AMPAS is Swamped with Oscar Show Ticket Requests

The move of the Academy Awards back to Hollywood and into the new Kodak Theatre is causing 
Academy officials more ticketing headaches than usual.  Academy President Frank Pierson is 
asking the organization's members for understanding if their ticket requests couldn't be 
granted for the 74th Awards, and is bracing those who were successful this year for the 
likelihood that they won't be attending next year's show.

"There's a huge interest in seeing the new theater and the terrific show that Laura Ziskin 
is bringing to it," said Pierson, "and that's good.  But it also means that, even with more 
good seats available than we used to have at the Chandler Pavilion, we're having to send out 
more turn-down letters this year."

The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Los Angeles Music Center, where the Academy Awards were 
held 26 times in recent history, could seat about 2,700 for the Oscars.  The other recent 
venue, the Shrine Auditorium, could seat 5,600 when configured for the Oscars, though the 
Academy left the farthest reaches of the vast top balcony empty, accommodating about 4,000 
guests in all.

The Kodak seats 3,300, but with broadcast-related "seat-kills" that number is reduced to 
closer to 3,100.

Academy Executive Director Bruce Davis said that about 275 members would be receiving 
disappointing news in the mail.  "We did pretty well by members who were willing to take 
top balcony seats," he said, "but for those who only wanted the prime orchestra or mezzanine 
seating, it was brutal.  The lottery drum looked as full this year when we finished it as it 
looks most years before we start."

Pierson offered little hope that the situation might improve next year.  "To some extent, 
I'm sure this is a first year phenomenon," he said.  "But next year is our 75th Anniversary 
show, and we expect there will be more than the usual interest as well."

-                       ####
-
-
-
-