‘Hamilton’ ticket frenzy is revolutionary

Bowman, an 18-year-old freshman at San Francisco State, was the first person in line for tickets to “Hamilton,” the Broadway sensation that will open at the Orpheum Theatre in March.

SHN subscribers had first crack and many bought the whole package, regardless of the other shows on the schedule, just to get tickets to “Hamilton.”

American Express card holders got second crack at tickets and many waited all day online only to either have the system crash or to be turned away.

Each person in line was entitled to six tickets, and though it seemed that Bowman was assured, she’d already been burned in the American Express online market and “Hamilton” horror stories went up and down the line.

[...] Bowman remained nervous until the moment the shade lifted on the ticket window at 10 on the dot.

Simultaneously tickets were also available by phone and at the SHN web site but even people who had the number pre-dialed on their iPhone’s and pressed the call button at 10 exactly, were told that there were too many callers in line and no more were allowed.