Mezzanine, orchestra and balcony: how theater seats reach resale
The orchestra is the ground floor of a theater, the mezzanine is the first raised Level above it, and the balcony sits above that. At the 7 events in our sample held in rooms with an orchestra and a balcony, the orchestra held 61% of the resale tickets listed and the balcony 41%.
What part of a theater is the mezzanine?
The mezzanine is the Level that hangs over the back of the orchestra. Its front rows, often called the front mezzanine, give the best full view of the stage in many Broadway houses. Some theaters split it into a first and second mezzanine.
Orchestra vs mezzanine
The orchestra puts you closest to the actors and at their eye level. The front mezzanine trades closeness for a view of the whole stage picture, which matters for dance and big musicals. Rear orchestra seats under the mezzanine overhang can lose the top of the set.
How each Level reaches resale
The split depends on the room. Hadestown, Nov 11 at Walter Kerr Theatre: Orchestra 54% and Mezzanine 46%. Hadestown, Nov 12 at Walter Kerr Theatre: Orchestra 83% and Mezzanine 17%. Leonid and Friends at Bank Of America Performing Arts Center - Fred Kavli Theatre: Orchestra 12%, Mezzanine 6% and Balcony 79%. Sienna Spiro at Orpheum Theatre - Los Angeles: Orchestra 28% and Balcony 72%. Kathleen Madigan, Nov 13 at Carolina Theatre - Fletcher Hall: Orchestra 4% and Balcony 96%. North Atlanta Dance Theatre - The Nutcracker at Gas South Theater: Orchestra 79% and Balcony 21%. Kathleen Madigan, Nov 14 at Carolina Theatre - Fletcher Hall: Orchestra 7% and Balcony 93%.
Events behind the numbers
- Hadestown, Nov 11425 tickets listed at Walter Kerr Theatre
- Hadestown, Nov 12200 tickets listed at Walter Kerr Theatre
- Leonid and Friends57 tickets listed at Bank Of America Performing Arts Center - Fred Kavli Theatre
- Sienna Spiro65 tickets listed at Orpheum Theatre - Los Angeles
- Kathleen Madigan, Nov 1355 tickets listed at Carolina Theatre - Fletcher Hall
- North Atlanta Dance Theatre - The Nutcracker538 tickets listed at Gas South Theater
- Kathleen Madigan, Nov 1461 tickets listed at Carolina Theatre - Fletcher Hall
Questions
- Is it better to sit in the mezzanine or balcony?
- The mezzanine is closer and lower, so it is the better view in most theaters. The balcony sits farther back and still shows the whole stage.
- Is it better to sit orchestra or mezzanine in a Broadway show?
- Orchestra for closeness to the actors, front mezzanine for the full stage picture. Big dance numbers often read better from the mezzanine.
Compare orchestra, mezzanine and balcony prices for your show on Ticker.