Filed by KOSU News in Art & Life.
June 13, 2011

The Book of Mormon danced off with nine Tony awards Sunday night, including Best Musical.

But tickets to the show by the creators of South Park have been almost impossible to get since the show was in previews. Every afternoon, hundreds of people stand outside the theatre to participate in the lottery. The prize: tickets — some in the first row — for $32 each.

One a recent afternoon, more than 350 people are standing in the heat, outside the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, to enter the Book of Mormon lottery. Ross Jackson and Frank Bobick are among them.

“This is only my third day in New York,” Jackson says. “I came here from Arkansas, so the closest thing I have ever done to this was like general rush in Little Rock at the Robinson Center Music Hall.”

Bobick, who is from Minneapolis, says knowing the creators of South Park wrote the play makes it worth the wait for him.

Christopher Catalano is an aspiring actor who works for the theater. Every 10 minutes or so, he takes out a bull horn and tells the growing crowd that the drawing will be at 5 p.m., and that 22 tickets will be available. He makes it as fun as possible.

“You also must have a photo ID, does everyone know what a photo ID is? It’s an ID with a photo on it,” he quips.

A few come often. Mark Etheridge works nearby. It’s his 29th attempt to get tickets, but he says he hasn’t had any luck.

Jeff LaDuke, a fan of the show South Park, travels in from Queens after work.

“This is my 33rd try and I have never seen it,” he says.”

Finally, Chris Catalano picks up that bullhorn.

“Hasa Diga everyone, how you doing?” he says.

Then, the names are picked. Several names down the list, Catalano calls this name: Jeff LaDuke.

“I thought it was a trick at first,” LaDuke says. “It worked, finally!”

As for Mark Etheridge, he planned on coming the next day for attempt number 30. [Copyright 2011 National Public Radio]