The Wharton Center's 35th anniversary season kicks off

Jessie Mueller stars as Jenna in the touring production of Broadway hit “Waitress,” written by singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, which comes to the Wharton Center in January.

Photo by Joan Marcus.

Thanks to the internet age, gone are the days of lining up in the heat or cold, hours in advance of a ticket sale, in hopes of snagging the perfect set of seats for a favorite show. Or at least, they’re gone if you want them to be.

“Most everyone buys their single tickets online, but we’ve had a fair amount of people at our ticket office today,” said Bob Hoffman, the Wharton Center’s public relations manager. “I have so many memories of single ticket day where people would line up at the center before the internet, and there would be a line of people almost two times around the Wharton Center of people buying their single tickets.”

Still, just because fewer people show up physically to buy tickets, doesn’t mean there is any shortage of excitement. Since 10 a.m. today, eager ticket buyers have been able to pick up anything they fancy from the Wharton Center’s upcoming season, from “The Bodyguard,” “An American in Paris” and more. The only show that will have a separate sell date will be Disney’s “The Lion King,” which has yet to be announced.

One of the shows that Hoffman is excited most for is “An American in Paris.”

“It was a surprise. I really wasn’t excited in American in Paris until I saw it in Chicago and I loved it! I’m so excited to see it again,” Hoffman said. “The magic of that show is incredible. The staging is something like I’ve never seen before, I wanted to go back and watch it again.”

But plays and musicals aren’t the only attractions are available for individual-ticket purchase. This year, the Wharton Center will present NPR’s David Sedaris, “To Ray with Love” starring Maceo Parker and more.

“It really is a big day for our ticket office,” Hoffman said.

Tickets can be found online at whartoncenter.com or purchased in person at the Auto Owner's Insurance Ticket Office at the Wharton Center.

Wharton Center for Performing Arts

Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing.

(517) 432-2000