Question about "Playbill" vs souvenir program

[binau]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 4:47am

Since I'm not in the US I'm a little confused about what "Playbills" are and how they relate to a souvenir program.

Are souvenir programs still sold separately? Are Playbills free for that matter or are they in fact "souvenir programs"

thanks

[Mark_E]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 5:04am

Playbills are free, have small cast headshots and bios and lots of advertisements. Also has info about creative team etc.

Brochures cost (Anywhere from $10-$20) and have pictures of the actual production, articles relating to the show etc.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 7:36am

In London, you get the best of both worlds.

[MichaelUK92]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 8:16am

As from London, i don't think it's the best of both worlds.
There's no free playbill's??

[keithp]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 8:49am

think he means the programmes in the UK generally have a lot more info about the show than a Playbill, which has ver little content specific to the show.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 8:57am

Its all in the terminology. Programmes in the UK are Playbills in the US -- they're the small magazine given to you which contains the cast info, creative team info, list of Musical Numbers/Scenes, etc. In the US they are free.

The US, UK, and any country in the world SELL (no, they are not free in ANY country in the world) separate souvenir programs/brochures/books, whatever. They are the official large sized 'book'/'booklet' that contains official large sized photos of the production, scenes, cast info, info regarding the show, etc. These are not magazines and do not contain any advertisements. They fall under the category of: show merchandise, along with t-shirts, key chains, mugs, magnets, window cards/posters, etc., on a particular show.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 12:23pm

I think this has pretty much been cleared up, but Playbills are free (with your ticket) and are given to you by the ushers when they show you to your seat. Souvenir programs are larger booklets with pictures and information that are sold at the merchandise stand along with other overpriced souvenirs that you buy anyway because you love the show. Along with what was said, Playbills also include some (theater-related) news articles or features on shows and most include lists of songs in the show and who performs them. Of course, it also has the list of things you can't do during the performance that they also announce before the show.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 12:25pm

I'd rather pay a few bucks for my Playbill and get all the info, photos, etc. of the London programme, which, in many cases, is better than the actual souvenir program.

[boyfromoz2]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 12:29pm

In Australia, however, the norm is to have one publication - the size of a souvenir brochure, containing lots of pics, bios, articles and adds in one.

This type of programme/souvenir brochure can also be found in London at the Apollo Victoria and Shaftesbury Theatres.