Playbills In Color Question

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Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:19pm

Do they sometimes print playbills in color and sometimes print them in just black in white?

Like my DRS playbill from this summer is black and white, but my cousin's from like a year ago is in color...

I was just wondering...

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:20pm

$$$$$$$$$

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:24pm

Most shows start their runs in color, but switch to B&W when they need to start saving money. Shows from Roundabout, however, are always printed in B&W. There are some shows (Wicked, Jersey Boys, Hairspray, Spelling Bee, etc.) that still have color playbills long into their runs.

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:25pm

i think all off broadway are black and white

profitable shows stay in color

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:25pm

they are usuall in color when the show first opens, then they switch to black and white to save money.

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re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:40pm

Not all off-broadway playbills are in B&W. Off the top of my head "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" was in color.

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:51pm

Im not one of those "Go Search" people, but here is a very old thread that might be helpful:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=874045#1558667

"Have they come yet?"

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:57pm

It depends on the show, not the broadway/off broadway factor. Bernarda Alba, OB, is it magnificent color, whereas Sweet Charity was BW. Was SC ever in color?

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:58pm

No, Sweet Charity was not ever in color.

#10

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 10:11pm

myManCape-
Thanks for the link. It was really helpful.

So DRS seems like the biggest example...?

#11

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 10:13pm

It's probably the most used example.

I know that Drowsy and (I believe) The Color Purple are both in B&W now.

#12

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 10:16pm

i have a B & W lestat playbill which i found on the staten island ferry, did they start out in color at all?

#13

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 10:18pm

I saw Lestat early in previews and it was in full color.

Yes, TCP and TDC are now in BW. I don't like the way Drowsy's looks now. It gave a classy feel with the red.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#14

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:30pm

That's too bad about Drowsy -- the Playbill must look pretty drab in B&W. They didn't have a color Playbill for very long -- didn't the show open in May?

"What was the name of that cheese that I like?" "you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start" "well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"

#15

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:44am

Some shows also would probably not work in black and white. Off the top of my head, can you imagine the Wicked playbill in B&W? The whole point of the show is green. That wouldn't work. Plus, Avenue Q with the orange. Wouldn't work in gray (last I checked it was still in color, right?)

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#16

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:59am

Sweet Charity did have color playbills during the pre-broadway tour.

"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D

#17

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/17/06 at 11:44am

Why does Color Purple need B&W playbills? I would think they would be able to afford them.

#18

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:25pm

I'm lucky I have TCP and TDC playbills in color then. Especially Drowsy. I cannot even imagine what it looks like in B and W. Too plain.

...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...

#19

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:26pm

I assume Wedding Singer will be making the transition VERY soon. As of yesterday they are still using color.

#20

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:45pm

The Drowsy Chaperone Playbill IS very boring in B&W. I was really suprised that it wasn't still in color when I saw it a couple weeks ago.

Wicked's may always stay in color because
A. It's so popular and
b. it uses so little actual color except for the green that it is probably less money to produce it in color.

#21

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:46pm

I agree that Drowsy's playbill is pretty boring in B&W. However, if it had stayed in color ACL's Playbill would look exactly like it!! I swear that both shows picked the exact same hue of red.

#22

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:53pm

Is Spelling Bee still in color?

#23

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:54pm

What a lot of shows don't realize is that when they switch to black and white, they should get rid of their logo (most of the time) and just put their show's title.

When the Fiddler on the Roof revival switched to black and white, they got rid of the logo on the cover and just put their title in big white letters instead of making it look amateurish.

Some shows can keep the logo, like Beauty and the Beast and POTO. Les Miz works, too.

If Wicked were to switch, I'd definaelty suggest to them to lose the logo on the playbill and put the title in the center.

How to properly use its/it's: Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...

#24

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:07pm

Spelling Bee is still in color.

I think that most shows look fine in black and white, but I agree that the Fiddler revival made the right move.

I really do not like Drowsy's new look. It is just the plain title, where I think it looked great before with the red in the background.

#25

re: Playbills In Color Question

Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:10pm

So shows that do not cost that much to run, like Avenue Q and Spelling Bee, will probably stick with color playbills because they can afford them...?

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