Let’s be real. Broadway prices are getting absolutely out of control. If you’ve tried to look for seats to see Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler in the latest production of Romeo + Juliet directed by Sam Gold, you probably saw triple-digit numbers that made your stomach drop. It’s tough. But there is a specific way to get in the room for less than the price of a fancy dinner in Midtown.
The Romeo and Juliet lottery is basically the only way most of us can afford to see this high-energy, Jack Antonoff-scored production at the Circle in the Square Theatre. It’s a literal game of chance. You enter, you wait, and if the theater gods smile on you, you’re paying $45 instead of $250.
How the Romeo and Juliet Lottery Actually Works
You aren't standing in a physical line outside the theater like it’s 1996 and you’re trying to see Rent. Everything has moved digital. The official lottery for this specific production is hosted through Telecharge.
Here is the deal: the window for entry usually opens at 12:00 AM the day before the performance. It stays open until 3:00 PM that same day. You’ve got a decent-sized window, but if you forget, you’re out of luck. There are no "do-overs" in the Broadway lottery world.
Winners get an email or a text. You then have a very narrow window—usually just 60 minutes—to claim and pay for those tickets. If you miss that notification because you were in a meeting or taking a nap? The tickets go to the next person in line. It’s brutal, but it keeps the system moving.
The Odds are Long but the Reward is Huge
Broadway insiders often joke that winning a digital lottery is harder than getting into an Ivy League school. For a show with "star power" names like Zegler (who killed it in West Side Story) and Connor (Heartstopper fame), the demand is through the roof.
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Think about it. The Circle in the Square is one of the smallest houses on Broadway. It only seats about 800 people. When you subtract the season subscribers, the full-price buyers, and the industry comps, the "lottery pool" of seats is tiny. We are talking maybe 10 to 20 seats per show, though the production doesn't officially disclose the exact count.
Why This Specific Production is Worth the Gamble
This isn't your grandma’s Shakespeare. You probably figured that out the second you saw the promotional posters with the neon colors and the edgy streetwear. Sam Gold has a reputation for deconstructing classics, and he really leans into the "youthful rage" aspect of the play here.
The music is a massive draw. Having Jack Antonoff—yes, Taylor Swift’s go-to producer—handle the movement and music gives it a pulse that feels more like a concert than a 400-year-old play. If you win the Romeo and Juliet lottery, you aren't just getting a seat; you're getting a vibe.
The seating at Circle in the Square is "in the round." This means the stage is in the center and the audience surrounds it. There isn't a bad seat in the house, technically, but lottery winners often end up in the front row or tucked into interesting corners that provide a unique perspective on the choreography.
Tips to Increase Your Chances (Sorta)
There is no way to "hack" the system. Telecharge uses a randomized drawing. However, there are a few logical steps you can take to make sure you aren't disqualifying yourself before the drawing even starts.
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- Use one account. Don't try to be sneaky and create five different email addresses to enter. They track IP addresses and names. If they catch you, they'll shadowban you from the drawing. It’s not worth it.
- Enter for Tuesday or Wednesday. Weekend shows are a bloodbath. Everyone is in the city on a Saturday night. If you can swing a mid-week matinee or a Tuesday evening performance, your statistical odds improve simply because there are fewer entries.
- Check your spam folder. I cannot stress this enough. Telecharge emails often get flagged as promotions or spam. Set a "VIP" alert for their domain in your email settings.
The "Rush" Alternative
If the Romeo and Juliet lottery fails you, there is a "Rush" option. Digital rush tickets are often released on the TodayTix app at 9:00 AM on the morning of the show. These are also $45.
The difference? Rush is "first-come, first-served." You have to be on the app, thumb hovering over the button, the millisecond the clock strikes 9:00. It’s a test of reflexes rather than a random draw. If you’re fast, you’re in.
What to Know Before You Go
If you actually win—congrats, by the way—there are a few logistical things to keep in mind. Lottery tickets are non-transferable. You cannot win them and then sell them on StubHub for a profit. You have to show a photo ID at the box office that matches the name on the entry.
Also, be prepared for "partial view" seats. The theater is required to tell you if your view is obstructed, but in an "in the round" theater, "obstructed" usually just means a pole might be in your peripheral vision or the actors might have their backs to you for a significant portion of the scene. Honestly, for $45, nobody is complaining.
The show runs about 2 hours and 30 minutes with an intermission. It’s loud. It’s energetic. There’s a lot of running around. It’s the kind of theater that makes people who hate Shakespeare actually enjoy themselves.
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Navigating the Telecharge Interface
Telecharge's lottery site is functional, but it isn't winning any design awards. When you go to the site, look for the "Active Lotteries" tab. You'll see Romeo + Juliet listed there alongside other big hitters.
You’ll need to provide your full name, email, and zip code. They also ask if you want one or two tickets. Pro tip: Always select "two" if you have a friend who wants to go, but if you are truly desperate to see the show, entering for "one" ticket can sometimes (anecdotally) give you a slight edge because it’s easier for the box office to fill a single stray seat.
Actionable Steps for Your Theater Trip
Stop paying $300 for Broadway. It’s unsustainable and, frankly, annoying. If you want to see Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler without draining your savings, follow this exact workflow:
- Set a recurring alarm for 11:55 PM every night. This reminds you to enter the Romeo and Juliet lottery for the following day's performance.
- Download the TodayTix app as a backup. If you don't win the lottery, be ready for the 9:00 AM digital rush the morning of the show.
- Create a Telecharge account in advance. You don't want to be fumbling with your credit card info or address during that 60-minute "claim" window. Seconds matter when the timer is ticking.
- Prepare your ID. Make sure the name on your digital entry matches your driver's license exactly. The box office staff at Circle in the Square are strict about this to prevent scalping.
- Check the schedule. This production has a limited run. Don't wait until the final week to start entering the lottery; the entry pool triples in size during the "closing" hype.
Getting into a hit Broadway show for under $50 takes persistence. You might lose twenty times before you win once. But when you're sitting three feet away from the stage hearing Jack Antonoff's score vibrate through the floorboards, you’ll realize the daily effort of clicking "Enter" was worth every second.