Question: Playbills

[TMedeiros17]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 5:18pm

This is o.t I know, but I was wondering if there is a way you can find out if a theater uses playbills or programs. I know most theaters in NYC are playbill oriented, but what about the others? Is there anyway to find this out?

[Lumen2]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 5:20pm

I have a "Stagebill" from The Lion King.

I don't think the Public uses Playbills, either.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 5:32pm

A program is a book of pictures/quotes from the show, and it is about $15-20 at the theater. Almost all musicals have them.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 5:37pm

Lumen2, unless they have changed, the last show I saw at The Public was "Stuff Happens" and I got a Playbill.

[Lumen2]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 5:40pm

Yeah, then I'm wrong. I wasn't sure, but all the Shakespeare in the Parks I've gone to didn't have Playbills. It's probably different at the real theatre.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 6:02pm

Aren't the Shakespeare in the Park programs also printed by playbill or was that just for Hair?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 6:02pm

Shakespeare in the Park IS a real theatre.

Why do you want to find out? I am curious what different it makes.

Playbill is a company and they have contracts with theatre owners. Showbill used to be a competiror, but was purchased by Playbill. Many venues do not have contracts with plabill, so they design and pringt their own.. they can reange from the very beauitful, to a simple sheet of paper.

[Lumen2]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 6:24pm

The Hair Anniversary Concert and Romeo & Juliet were not by Playbill.


Updated On: 8/13/09 at 06:24 PM

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 1:41am

Second Stage also does Playbills...I have one from Vanities. I also have a "Showbill" from Mary Poppins. Why the difference in title?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 1:59am

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/112014-ASK_PLAYBILL.COM_Playbill%AE_and_Showbill%AE

At all Broadway theatres, theatregoers receive a Playbill except at the New Amsterdam Theatre (currently showing Mary Poppins) where theatre attendees receive a Showbill.

Playbill prints programs for theatres nationwide, but not all of them have the trademark Playbill at the top. Some are called Stagebill, On Stage or Showbill. Stagebill, in fact, used to be a separate company, but when it went out of business, Playbill assumed its trademark.

Each of these titles reflects a different arrangement with the theatre where the programs appear. On Broadway, Playbill pays the theatres for the privilege of having its Playbills handed out, as the advertisers value the Broadway audience. A Stagebill is generally used outside New York, for a commercial job when a theatre pays Playbill to print its program. The title On Stage is generally used for commercial jobs within New York perhaps for Off Off-Broadway or smaller Off-Broadway theatres.

Showbill is another one of these titles, and there's a specific use for it: The New Amsterdam Theatre is owned by Disney, which has a worldwide policy that prohibits the promotion of liquor and tobacco products on its property. Therefore, Showbill is similar to Playbill, but with the prohibited advertisements omitted. (For the record, Playbill no longer accepts tobacco advertisements.)

Why not just call it a Playbill? Well, Playbill does not want its advertisers showing up to Mary Poppins and rifling through the program, confused as to why their ad is not there. They use the Showbill brand to signify that the mix of advertisers is different. Updated On: 8/14/09 at 01:59 AM