While individual seats for the 2010 Oberammergau “Passion Play” are sold out, it’s still possible to get tickets several ways.
A representative at the passion play office said in late May that tickets sold with a one- or two-night hotel accommodation could still be purchased. The lowest-price package available costs 215 euros per person, and it includes a “Passion Play” ticket in seating category 3 and one-night private accommodation.
For details, call the play office at: (+49) (0)8822-923160 or 923163.
Something to be aware of: The more a buyer pays for a hotel as part of a package deal, the better the ticket. For the first time, seating category is connected to the price of a hotel room, said Renate Frank, the owner of Gasthof zur Rose, a popular Oberammergau guest house that still has some rooms available this summer and fall.
For those hoping to buy an individual ticket and figure out accommodations separately — with the show not ending until 10:30 p.m., booking lodging in advance is a good idea — there are two ways to go. A representative from the Munich ticket office said it has no individual tickets available for the play at the moment, but that can change day-to-day. Extra tickets are sometimes returned by tour operators and others, so it’s best to “call us each day and ask,” said Ida Esposito. The office may get tickets “for the same day, for the next day or next month,” she said. Best time to call is between 10 and 11 a.m. The number is: (+49) (0)8822-92310. Individual tickets, depending on seating category, range from 49.50 euros to 165 euros, Esposito said.
Due to last-minute returns, tickets can also be purchased the day of the performance at the Oberrammergau box office, located at the theater. Typically about 50 tickets are available on a given day, a representative said. She said the box office opens at noon, but sometimes hopeful play-goers line up in the morning.
Another way to go is through tour operators. Some companies this late in the game are selling discounted packages due to late returns from customers. One such group is Munich-based Kendall Tours, which is offering military-discounted packages for the play, according to Rod Gould, the managing director. Prices range from 225 euros to 350 euros, which include hotel accommodation, all meals, a play ticket and an English-language text book. For more information, contact the company by e-mail at: Kendalltours@t-online.de.
Another option is to check with local USO or base travel offices to see if they have scheduled a trip to the play. SHAPE’s Trips and Tours, for example, has a package tour planned for July.
Other things to keep in mind: With an open-air stage, the theater can get cold. It’s a good idea to take a blanket and a pillow, for extra cushioning. Though an English translation of the script is available, it gets dark in the theater at night, and the program was hard to follow during the last hour or two of the play.
For more information about the play or purchasing tickets, see the play’s Web site at
