First Preview Gift Thread

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 6:25pm

I thought it might be nice to have a thread where we can keep track of all the first preview gifts, since they appear to be (thankfully) the norm, now. Curious what “Gypsy” Will have waiting on the seats tonight!

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 6:59pm

I've got

Coasters from The Heart of Rock & Roll

A Viola Van Horn card and pin from Death Becomes Her

From what I've seen posted - 

Tote Bags at Stereophonic 

Poster and pin at Swept Away

Copy of the novel at The Great Gatsby 

Eyes at Tammy Faye

[binau]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 7:02pm

A release of Arthur Laurents’ notes to Sam Mendes from the archives??

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 7:36pm

An egg roll on each chair?

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 7:41pm

Looks like tote bags!

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 8:14pm

theatergoer3 said: "I've got

Coasters from The Heart of Rock & Roll

A Viola Van Horn card and pin from Death Becomes Her

From what I've seen posted -

Tote Bags at Stereophonic

Poster and pin at Swept Away

Copy of the novel at The Great Gatsby

Eyes at Tammy Faye"

Eyes at Tammy Faye? Care to elaborate? 

[Kad]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 8:41pm

I don’t know if they were also at the first preview, but at the opening of Tammy Faye, everyone received a pair of sunglasses with her eyes printed on the lenses 

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 8:43pm

While I was not there, Sunset gave out tote bag at their first preview.

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 8:46pm

At the first preview of "Dear Evan Hansen," they gave out baby blue rubber bracelets with "#YOUWILLBEFOUND" and "DEAREVANHANSEN.COM" on them in white text.

[CJRochester]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 9:37pm

sbflyfan said: "At the first preview of "Dear Evan Hansen," they gave out baby blue rubber bracelets with "#YOUWILLBEFOUND" and "DEAREVANHANSEN.COM" on them in white text."

I was there as well. We also got light blue DEH baseball caps, and buttons that said FANSENS. Rachel and Jennifer signed people's caps, instead of our Playbills. 

[BentleyB]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 9:47pm

At the first preview of “The Outsiders” they gave a “Stay Gold” patch. 

[AntV]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 12:19am

Kad said: "I don’t know if they were also at the first preview, but at the opening of Tammy Faye, everyone received a pair of sunglasses with her eyes printed on the lenses"

First preview was a tote bag with 1 of about 3 different buttons with a quote from the show on it. No sunglasses.

Wonderful World was a pin.

From what I've seen, Yellowface was sunglasses.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 12:20am

binau said: "A release of Arthur Laurents’ notes to Sam Mendes from the archives??"

Mainly on Directing, available wherever books are sold.

[raddersons]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 7:25am

I got a tote when I accidentally went to the first preview of The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window.

Not gonna like, I’m kind of shocked that producers do this. Productions cost enough to just run every day — they’re gonna spend money printing 1200 tote bags?! What do they gain from this, better word of mouth?

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 8:33am

raddersons said: "I got a tote when I accidentally went to the first preview of The Sign InSidney Brustein’s Window.

Not gonna like, I’m kind of shocked that producers do this. Productions cost enough to just run every day — they’re gonna spend money printing 1200 tote bags?! What do they gain from this, better word of mouth?"

Nothing was given out at the Back to the Future preview, and I was honestly shocked. It's such a big title that I figured they'd do something big to start.

[Ensemble1732755194]

Posted: 11/28/24 at 1:30am

Yeah, It was a tote bag, It looked too simple but the quality was too good. I got PVC morale patches UK for it to make it look better and it really turned out good. Later, I got patches for many of my other bags and now I love them all. 

Updated On: 11/28/24 at 01:30 AM

[Listener]

Posted: 11/28/24 at 1:31am

Eyes at Tammy Faye

I'm sorry what now...??!

I don’t know if they were also at the first preview, but at the opening of Tammy Faye, everyone received a pair of sunglasses with her eyes printed on the lenses 

Ahhh okay. LOL

Updated On: 11/28/24 at 01:31 AM

[60'splayoff]

Posted: 11/29/24 at 10:49am

Luggage tags at Maybe Happy Ending. Thrilled it wasn't another tote!

Not this season, but I loved the first preview gifts at Water for Elephants: bracelets made in partnership with wildlife conservation organization, Fahlo.

[TheSassySam]

Posted: 11/29/24 at 6:20pm

It wasn't exactly a tote bag for Gypsy, but a newsboy bag seen in the Dainty June numbers. Thought it was a cute nod. 

When I went to the Anastasia first preview it was a button. 

[veronicamae]

Posted: 11/30/24 at 11:18am

raddersons said: "I got a tote when I accidentally went to the first preview of The Sign InSidney Brustein’s Window.

Not gonna like, I’m kind of shocked that producers do this. Productions cost enough to just run every day — they’re gonna spend money printing 1200 tote bags?! What do they gain from this, better word of mouth?"

Printing 1200 tote bags costs $3,000 or less (I checked 4imprint for this figure, and it's probably even cheaper if they use their existing merch company), and they gain the potential visibility via reach of up to 1200 patrons posting their brand on their social media as they show off their new free tote bag, and potentially continue to use it out in public. Do you have any idea how much they spend on an ad in the printed edition of The New York Times? Or to run an ad on television? Those numbers are actually shocking.

Updated On: 11/30/24 at 11:18 AM

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 12/1/24 at 12:05pm

Card and pencil for Eureka Day. 

Updated On: 12/1/24 at 12:05 PM

[StylishCynic]

Posted: 12/1/24 at 12:56pm

Company (Marianne Elliott) had "I <3 NY" totes birthday party hats inside for both first previews. The ushers handed out balloons upon exit, also. The 2022 (second) first preview also included a Company face mask inside of the totes.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 12/1/24 at 2:38pm

StylishCynic said: "Company (Marianne Elliott) had "I <3 NY" totes birthday party hats inside for both first previews. The ushershanded out balloons upon exit, also. The 2022 (second) first preview also included a Company face mask inside of the totes."

Sadly, too many people wore their hats when the show started, blocking the view of the stage from those around them.

 

[Fire and Music]

Posted: 12/1/24 at 2:52pm

Some Like It Hot gave a luggage tag

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 12/12/24 at 1:19pm

Does Lincoln Center ever do them?