Borderless Playbill Covers
Borderless Playbill Covers
WaltG2
Understudy Joined: 12/24/15
#1Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 10:22am
What's the reasoning or significance behind "borderless" Playbill covers?
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#2Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 10:25am
They're all Scott Rudin productions. He likes them.
WaltG2
Understudy Joined: 12/24/15
#3Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 10:29am
neonlightsxo said: "They're all Scott Rudin productions. He likes them."
Much obliged!
#4Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 10:36am
Correct, the shows that currently have them are below and all Scott Rudin shows, they add an old timey feel to the show (as this used to be the Playbill design decades ago) and I kinda prefer it to the current one:
-The Crucible
-Blackbird
-The Humans
-A View from the Bridge
-Maybe Shuffle Along will too?
10086sunset
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/16
#5Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 10:40am
Shuffle Along does have a borderless Playbill cover.
It looks amazing. It's also in color
#7Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 12:40pm
As phan said, it's a call back to the playbill design of the late 50's through the early 70's. I love the design it looks so much sharper than the white border.
#8Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 12:56pm
phan24 said: "INDEED!
Seeing it the week after next. Must grab an extra!
#9Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 1:06pm
Going on Wednesday to the 3rd preview, can't wait! Will definitely grab some extra :)
#10Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 1:26pm
The borderless Playbill covers are really nice.
In 1973 I believe they drastically changed the look of the covers with a multi-colored pop art version of their masthead which was an eyesore. Does anyone know how long that version lasted before reverting to the black on yellow masthead?
#11Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 1:53pm
The garish tricolor header was only used throughout 1973. By early 1974 the current white border design was in place.
JM226
Broadway Star Joined: 11/10/15
#12Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 1:56pm
has anyone considered that the white border is just because Playbill prints without bleed now? i do not know that for a fact but i am assuming it is the case since no bleed is much cheaper than full bleed.
#13Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 2:02pm
I think they're very sharp looking. I can't wait to get that Shuffle Along.
#14Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 2:24pm
JM226 – pretty much the reason, yes.
WaltG2
Understudy Joined: 12/24/15
#15Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 2:27pm
WayTooBroadway said: "JM226 – pretty much the reason, yes."
I don't think it really be limited to that. It's almost definitely a cause, but I think it's also a stylistic choice as well.
JM226
Broadway Star Joined: 11/10/15
#16Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 3:37pm
why do you thinik it is stylistic. it is just to save money which is perfectly acceptable. the cost difference between bleed and no bleed is huge.
@z5
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/30/15
#17Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 6:07pm
Skylight also had one last year, which really looked awesome during June.
#18Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 3/11/16 at 6:14pm
First Playbill to do so in the past two seasons, I believe. Same producer.
ageorges3
Understudy Joined: 3/20/12
#19Borderless Playbill Covers
Posted: 10/1/16 at 5:56pm
Big fan of the look of the new playbills! I've gotten so accustomed to the borders over the years that it's a bit jarring looking at the current ones at first glance, but a show's given artwork looks a bit cleaner and neater with the new design. Playbills mean a lot to me - my dad's had a pretty cool connection to Playbill most his life (he grew up and is friends with Phil Birsh - he's still at the company these days), and I've appreciated the look and "purpose" even of a Playbill for years.
Didn't always think of it in this way, but from one perspective giving the audience that booklet, and having the cast listed (we take it for granted but it's not always the case in other countries) does the initial step of getting them to open up a booklet and learn about the show they're seeing. Having articles by people like Seth Rudetsky on the latest happenings in theater does the next step, it gets audience members interested in the theater as a broader art form in general (it's a win win for everyone!) before the rise of the curtain. I love that it succeeds in both those regards!
All in all, an awesome way to ensure Broadway houses stay filled for years to come!
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