Playbills In Color Question
Playbills In Color Question
#0Playbills 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...
mijofly19
Broadway Star Joined: 6/14/05
#2re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:24pmMost 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.
#3re: 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
#4re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:25pmthey are usuall in color when the show first opens, then they switch to black and white to save money.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
#5re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:40pmNot all off-broadway playbills are in B&W. Off the top of my head "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" was in color.
myManCape
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/26/05
#6re: 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
#7re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:57pmIt 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?
To Kill A Mockingbird
#8re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/16/06 at 9:58pmNo, Sweet Charity was not ever in color.
#9re: 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...?
mijofly19
Broadway Star Joined: 6/14/05
#10re: 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.
#11re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/16/06 at 10:16pmi have a B & W lestat playbill which i found on the staten island ferry, did they start out in color at all?
#12re: 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.
To Kill A Mockingbird
#13re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/16/06 at 11:30pmThat'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?
ashley0139
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
#14re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:44amSome 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?)
#15re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:59amSweet Charity did have color playbills during the pre-broadway tour.
#16re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/17/06 at 11:44amWhy does Color Purple need B&W playbills? I would think they would be able to afford them.
#17re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:25pmI'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.
30/90 Playout
Stand-by Joined: 10/7/05
#18re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:26pmI assume Wedding Singer will be making the transition VERY soon. As of yesterday they are still using color.
bwaygal731
Chorus Member Joined: 7/12/05
#19re: 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.
DezBryner
Stand-by Joined: 4/1/04
#20re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:46pmI 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.
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#22re: 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.
mijofly19
Broadway Star Joined: 6/14/05
#23re: 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.
#24re: Playbills In Color Question
Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:10pmSo 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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