since they seem to have no idea how to get a sold out house inside the venue, and a litany of other things I thought was messed up with the event that night.

At intermission, he was standing next to me in the aisle, talking to some other people connected to the venue, and I heard him repeat all of my complaints, albeit in very watered down corporate terms (some house and box office issues, etc.), so they definitely know things were messed up last night. But probably not how messed up.

And I have to imagine some people showed up, saw that mess, and went home. Which is a shame, since the show itself was phenomenal and well received once everyone was in place...

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by theaternut 2013-02-12 16:34:39

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"Mostly a over enthused and ready to cheer at anything audience of supporters and friends. Frankly it was boring. The mess to get into the venue..while hectic and a pure disgrace was at least more interesting. LMM; Please... time to move on. Put a period on it. ITH is over. Let it rest at least 10 years."

Too bad about the show itself. Just curious as to if any lawsuits or major refunds will ensue. Unfortunately I would guess the only way to teach the venue a lesson would be if something like that occurred. They shouldn't punish the show or the charity... assuming it was all the venues fault.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by oasisjeff 2013-02-12 16:45:44

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"Mostly a over enthused and ready to cheer at anything audience of supporters and friends."

OMG, how awful...Friends and supporters having a good time...

Honestly, I don't see how you could have any other expectation of how In The Heights would go down IN THE HEIGHTS, in a show peppered with references to the people, the cultures, the sights, the sounds, and everything in the neighborhood. When they asked who was there from Washington Heights at the beginning, it sounded like a reasonable percentage of people.

As far as Lin doing the role again, it was a one-night-only benefit for a Latin theater charity, not a revival coming back to the Richard Rodgers...

But as long as you only take issue with Lin performing In The Heights at an In The Heights benefit show, and that the people who would go to see such a show were, sadly, enjoying themselves, then it's clear why it was on your must-see list.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Johnnycantdecide 2013-02-12 16:46:18

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"But then when I was taking my seat, they announced that everyone should take their seats, as they were going to open up the doors to everyone, and there was some reference to doing thing Dominican style. So, I figured, if there's going to be a free-for-all, may as well start early, so I went back out, and went to the front of the house, and grabbed a sixth row aisle seat. Figuring the worst that could happen is I'd have to go back to the seat I purchased. But no one ever asked to sit in that seat all night, which was a $150 seat, so not a bad deal. I am a fan of the Dominican upgrade program. "

You're one of those people I would have thought about slapping....

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by theaternut 2013-02-12 17:02:12

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"OMG, how awful...Friends and supporters having a good time... "

Did they say that is what made it awful? I didn't get that. I thought they were just describing the scene.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by oasisjeff 2013-02-12 17:21:48

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"You're one of those people I would have thought about slapping...."

You would have had a very sore arm if you slapped everyone who did that. Once they announced they were making the show GA, chaos was bound to ensue...

"Did they say that is what made it awful? I didn't get that. I thought they were just describing the scene."

If the ticketing mess was described as more of a highlight than the crowd enjoying the show once it started, I'm not sure how else to take that...

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by theaternut 2013-02-12 17:26:18

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Maybe just take it as someone else had a experience that was different than yours.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Mr Roxy 2013-02-12 18:02:27

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At least they had a georgeous theater to look at.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Play Esq. 2013-02-12 18:47:58

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The performance really was geared for ITH devotees and they ate it up. Still, that was not at all an impediment for someone with almost no experience with the show (like me) to enjoy the concert. I didn't find the cat calls or random "I LOVE YOU"s to be at all distracting. Like I said in an earlier post, I think the cast ate it all up and just gave it that much more (poor Mandy though, darling gave a bit too much and had almost no voice by the second act). I feel fortunate in having heard the OBC live. Do I Iove the musical as a result? No, but I had a good time. I'd say that's worth the price of admission.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by DAME 2013-02-12 19:31:14

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Feh!

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by everythingtaboo 2013-02-12 20:46:44

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The fact that is started an hour late was made passable by the fact that we'd just be getting the songs and could get out at a reasonable time. I would've loved some choreography, but hey, what can you do.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by tagiunagi 2013-02-12 21:18:41

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I emailed Mike, the person at the email address capnhook posted last night, and explained my situation and requested a refund. Mike replied back, apologizing for the experience and stated they will look into the policies of their theater. However he noted that the ticketing is up to the producers and ticket service (ticketmaster, I believe?) so essentially he could not help me with a refund. Aside from asking him how I can get in contact with the producers regarding this (which I intend to do), is there another way to get a refund?

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by Anakela 2013-02-12 22:39:20

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Telecharge did the ticketing.

Chargeback? Dispute it with your credit card company. Depending on your cc company you might have to ask Telecharge, and get a 'no' from them first, in order to file a chargeback. But since the venue already told you they won't refund your money, after not allowing you to sit in the seat you paid for, that might be enough for your cc company. Can't hurt to call and ask.

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by dtzumbrunnen 2013-02-13 07:45:31

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Does anyone know why Priscilla Lopez didn't participate?

Enough is one of my favorite songs in the show, and while her counterpart from the tour was good, I was bummed to not hear her sing those runs - no no no no no! no no no no no!

$h%t show at In The Heights Reunion Concert
Posted by grumpyoptimist 2013-02-14 22:16:09

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Priscilla Lopez just closed a show the night before in the (SF) Bay area (Somewhere, written by her nephew Matthew Lopez and which I thoroughly enjoyed when she did the show in San Diego).