"Odd Couple" may sell entire run to AmEx cardholders

If you don't have an American Express credit card, you might not be able to see "The Odd Couple" on Broadway starring Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane.

Earlier this week, pre-sale tickets for the show were made available for American Express cardholders, but "none" were held back for the general public, a spokesperson for the production told NewYorkology Travel.

Broderick and Lane were the stars of Mel Brooks' blockbuster "The Producers" when it opened on Broadway in 2001. A massive hit, tickets were almost impossible to buy. But still, the frothy anticipation was was nothing like this.

Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple" was originally staged in 1965 with Art Carney as uptight nearly divorced Felix Unger and Walter Matthau as his roommate Oscar Madison the sloppy sports writer. Matthau won a Tony for his role, as did Simon, scenic designer Oliver Smith and director Mike Nichols, (who won another Tony a week ago for "Monty Python's Spamalot.")

The show, scheduled to begin previews at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Oct. 4, has already sold $11 million worth of tickets. The tickets now on sale are for performances through Feb. 5, 2006 only. Some of those tickets are still available through Ticketmaster (212-307-4100) but if you're looking for a pair in the orchestra section, you're already too late; there are only singles remaining.
On June 20 at 10 a.m., a new batch of tickets will go on sale -- for performances from Feb. 7, to April 2, 2006. Lane's and Broderick's contracts run through April 2, the spokesperson said.

After all that, if there are tickets remaining, the general public will be able to buy them starting July 5.

When those tickets are gone, cancellations and standing-room-only tickets will be among the remaining options. The spokesperson for the show said it's "more than likely" that SRO tickets will be available for "The Odd Couple." At the Brooks Atkinson Theatre today -- where Hal Holbrook is starring in "Mark Twain Tonight" -- the gentleman at the box office said the theater usually makes about 20 SRO tickets available for each performance. Also, see Playbill's guide to standing-room-only tickets.

The schedule and prices for "The Odd Couple" are available at Ticketmaster. Orchestra and front mezzanine seats are going for $100 each while rear mezzanine seats are $60.

But with demand this high, you shouldn't be surprised that the tickets are already on eBay -- and bidders are driving up the prices. A pair in the orchestra, row J for Jan 29, is now going for $355; a pair in the mezzanine for Oct. 5th for $260; or how about a pair front-row center for $1,048 -- on Nov. 25, right after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Another route is through a broker where a pair in the orchestra during reviews will set you back about $600.

Thanks Amy! And NewYorkology is a great site! It was really helpful for quick info on today's Puerto Rican Day Parade (I need to cross Fifth to get to see Captain Louie, which I've talked about in this previous post) because, of course, my concierge knew nothing...

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