'Hamilton' tickets on sale; fans line up outside Loop box office
CHICAGO (WLS) -- "Hamilton: An American Musical" is coming to Chicago. Tickets to see the Tony Award-winning Broadway smash in the Windy City went on sale Tuesday morning.
"Hamilton" begins its open-ended Chicago run on Sept. 27. Single tickets, priced at $65-$85, for performances through March 19 went on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Fans of the show started lining up Monday morning outside The PrivateBank Theatre's box office near State and Monroe streets for a chance to get their hands on tickets. Time lapse video shows thousands of people wrapping around an entire city block. Vernon Esmond was the first person in line by 10 a.m. Monday.
"My fiancée thought it would be a good idea to make this an anniversary gift for our parents. And so, happy wife, happy life," Esmond said.
People from Chicago and from out of state camped out overnight and made new friends in line. By Tuesday morning, the line wrapped around the block, extending past the Hampton Inn, the Inland Steel building and down Dearborn Street.
"I want one ticket - if I can get it - opening night and I want one January 11th, which is Alexander Hamilton's birthday," Lavonne Welker, of Lindenhurst, said.
Broadway in Chicago officials are reminding consumers that there are only two official websites to buy "Hamilton" tickets: www.BroadwayInChicago.com and Ticketmaster.com. Tickets can also be bought by phone at 800-775-2000 and in person at The PrivateBank Theatre box office without a service charge. There is a maximum of six tickets per household.
"When you go online, don't be tricked by all the various brokers that might be offering you tickets. They may not have tickets, their tickets may be more expensive than ours. So you want to make sure you buy them from the official source," said Eileen LaCario, Broadway in Chicago.
Watch the video below for more ticket-buying tips from Broadway in Chicago:
Fans should make sure to purchase their tickets from an authorized seller. With the demand so high, show producers are warning buyers to beware of overpriced and possibly fake tickets. Many showed up in person so as not to take any chances.
"We have some friends that are online, we have some friends manning the phones and I'm down here trying to get them in person," Karen Olin, of Oak Park, said.
The wildly popular show, which features rap, hip hop and R&B music, is about the life of one of America's founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. It focuses on how he went from being an orphan in the Caribbean to being General George Washington's right hand man.The music, lyrics and book were written by the show's star, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
"It's truly a revolutionary musical. It's bridging gaps in Broadway and modern times. It's bringing new people in," said Kevin Ross, who got in line at 10 p.m. Monday.
Two girls in line told ABC7 Eyewitness News they already know all of the words to the songs.
"We're obsessed with 'Hamilton.' We are literally are obsessed," Cara Mass said.
"Everyone knows his songs. I love Alexander Hamilton. He's my dude," Alicia Leitzen said.
Producers expect "Hamilton" to be in Chicago for at least two years. Hopefully fans will all get a chance to see it!
