DR Matthew - So glad to hear you had a great time in NYC! I was going to try to squeeze in seeing TBFO myself - to see Mr. Jackman - but just no room in the schedule this time round. And that's great that you ended up with house seats. I sometimes just take my chances and just wait... House seats are usually released at half-hour if they aren't claimed by someone with the production. *A dear friend of mine got in trouble at the Kennedy Center once for figuring out their "system" - we were waiting in line, but it still wasn't half-hour before the show. We kept letting people go ahead of us. One of the box office ladies motioned to my friend to ask what the problem was... He told her that he was told that the house seats are released at half-hour. Well, this upset her a little bit. No one was supposed to know that. Well, we got back in line and let a few more people go ahead of us. A few minutes later, she motioned us to her window again... and gave us the house seats. Fifth row center for the opening night of the first national tour of Les Miserables. *Of course, we ran into some friends afterwards who had ordered tickets months in advance... and all they could get were second balcony! Oh, and this happened at the Sondheim Celebration last summer too. There were some really lucky people in the Stand-By/Cancellation line... They would walk up, and find themselves in prime seats.
Oh, and one time in NYC, I hit TKTS at 7:55.... And ended up with house seats! -Can't remember the show, but it did happen! And, yes, I ran like mad to the theatre!