Grasshopper Night is the highlight of Parents’ Weekend. Because of the popularity of this show among students and parents, it has always been a struggle to get tickets. In previous years, only the most tenacious and persevering students who arrived three hours before tickets went on sale to wait in line, could get the coveted tickets for themselves and their families. But the recently instated lottery system has taken the advantage from the truly dedicated and left many students, especially Seniors, upset at the fact that they will not be attending Grasshopper this year. I had just gotten out of math class when I was informed that Grasshopper tickets were available online. I had loved Grasshopper last year in my first year Phillips, and I had been anxiously awaiting to see it again my Senior year. I thought about how much more fun it would be with the Class of ’08, all of my friends, heading the show. I looked forward to the skits run by emcees Matt Cranney ’08 and Cecilia Worthington ’08, I looked forward to actually being able to tell my parents who the students on stage were this year, and I looked foward to the fact that my younger brother would be able to witness PA’s most talented students during his first trip to Andover. When I was previously informed that there would be a lottery system this year to determine Grasshopper Night tickets, I had thought that the idea seemed flawed, but little did I realize how many people would be unable to receive guaranteed tickets. So, when I looked at the Grasshopper list with Brian Watson ’08 and found that neither of us had received tickets, I felt the need to voice the doubts I had felt all along about the lottery system. The lottery system makes it too easy for one to sign up for tickets. This allowed many people who are fairly apathetic about going to Grasshopper Night to simply throw their names in the hat just in case they should decide to attend at the last minute. Meanwhile, people who truly desired tickets and didn’t get any will now be forced to show up to Grasshopper Night 45 minutes early in order to try to walk-in the day of the performance. In the system of previous years, students who really wanted tickets could make sure they got them by showing up on time or early to GW at the various times for ticket sales. This system ensured that the students who were the most determined to get tickets for themselves and their families got them and that less committed students didn’t. This year, however, there will be a frenzy of ticket-trading between students who will not end up attending and students left out by the lottery who are trying desperately to keep the promises they made to family members. Additionally, the lottery system made a tragic oversight by not granting preference to Seniors. This the very last chance for Seniors like Bryan and I to see Grasshopper Night. As a result of this entire debacle, students across campus are scrambling to find tickets for their families for Grasshopper Night, and unfortunately, they may not all get to enjoy the show.
