Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

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Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:38am

hey all,

just wondering how long after a show's opening does its playbill cover picture become black and white? sorry for the strange question, but i like to collect the full color playbills.

Updated On: 6/20/08 at 12:38 AM

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:47am

there is no set schedule. some shows never do. disney shows rarely do. BATB just lost the red in the rose, and they tried aida in B&W but it didnt work so it went back to color. wicked has never been b&w and ave q just changed to b&w within the last year. usually when the show could use to save some money they will go to b&w. i like what some shows do though, even though there in b&w they change the design from time to time, chicago does this and xanadu is on there third cover i believe.

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 3:51am

I don't like the word schedule. It only has to do with money. The producers of a show save money with black and white playbills. If you're a show like Wicked and you have money to throw around you continue spending more money on color playbills.

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 9:44am

It's been my general experience that most shows start with the color programs; when business starts to dwindle, they revert to B&W as a savings measure. It can be an indicator that business is less than optimal. However, I don't recall any that were originally in B&W and then went to color. Does anyone out there know of this happening?

BroadwayEd

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 10:10am

Like everyone said, it all has to do with money. I think it also has to do with the cast. If the OBC leaves they normally change the playbill, especially if they were on the cover. But Normally in a show run there is probably 3 playbills (of course depending on show and money) One for the OBC, one after they leave in color and then Black and White.

There is an ITH thread on playbills. I made a prediction of the next playbill there.

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:06pm

FIM

Updated On: 6/20/08 at 12:06 PM

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:15pm

That is incorrect.

B&W Playbills are free. Color Playbills cost money.

There was an ASK PLAYBILL.COM about this.

Let me dig it up...

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:19pm

then i think playbill is paying my friend too much money...either that or i had a martini in-hand during the conversation

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:21pm

carderic... the premise of that is correct. I work for a design firm and I supervise printing. If the back cover is in color, the front cover can also be in color, usually at the same cost. Both pages are printed at the same time right next to each other (just unfold your Playbill to see what I mean, it is the same sheet of paper, printed on the same side). If the entire Playbill goes B&W, that is different and does cost much less to go 2 color.

"there are people in our lives who change us in a way that nobody else can, and it's not necessarily the people you expect," Menzel

#10

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:22pm

Question: Why are some Playbill covers in black and white, while others are in color?

Answer: According to Playbill Magazine Publisher and President Philip Birsh, Playbill gives the shows the choice, and they can have color if they pay for it. The black-and-white covers are provided free of charge.
Bottom Of The Page

#11

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:29pm

So, although technically the cover could be color (because the back cover usually is), the individual shows would have to pay additional to add it. It is the same idea as the newspaper or phonebook, adding color to your ad costs more money, even thought the paper prints primarily B&W, the color is possible.

"there are people in our lives who change us in a way that nobody else can, and it's not necessarily the people you expect," Menzel

#12

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:31pm

As it has been said before. Color playbills have to be paid for by the producers. But, black and white playbills can be given to the show for free. Thus producers use them when they need to save money.

"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear" Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll

#13

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:34pm

Right, why pay the extra money when something is being given to you for free.

"there are people in our lives who change us in a way that nobody else can, and it's not necessarily the people you expect," Menzel

#14

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:41pm

Technically they aren't "given." Playbill pays each theater to distribute the programs (Playbill actually pays the ushers additional money, through the theater, a lump sum per week if there are cast change inserts).

#15

re: Playbill Covers: Color to B/W Question

Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:44pm

I understand the given situation, I meant why pay for color if you can get similar artwork in B&W at no cost to the production.

"there are people in our lives who change us in a way that nobody else can, and it's not necessarily the people you expect," Menzel

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