Marquis Theatre Box Office

[bwayphreak234]

Out of curiosity, why was the box office for the Marquis Theatre moved, and what is in its place now? It seems like it would be better to have a box office right on Times Square. What was the first show to move the box office, and was the current box office recently built?

[perfectlymarvelous]

The first show I remember it being in the current location for was Come Fly Away but it may have moved before that.

[ucjrdude902]

Personally, I don't get why it's so far either. I know when I went to the city in 2008 and started collecting Playbills, I went to the box office entrance from Time Square and asked for one and they sent me around back to the stage door (which got me a free backstage tour).

I got an Evita Playbill this year but my question is, the walk way outside of the box office that is plastered with Evita posters, do they do that for every show is that is that something Evita themselves did?

[artscallion]

Follies also had that.

[IMG]

[artscallion]

And the Evita wall, for those who care.

[IMG]

[Marianne2]

I don't think there is anything in the Times Square location. Just advertising for whatever the show is that's playing in the Marquis. The interior always looks dark.

Was there an elevator or escalator that took you to the 3rd floor out front? If not, that is 1 reason I could see the box office moving. The escalator is right outside the doors now.

[Playbilly]

It was like that for The Drowsy Chaperone as well. I think it was moved in hopes that the hotel guests would see the show. A convenience they believe?

[frogs_fan85]

The current Marquis box office was also the temporary home of TKTS during the construction in Duffy Square.

[theatreguy]

There used to be escalators that took you from Broadway (right by the old box office) up to the theater. Those could also be used when leaving so it didn't take as long as it does now with only the escalators in front of the lobby area.

For whatever reason, they stopped using those sometime around The Woman in White or The Drowsy Chaperone which meant that the entrance and the box office were nowhere near each other. To make things easier for people who haven't been to the Marquis before, they decided to move the box office next to what is now the only way to get in to the theater.

[dreaming]

I kind of liked having TKTS there, although I completely understand why it has to be where it is for space issues. But, when it was raining or oppressively hot, it was nice to have the shelter of the overpass there.

[nasty_khakis]

As someone who has worked merch at the Marquis I can tell you there is NO perfect place for the marquee. When it was on broadway you got the street traffic, but people got incredibly confused how to get up to the theatre. When it was moved (for Come Fly Away) people would come up to the theatre and yell at us that they box office was closed and they need to pick up tickets. We'd explain it moved and is "down the escalater on your right." Whenever I told people this (in a polite, smiling tone) they'd generally proceed to complain that they had to go "all the way back down!?" I'd try and be positive and say "well at least it's an escalator and not stairs!" and laugh to lighten the mood. There apparently was consideration of putting a box office up next to the thatre itself (or at least a will call booth), but that would create more confusion.

It's a mess of a situation overall with no "better" solution.

[ucjrdude902]

Is there a picture of the theatre before the hotel was put over it?

[jamiekennywicked]

Does anyone have any pictures of the lobby?

[TheatreKid3]

The theatre was built along with the hotel. They have always been one structure.

[ucjrdude902]

Oh gotcha.