Utah’s 104 legislators will get the chance to see the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” when it comes to Salt Lake City early next year – as long as they pay market price for the ticket.
In their regular Wednesday interim caucus, House Republicans were told that because House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, and Democratic Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake, worked to fund a special “Hamilton”-associated traveling education effort, 2,300 lower-income Utah 11th graders will get a wonderful, two-day program when the play comes to the Eccles Broadway Theater in early April next year.
Jill Love, director of the state history and arts, told the caucus that all lawmakers may attend with a guest and two previously-selected high school students if they wish.
They must pay their own way to the afternoon “Hamilton” production. But tickets will be made available, even if the run is sold out to season ticket holders and the general public.
It is unclear who of the general public will be able to get tickets to the hit show – sold out in its New York run for several years.
First, said Love, season ticket holders at the Eccles would get a shot, and then tickets will go on sale to the general public for the show’s run – which is now scheduled for April 11-17, with the possibility that it will be held over for more shows in Salt Lake. Tickets for the lawmakers and public won’t come cheap, however.
Tickets prices haven’t been set yet.
Most likely, they will range from $75 each for the upper balcony to $200 or $300 a piece for the main floor orchestra. The students will pay only $10 a ticket, but even that may be tough for some students to afford. Love said lawmakers are invited to pick up the $20 cost of two students they may sit with.
For the general public, you’ll have to wait in line at the box office on the “on sale” day (not yet set), or phone into Artix – with the possibility you may not get the show or seat you want. The main Eccles auditorium seats just under 2,500 people.
It’s expected the run will be sold out.
But for the 104 lawmakers, they will get a seat at ticket face value for the students’ matinee production.
Online scalpers are already saying tickets for the Salt Lake “Hamilton” run will cost between $550 to over $1,000 a piece.
The state provided $350,000 for the special “Hamilton” student education/play attendance program – which includes bussing kids in, a night at a local hotel and lectures/answer sessions with “Hamilton” cast members and history seminars concerning the founding of the United States.
