San Francisco

Wrapped Around the Block: ‘Hamilton' Fans Line Up for Coveted Tickets

It's one of the hottest tickets in town.

Restless fans braved the cold outside San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre and waited anxiously in line Monday, dreaming of getting their hands on a coveted "Hamilton" musical ticket.

The hit Broadway show will take over the stage in the city by the bay beginning in March, but those wishing to see the 11-time Tony Award-winning musical needed to snag tickets in person, online or by phone starting Monday, when tickets went on sale at 10 a.m.

Some eager devotees dusted off their lawn chairs, bundled up in winter gear and camped outside the San Francisco theater several hours before the ticket release.

The line stretched down Market Street from Eighth to Seventh and around the corner. Mary Toedtman lined up at 1 a.m.

"Cold; very cold," she said.

She was in line to buy tickets for her kids back in Charlotte. Her son and daughter have no idea that Mom stood in line for 13 hours to give them a Christmas present.

"Well, birthday, Christmas for the next five years," she said, laughing.

Jae Hamilton, of San Francisco, had tickets for the New York show but had to give them up because she had to work. She stood in line all day for another chance.

"It’s hip hop, it’s about history, it’s about the history of this country," she said.

Tens of thousands of others waited in a virtual line on the internet and crossed their fingers hoping to earn a prime spot in a ticket lottery. Those who hopped on just 3 minutes after tickets went on sale were behind about 95,000 other people. By late Monday night, the only tickets remaining were the premium seats at $500 apiece.

Tickets listed on the official SHN website pinned prices at $100 and $197, with some special seating available to watch every performance for $524. For those ticket-seekers still left empty-handed, there will be daily lottery on the day of each San Francisco show. Forty-four lucky people will be selected to enjoy the show from orchestra seats for just $10.

The popular show dives into the life and times of Alexander Hamilton, one of the nation's Founding Fathers. The show is scheduled to run 22 weeks, from March until August.

NBC Bay Area's Ian Cull contributed to this report.

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