'Hamilton' tickets at MSU: 5 things to know about Wharton Center's public sale

EAST LANSING — If you don't have tickets to the hit Broadway musical "Hamilton" and desperately want them, be prepared for Saturday's public sale.

Tickets ranging in price from $73.50 to $398.50 will be available at the Wharton Center ticket office, 750 E. Shaw Lane, starting 10 a.m. Saturday. 

At that time, they will also be for sale online at whartoncenter.com and by phone at 1-800-WHARTON. 

Customers will have their pick from 24 shows to be held from May 12 to June 2 at Wharton's Cobb Great Hall, a 2,240-seat venue. 

Bob Hoffman, a Wharton spokesman, said the response to "Hamilton" and previous shows at the venue has shown Broadway producers this is a market to be reckoned with. 

"We're still meeting the bar and setting expectations," Hoffman said. 

Below is a look at five things you should know about Saturday's public sale so you can increase your chances of getting tickets. 

1. Buddy system may be best bet

Since tickets will be sold at the ticket office, online and over the phone, "Hamilton" fans may want to consider a team approach. 

During the public sale, there's a limit of four tickets per household.

If you have family or friends that don't live at your residence and also try to buy tickets, that could increase your chances of at least getting one. 

At the ticket office, wristbands for the sale will be distributed from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday or until they run out. 

However, wristbands don't guarantee anyone the opportunity to buy tickets.

At 9:45 a.m. Saturday, a random drawing will determine the order which individuals with wristbands have the opportunity to purchase tickets. 

People must be at the box office when their wristband number is called. Only people with wristbands are allowed to be in the ticketing line. 

2. Be flexible with prices, show days

The "Hamilton" ticketing system is highly regarded in the entertainment industry and isn't known for producing any glitches or mishaps, Hoffman said. 

It has been used in several markets throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico. 

With so many people eager to order tickets, Wharton officials encouraged everyone to be patient and open to several price options, show dates and times. 

During the public sale, the ticketing system will assign people the best available seats for their preferred price level and performance. 

Keep in mind the "Hamilton" running time for all shows; 2 hours and 45 minutes. Each show has an intermission. 

Of the 24 shows at Wharton over a 20-day span, three begin at 1 p.m., three at 2 p.m., three at 6:30 p.m., nine at 7:30 p.m., and six at 8 p.m. 

Ticket prices: $73.50, $123.50 and $163.50.

There will also be a limited number of $398.50 premium seats for some shows. Prices include a $3.50 facility fee. 

3. Stay calm if you strike out 

If you can't get tickets Saturday, all hope isn't lost. Additional seats may end up available through Wharton at a later date.  

Keep an eye on the venue's website, its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for updates. 

It also wouldn't hurt to sign up for Wharton's free e-Club for email updates. Visit whartoncenter.com/events-tickets/join-the-eclub for details. 

There will be 40 orchestra-level seats offered for $10 at each performance through an online lottery. 

Details will be made public by Wharton officials closer to each engagement. 

People who want to enter the lottery are encouraged to download the "Hamilton" app on their smartphones or tablet devices for the latest updates. 

4. Check your mailbox often

If you buy tickets with cash or a credit card Saturday at the ticket office, you will get the them that day. 

Those who purchase tickets online at Wharton's website or on the telephone will have to wait a while. Digital delivery via email, phone or tablet device is not available. 

Officials expect everyone who purchases their tickets online to have them by May 6. Tickets will be mailed to the address specified in your order. 

If you don't receive your tickets by May 13, notify the ticket office.

The ticket office can reprint tickets that end up lost in the mail or never sent to the address specified in the order. 

Reprinted tickets invalidate the original tickets purchased and will be held at Wharton's will call window under the order holder's name. 

5. Secondary market sales are risky

There are several websites for ticket brokers and scalpers that advertise "Hamilton" tickets for sale in markets throughout the country. 

Be careful. There's a chance you could end up getting ripped off. 

Wharton officials can't guarantee any tickets purchased in the secondary market are valid. They also can't contact you with information about time changes or show cancellations. 

Brian Posey, owner of Meridian Township's The Ticket Machine, said he intends to buy tickets during the public sale. 

He advises those who are unable to get tickets through the sale to wait a while before they consider buying from an unofficial source. 

"We'll know a lot more next week about prices than we do now," Posey said. 

Tickets for shows in Detroit and Grand Rapids are already being offered on StubHub.com for up to $500 apiece. 

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.

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