May 5, 2021
2021 Update - Broadway Reopening
After over 500 days in the dark, the lights came back up on Broadway on September 2nd, with the return of Hadestown and Waitress. September 14th marked the return Chicago, Hamilton, Wicked and The Lion King, with other big shows returning throughout the fall. 2021 will also welcome several highly-anticipated new shows, including MJ the Musical and Diana the Musical. For all Broadway performances through to October 31, audience members, cast, crew and theatre staff must be fully vaccinated, and it's safe to assume that that will be the case for the foreseeable future.
Where to Find Chicago - The Musical Tickets
The cheapest tickets to Chicago! The Musical on the primary market are through TeleCharge and start at $69 (before fees) for seats in the Rear Mezzanine. Tickets start at $79 for the Front Mezzanine and in some Orchestra seats, though center seats for both the Front Mezzanine and Orchestra start at $149. Premium seating starts at $189. Theater goers can either select their own seats or take best available, and can request aisle seats for a premium. “Matinee Madness” tickets are also available, starting at $49.50.
On the secondary market, TicketIQ has Fee-Free Chicago! The Musical tickets which also include a Refund Guarantee. Our Refund Guarantee states that if an event is canceled or deemed unfit for fans to attend, TicketIQ will refund ticket buyers in as soon as 15 days. That means that you can buy from TicketIQ worry-free. Customers on TicketIQ save between 15%-25% compared to other secondary market ticketing sites.
Schedule & Run Dates
Chicago! The Musical is the longest-running musical revival in Broadway history. The show has had three homes on Broadway, the latest at the Ambassador Theater, where it’s been since January 29, 2003. This latest revival debuted in 1996 and is the longest-running show to have premiered on Broadway.
On November 16, 2021 the musical celebrated its 25th anniversary on Broadway. The occasion was marked by a celebration throughout New York, both of the show's landmark anniversary as well as theater being back in general. For more information on the event, click HERE.
Show Details & Reviews
Chicago! The Musical is a satire on corruption based on a play by a Chicago reporter who covered crime. The show is set in Chicago’s Jazz Age and plays up the idea of celebrity criminals. Chicago! The Musical is a vaudeville production with vibrant dance and song numbers throughout.
When the show debuted in 1996, Gwen Verdon (Roxie Hart), Chita Rivera (Velma Kelly), Jerry Orbach (Billy Flynn) and Barney Martin (Amos Hart) headlined the cast, which won six Tony Awards. Among the more well-known actors that have appeared in the show are Brooke Shields, Patrick Swayze, Alan Thicke, Melanie Griffith and Marilu Henner. The current cast features Desi Oakley as Roxie Hart, Lana Gordon as Velma Kelly, Peter Lockyer at Billy Flynn and Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart.
Ambassador Theatre Seating Chart + Details
The Ambassador Theatre is located at 219 West 49th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue. The theater opened in 1921 and seats 1,114. What makes the theater unique is its diagonal layout, which maximizes the number of seats in the space. The theater was originally designed by Herbert J. Krapp for the Shuberts.
The theater is divided into five sections, and theater goers can choose from Orchestra, Front Mezzanine, Back Mezzanine or Box seats, and standing room only locations.
Wheelchair-Accessible Options
There are spots for seven wheelchairs in the theater and 11 aisle transfer arms. The Mezzanine is up two flights of stairs and there are handrails at the end of every stepped seat row in the Mezzanine. There are two small steps from the sidewalk into the main entrance of the theater, but the there are no steps to the side entrance. There is no elevator or escaltor in the theater.
Standing Room Option
There are 11 Standing-Room Only spots in the Ambassador Theatre.
Other Venue and Show Details
The show runs 2 hours, 30 minutes, and has one 15-minute intermission. The theater recommends patrons arrive 45 minutes before the start of the show.
Chicago! is recommended for ages 13 and up. Children under the age of four are not allowed in the theater.
The theater offers accommodations for those who are blind, partially blind, deaf or hard of hearing. The theater provides infrared assisted listening devices for every performance.
Rush & Lottery Options
Rush
General Rush is first come, first serve. Rush tickets to Chicago! The Musical cost $39 and go on sale when the box office opens daily. The Ambassador Theater box office opens at 10 a.m. daily and noon on Sundays. Twenty-five tickets are available daily for the show, and location of the seats are at the discretion of the box office. Rush tickets are not available for Saturday night performances. Patrons interested in Rush tickets should arrive hours before the box office opens and will likely have the best luck on lower-demand days, like weekdays or in the summer.
Lottery
Lotteries are different from rush tickets, which may be available at the box office on the day of the show, sometimes only for students. In addition to in-person lotteries, there are also digitial options available directly through each show. Playbill has a list of all lottery links for other shows, many of which require entrants to register using a social media account.
Discounted Tickets
TKTS
For theatergoers with flexibility, TKTS Discount Booths are a great way to see theater in New York City at affordable prices. Known for their iconic booth located around Manhattan, they offer discounts of 20% to 50% off face value tickets, and have limited availability of unsold tickets for purchase on the day of the event. TKTS Discount Booths in New York City, including the flagship location in the heart of Times Square, with booths at South Street Seaport and Lincoln Center. One extra benefit to using TKTS is that your ticket purchase does toward supporting the Theatre Development organization, which is dedicated to sustaining and sharing the arts and building audiences of the future.
