Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

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Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:23pm

I am considering getting it (playbill magazine) but I am low on money and I want to know whats in it. So... whats in it?

Also is the Les Miz closing playbill worth $50?

Updated On: 4/25/08 at 09:23 PM

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:39pm

I've subscribed since its inception in 1982. If you attend the New York theater regulary and get the Playbills at the performance, you'll find that there's not THAT much additional information in the subscription. On the other hand, it always has a nice color cover of current shows and there IS additional information re: London and Off-Broadway theatre. Considering its relatively meagre price, I'd say yes.

BroadwayEd

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:51pm

I love my Playbill magazine subscription, because I am in Chicago and do not get to NY. But even if I lived in NY I would probably still love Playbill magazine.

Rant, Wickud, Rant, Wickud, Rant! We're not gonna pay Rant! 'Cause everythink is Wickud!

"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"

lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:52pm

I get it, and it's great. I agree that if you're in New York and see shows a lot you probably don't need it, but I live in Boston so having it is great.

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:07pm

Well I don't live NY but i'm on b-way sites 24/7

But what is in it, what are the *different* sections

Edited spelling

Updated On: 4/25/08 at 10:07 PM

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:24pm

bump

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:26pm

jeez, desperate?

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:28pm

That's what I was gonna say too, lake. Not even 30 minutes later and he bumps it.

Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:38pm

I know, it didn't even get off of the first page of the board, and yet he felt it necessary.

#10

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:44pm

Playbill Magazine is exactly that -- a magazine, printed monthly. The Playbill you receive at a show is this exact magazine... just with each show's own credits section and cast bios. If you attend shows monthly on Broadway, it is simply redundant to subscribe to the magazine. The Playbill you just got at that show is this exact magazine.

This magazine is for those who don't frequent Broadway shows but like to read the contents inside the Playbills.

Is it worth it? That depends on the individual. I personally don't think so as the exact same articles appear on Playbill.com, so you can read them there -- for free.

If you're a horder/pack-rat that likes to collect stuff -- they indulge yourself. If you're not and like to keep things minimalistic, then just read the same articles on Playbill.com.

Ball's in your court now, bud.

#11

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:44pm

I have opening night playbills for Jersey Boys, Little Mermaid, Xanadu and Legally Blonde and still working on getting some rare and more expensive ones like Rent.

It's like the baseball cards....the rare ones are more expensive!

#12

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:46pm

I know I may eternally damn myself for asking this, but does anyone know if Playbill will be selling a closing night Playbill for Rent?

#13

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:59pm

Um, why on earth will they be selling them? They will be the exact same ones from the previous weeks. As with every single show that has closed on Broadway, a 'special' edition won't be printed. I've been to many closing performances on Broadway, and aside from CATS -- every single Playbill was the exact one issued that month.

By sending the Nederlander Theatre a pre-paid return shipping envelope and your request on a note, they will send you a handful of Playbills with the final/closing cast. FOR FREE!

Oy! Common sense doesn't seem to flow here, does it?

Better yet -- send me $100 in cash and I will ship you ten (10) RENT closing Playbills. I promise.

#14

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 11:11pm

Well, if that is the way you see it then explain to me the relevance of selling opening night Playbills too!

#15

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 11:18pm

So they can make lots of money from silly fools who pay money for the exact same Playbill you get at the theatre but with a nice shiny Opening Night sticker on it. Every single Playbill that month says OPENING NIGHT ___ ___, 2008 at the top of the credits page, so if you obtain a Playbill with that Opening Night date on it, it doesn't mean its from the actual Opening Night performance... its just a Playbill issued that month, when the show opened.

Many a Playbill I possess with the Opening Night date on it and I didn't attend it's Opening Night. I just happened to see the show a week or days after it opened so those Playbills were still being handed out until the next month's issue is released.

Next question.

#16

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 11:20pm

Well, it is great that you get to attend the shows the same month that they open and still get the opening night playbill, but for those of us who don't live within driving distance of NYC how would this be possible?

#17

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 11:32pm

By simply sending a pre-paid return shipping envelope to the theatre housing whatever show you want a Playbill with the Opening Night date printed on the credits page. Just make sure you send it around the same time the show opened, etc. They will send you a handful -- and for free.

NOTE: Those shiny Opening Night stickers are only put on those same Playbills sold by Playbill.com -- they are not on the actual Playbills you get when you attend the Opening Night performance. I thought those stickers would be, but they are not.

Next question.

NOTE: a couple of friends are coming over shortly to watch my DVD of Mario Lopez in A CHORUS LINE. You're more than welcome to come over.

#18

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 11:55pm

I have attended MANY opening nights on Broadway, and the Playbills NEVER have that little sticker on them.

That "Opening Night Playbill" with the sticker is a SCAM to make money off of idiots living in the middle of nowhere and don't know any better.

"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)

#19

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/26/08 at 12:04am

NOTE: a couple of friends are coming over shortly to watch my DVD of Mario Lopez in A CHORUS LINE. You're more than welcome to come over.

- This is so Brody.

#20

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/26/08 at 12:05am

I mean the magazine not opening night ones.

#21

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/26/08 at 12:13am

"Also is the Les Miz closing playbill worth $50?"

No.

#22

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/26/08 at 12:42am

Long runners like CATS & BatB usually get special edition playbills for their final performence. I'm pretty sure RENT will have one.

#23

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/26/08 at 2:42am

thanks, defyingravity07

#24

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/26/08 at 3:17am

I have only been watching musicals for a few years now and have missed on those other playbills that was available when they first opened and thus buying them from playbill.com makes sense and burning a couple of dollars to get your hand into some beloved memorabillias doesn't matter much 2 me :P

#25

re: Playbill Magazine worth it? Also closing playbills for $50?

Posted: 4/26/08 at 3:31am

And either way you WILL have to pay. Granted just sending an envelope requesting a playbill will not cost as much, but you also have to pay for the envelope and the postage to send the request there, and pay for the envelope and postage for them to send you your playbill. And if you order on Playbill.com it costs me 10.25 for a playbill which has the sticker (I am a sucker for shiny things) and it is also in MINT condish. SO I would rather pay a LITTLE more for the mint condish Playbill.

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