buyer beware

Houston buyers warned against phony Hamilton tickets ahead of show's big return

Beware of Hamilton tickets that are too expensive or too good to be true.

Photo by Joan Marcus

February’s highly anticipated return of the biggest phenomenon on Broadway to Houston isn’t without its hiccups. Hamilton, the award-winning, game changing hip-hip historical musical runs at the Hobby Center from February 20 to March 22 with tickets now on sale.

However producer Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center reports that there are numerous third-party sellers advertising tickets they do not actually have, at highly inflated prices.

To that end, those interested in tickets are encouraged to purchase at BroadwayAtTheHobbyCenter.com or TheHobbyCenter.org, and Ticketmaster.com, as those sites are the only official and authorized primary Hamilton tickets sellers.

The Hobby Center warns that if buyers see tickets for hundreds or thousands of dollars, there is no guarantee those tickets are genuine.

While it is legal to re-sell tickets in Texas, tickets purchased from other sources may be more expensive, invalid, speculative or ineligible for assistance, a press release notes. The center also advises against buying from secondary sites and third-party sellers, which includes bogus Facebook event pages.

As a buyer beware, the Hobby Center has furnished these Hamilton ticket buying tips.

To purchase tickets, go to the official website at BroadwayAtTheHobbyCenter.com, TheHobbyCenter.org, or Ticketmaster.com.
Avoid unofficial venue/ticket/show sites with ticket links. Don’t be fooled by secondary sites that imply affiliation with the Hobby Center by using photos of the venue, seating charts and images or information about upcoming shows.
Make note that the official website for the Hobby Center is TheHobbyCenter.org where you can find current and accurate information.
Check that the show/date/venue you are being offered is actually scheduled.
Check the official seating map of the venue at TheHobbyCenter.org to be sure seating locations actually exist.
If you hear a show is “sold-out,” first check with the venue to confirm that is the case.
You shouldn’t pay more than face-value, but re-sale is legal. Research to see if you’re paying too much.
If you see an offer that seems too good to be true, it probably is. There are plenty of bogus sites.
If you purchase tickets, don’t post photos of them online, as it is possible to copy a photo to re-sell.
Fans may recall that the Broadway behemoth was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Hamilton last hit the Broadway in Houston stage in April 2018. As CultureMap previously reported, the musical based on the life story of the first U.S Treasury Secretary, the face on the ten-dollar bill, and sometimes forgotten founding father —Alexander Hamilton — deserves its multitude of Tony Awards.

Tens of thousands of fans have jam-packed New York City’s Broadway and local theaters to catch Lin-Manuel Miranda’s masterpiece, which centers on Hamilton and his colorful foil, Aaron Burr — and indeed, the story of a burgeoning America.

The musical has won Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and a special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.

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From Frozen to Die Hard, these 9 December shows are must-sees in Houston

Photo by Melissa Taylor

Theatre Under the Stars presents their new vision for Disney's Frozen.

We’re still making our way through our traditional holiday stage viewing that opened last month, including those dancing Nutcrackers and spooky Christmastime ghosts. Yet, December brings even more theatrical treats. We’ve got fairytale fun for the whole family with a brand-new Frozen and Pinocchio. Cabaret companies ring in the holidays, and Sister is back for a Catechism mystery. And for those wanting to leave the kids at home, Houston theater even has a few shows likely on Santa’s naughty-list.

Holiday Cabaret (now through December)
If you’re in the mood for some great songs, light comedy, and perhaps some performers to audience banter, Houston musical theater has some special cabaret shows for you. Music Box Theatre brings back A Beatles Holiday Cabaret, their annual December unique mashup tradition of mixing classic and contemporary holiday songs with Beatles standards. After last year’s success, Paul Hope Cabarets returns with several evenings of holiday songs both familiar and new that feature two favorite Yuletide themes, Angels and Bells. And as part of their Artists Lounge series, A.D. Players will present Merry Christmas Darling, as Chicago’s favorite leading lady Heidi Kettering sings the holiday hits of Karen Carpenter.

Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of Magi’s Gold at Stages (December 3-22)
After picking up summer school and regular term classes already this season, Houston's hardest working theatrical nun is back for the holidays with another catechism session. In this special Christmas rendition, Sister (Stages favorite Denise Fennell) plays detective as she tries to solve the mystery of what happened to all that gifted gold those the wise men brought to the most famous baby shower in history. While Sister recounts the nativity story in her own unique way, no texting or gum chewing is allowed in this class. Pay attention because Sister will call on her students and sometimes require active participation.

The Night Shift Before Christmas at Alley Theatre (December 5-29)
The Alley brings back this crowd-pleasing tale that they world-premiered in 2022 with a name change and a brand new script. Scrooge gets a decidedly 21st century, Tejana new look in this one-woman show from playwright Isaac Gómez. Working the Christmas Eve night shift at an iconic Texas burger joint, Margot is about to find out the usual grumpy drive-thru customers and an equally grumpy robotic Santa are the least of her worries when her dead friend Jackie Marley stops by with a gaggle of ghostly customers. Briana J. Resa, who originated the role of Margo, is also back to let the spirits sometimes literally move her.

Panto Pinocchio at Stages (December 6-January 5)
Stages’ takes us on another holiday adventure as they continue their annual tradition of bringing world premiere panto shows that weave together contemporary fairytale revision with some adult satire and silly fun for kids. In this 21st century version of Pinocchio, the kid that just wants to be real begins life as an AI boy created by genius inventor Gill Bates. With the help of everybody’s favorite faithful guide, Buttons, Pinocchio embarks on a quest to become real and encounters a world of digital mischief and adventure along the way. Will he unlock the secrets to his identity? Or will the conniving villains Miss Treats and Miss Demeanor disrupt the festivities and thwart Pinocchio’s journey?

Disney’s Frozen from Theatre Under the Stars (December 10-29)
Let it go – the holiday stresses that is – and spend a night in the winter wonderland of the fairytale Frozen. The stage musical of Disney’s blockbuster animated film took Broadway by (snow) storm seven years ago before hitting the road for a multi-year U.S tour. Now that those tours have ended, Disney invited Theatre Under the Stars to create its own production.

While all the beloved songs and the story of a queendom saved by magic and sisterly love will remain the same, look for all-new set and costume designs inspired by Scandinavia. This will likely be TUTS' biggest self-produced show of the year and will include students from their theater schools, making it perfect for the whole family.

Who's Holiday! from Garden Theatre (December 13-22)
If you’re looking for a show that’s decidedly adults-only, head down to the MATCH for this irreverent parody about the aftermath of the Dr. Seuss classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Cindy Lou Who, the adorable tike who saved Christmas from the Grinch, has reached adulthood, lives in a trailer on Mount Crumpit, and boy has she seen some Seussicial stuff in her time. Local fav Chaney Moore, who has appeared on many a Houston stage, plays the bawdy, outrageous Cindy Lou as she prepares to host a tell-all Christmas party.

“She’s got a martini in one hand, a cigarette in the other, and she’s ready to finally tell you her side of the story,” explains Garden Theatre artistic director Logan Vaden.

Yippee Ki Yay presented by Performing Arts Houston (December 20-22)
As the year winds down, let’s move beyond the debate about whether Die Hard is actually a Christmas movie and focus on the much more important new argument: Does a one-man, live-rhyming reenactment of Die Hard count as a holiday show? We’ll find out as PAH stages this internationally award-winning, action-packed, loving (but still weird) comic tribute to Die Hard. Be there live as John McClane and Han Gruber (a.k.a writer/performer Richard March) set Nakatomi Plaza ablaze through the magic of theater lighting and imagination, while March also tells us a deeper story about the joy of being a fan.

Photo by Melissa Taylor

Theatre Under the Stars presents their new vision for Disney's Frozen.