Does anyone know why some off-broadway shows have PLAYBILLS and some just have programs? I would think there would be some kind of reason for this. I know the shows at Dodger Stages use Playbills, as does the York Theatre Co -- and I would assume MTC and Roundabout's off-broadway houses use playbill. However, when I saw "Bug" recently and "Sarah Jones Bridge and Tunnel", there were just regular playbills.
A random question, I know.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
Playbills are rather expensive (especially color ones), so for off-Broadway shows that are trying to keep down weekly running costs (as well as all off-off-Broadway shows), they'll often go with a less expensive program service (or simply xerox their own).
Broadway Star Joined: 9/18/04
Do all Broadway Shows have to have Playbills?
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
Disney has their own programs for their shows, I believe, but everyone else subscribes to Playbill.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/18/04
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
I know The Lion King didn't at one point.
Yes. The Lion King had "Stagebill"
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
Back in the Cabaret days, they switched to Stagebills, but then they switched back to Playbills. Never could figure out why.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/18/04
I mean Lion King uses a Showbill but isn't it made by Playbill?
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
My friend and I went hunting for Playbills one day: Aida gave us Playbills, Lion King gave Showbills. The Showbills were exactly the same (same ads and everything), except slightly bigger.
And yes, it was made by Playbill
Just like Dreamworks is Disney...
Yes, THE LION KING and 42ND STREET use ShowBills - they're the same as playbills, except they don't have any of the articles in them - they only have articles about that show in them.
What someone said was that THE LION KING (when it first opened) and CABARET used to use Stage Bills, which look NOTHING like playbills - I have them each from those shows, and they are a bit strange.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
Broadway Star Joined: 9/18/04
42nd Street uses another format because they are at the Ford Center. So there Playbill's probably don't advertise for like Lexus and Disney Has articles about Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and dud have Aids
Thought I would pull this thread up rather than start a new one -- what are off-broadway shows doing now as far as playbills? I saw "Souvenir", "White Chocolate", and "The Baltimore Waltz" recently and they all had Playbills...does anyone know what shows like A Number, Spelling Bee, and HurlyBurly are using?
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
Spelling Bee is using Playbill.
A Number is using New York Theatre Workshop's standard program (a nice, but inexpensive pamphlet listing production bios and theatre sponsors and donors -- about 20 pages with no ads or articles).
Showbill and Playbill are by the same company, it just depends on the car ads (I believe Ford sponsers Showbill and Cadillac sponsers Playbill)
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