Pre opening artwork

[Younger Brother]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 5:52pm

I was looking at some interactive features on the New York Times website and was curious to see the development of posters prior to a shows Broadway opening. I was wondering, does anyone have any photos of artwork that was developed but eventually dropped. Here's some I've found:


La Cage

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/09/13/theater/20090913-ragtime-feature.html?_r=0
Ragtime feature

[twinbelters]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 6:13pm

I far preferred the pre-Broadway AIDA artwork.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 6:19pm

The most immediate recent example I could think of, Roundabout's announcement logo for THE BIG KNIFE before they launched their Saul Bass-inspired brand redesign.

Updated On: 7/3/13 at 06:19 PM

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 6:24pm

This was their original artwork for Drood

[jnb9872]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 6:30pm

PIPPIN's initial launch artwork was pretty uninspired, compared to the beautiful work they have now.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 6:32pm

Ditto for ONCE's bland artwork from NYTW.

[broadwayman17]

Posted: 7/3/13 at 6:37pm

Spring Awakening while at Atlantic

[twinbelters]

Posted: 7/4/13 at 11:30am

A Doll's Life had inferior artwork out of town compared to what landed on Broadway.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/5/13 at 3:40am

This is my favorite O K !!!

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 7/5/13 at 5:32am

Wicked Protype Poster designs... you know when they apparently didn't care about spoiling it before you even walked in the door...





Updated On: 7/5/13 at 05:32 AM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/5/13 at 11:27am

PROMISES, PROMISES utilized the girls and key illustration during their out of town tryouts both on the program and the playbill. Once they moved to Broadway they utilized a completely different design illustrated by Talivaldis Stubis who also designed the show logos for ANYONE CAN WHISTLE and FUNNY GIRL.

The Stubis illustration depicts a girl with her legs open, which was kind of racy for its time.

United Artists Records used the girls and key illustration for the cover of the Original Broadway Cast Album.

For the London production starring Betty Buckley and Tony Roberts the posters used the girls/key illustration and the program used the Stubis illustration.


The girls/key logo. Boston Tryout Program:




Talivadis Stubis logo design. Broadway Program:



Updated On: 7/5/13 at 11:27 AM

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 3:08pm

love this thread!!!!

...wasn't there a feature on NYT about the development of the Ragtime (revival) logo?

[Broadwaywest]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 3:18pm

From Shrek in seattle before broadway

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 3:29pm

The Mary Poppins artwork developed over the years. From west end to broadway.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 4:23pm

RED: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/09/04/theater/20110904-red.html?_r=0

REASONS TO BE PRETTY: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/02/22/theater/20090222_REASONS_INTERACTIVE.html

RAGTIME: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/09/13/theater/20090913-ragtime-feature.html

[jnb9872]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 5:18pm

I've been really enjoying this thread, too. I find developmental art for pre-Broadway runs fascinating in hindsight. Anyone else think this art for LIMELIGHT (soon to be CHAPLIN), while less ornate, strikes the more appropriate tone for the show?

Updated On: 7/10/13 at 05:18 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 5:49pm

^I remember seeing that artwork in the TV commercials when Limelight was playing here. It definitely made a lot more sense than the artwork that was used in New York. The show was mostly designed in black and white. I'm not sure why that aesthetic screamed yellow and purple to the Broadway marketing firm.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 6:39pm

I also think La Jolla's art for LIMELIGHT was better than its art for HANDS ON A HARDBODY.



I preferred the ultimate Broadway artwork, even though the rest of the marketing really let the show down.

Some other fun ones I've found, a pair of other shows launched from NYTW:

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER


and the original run of RENT

[Wildcard]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 7:23pm

[Broadwaywest]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 7:53pm

[jnb9872]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 8:00pm

[broadwayman17]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 8:01pm

[Wildcard]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 8:01pm

I wouldn't really count Mary Poppins as pre-opening artwork since that was used for a major production. It's like saying the Broadway art for Into The Woods was the pre-opening artwork for the London "wolf' version.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 8:05pm

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 8:07pm