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Counterfeit tickets are casting an evil spell over the musical "Wicked."
The Broadway Series in Cincinnati has warned that since the musical sold out in record time through subscription sales and a public two-hour public sale Jan. 19, Web sites have appeared trying to peddle bogus tickets to the show's March 8-19 run at the Aronoff Center.
"There are several Web sites selling tickets to the Cincinnati engagement of 'Wicked' in locations that do not even exist in the Aronoff Center," said Nancy Parrott, director of public relations for Broadway Across America. The organization promotes touring shows in Cincinnati.
Often, when a show sells out or becomes a hard ticket, wanna-go theatergoers can buy tickets through third parties such as ticket agencies or brokers.
However, those sources make their money by increasing the price substantially over the price printed on the ticket.
A Google search turned up one Web site that is selling orchestra seats to the musical, which details the relationship between the good and evil witches of Oz, for a stratospheric $315 for a back row orchestra seat. On the low end, if you call $190 low, that ducat affords you a perch in the balcony.
Broadway in Cincinnati set its price range for "Wicked" at the Aronoff Center at $27 to $80.
"We cannot prevent these agencies from buying tickets when they go on sale," Parrott said.
A study conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based Cato Institute as reported in the Cato Journal looked at what was allowed in various states and municipalities in regard to ticket resale.
Cincinnati allows ticket brokers but restricts scalping at event sites or on state property. It also can restrict scalping for certain events.
While some ticket brokers and agencies are legitimate resellers, Broadway in Cincinnati said, "There have been instances where ticket brokers have launched Web sites that might include the theater name and/or name of our show in order to confuse ticket buyers."
The only way that patrons can be sure that they are purchasing legitimate tickets at the original ticket price is to use only the Broadway in Cincinnati Ticket Office in the Mercantile Center, 120 E. Fourth St., downtown; Aronoff Center Ticket Office, 650 Walnut St., downtown; and all Ticketmaster outlets. And they have no more "Wicked" tickets to sell.
"If a patron chooses to purchase tickets through a third party, they do so at their own risk," Parrott said.
Text of fax box follows:
Witchy woman
"Wicked" is based on a novel by Gregory Maguire, "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West." She's the villainess from Oz.
(C) 2006 The Cincinnati Post. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
