The Death of the Understudy Slip

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 7:04pm

The time has come. The Playbill I got at Chess this evening has a QR code under the cast page that takes you to a site that tells you all the changes.

I was quite sad because tonight is Samantha Pollino’s debut as Svetlana and was hoping to keep the slip.

Here’s what it looks like:

https://atthisplaybill.com/chess

 

[CJRochester]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 7:18pm

Two positives I noted from looking at that site. 1) It appears they will be keeping a history of cast changes, so you can go back in time to see who was on for a particular show. 

2) It allows you to print the slip, for anyone who wants the physical keepsake. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 7:25pm

This is amazing, it saves staffers time and saves some trees in the process. This way, if it's important for people, they can simply print it out like CJ just mentioned. 99% of those slips ended up on the floor anyway.

Updated On: 12/16/25 at 07:25 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 8:02pm

does this work to check other shows simply by changing the name of the show in the web address? I tried for Aladdin, Chicago & Wicked and it came up blank. Or do you need the QR code to view it?

[sppunk]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 8:53pm

I greatly dislike this change. it’s bad for the performers and for audiences in my opinion.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 9:17pm

sppunk said: "I greatly dislikethis change. it’s bad for the performers and for audiences in my opinion."

do they really expect every audience member to scan that QR code? Imagine those at Chess tonight not knowing Lea is out and running to the box office to ask.

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 9:27pm

huh.

...so now you NEED to have your phone in the theater?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 9:32pm

ACL2006 said: "sppunk said: "I greatly dislikethis change. it’s bad for the performers and for audiences in my opinion."

do they really expect every audience member to scan that QR code? Imagine those at Chess tonight not knowing Lea is out and running to the box office to ask."

Most audience members literally do not care. Those that do, know to scan the code. Nobody going to see Lea Michele is going to have heard she's not in from a piece of paper in the playbill when they've already sat down for the show.

Also, Wicked's is online. I imagine they're doing s bit of onboarding with the shows right now with a "Go Live" for all of them sometime in January.

https://atthisplaybill.com/wicked

Updated On: 12/16/25 at 09:32 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 9:47pm

I changed it to "Wicked" and it came up. 

Is this a really new thing? Maybe not all shows are in their database for this feature yet.  It is really nice that you can print it out.

Also, I assume there is an "At this performance" board in the lobby. I didn't see one when I saw it but wasn't really looking for it.

Updated On: 12/16/25 at 09:47 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 9:49pm

TheatreFan4 said: 

Also, Wicked's is online. I imagine they're doing s bit of onboarding with the shows right now with a "Go Live" for all of them sometime in January.

https://atthisplaybill.com/wicked"

Wicked's slips don't include swings, but Chess' slips do.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 10:00pm

uncageg said: "I changed it to "Wicked" and it came up.

Is this a really new thing? Maybe not all shows are in their database for this feature yet. It is really nice that you can print it out.

Also, I assume there is an "At this performance" board in the lobby. I didn't see one when I saw it but wasn't really looking for it."

It was part of the new Union Agreement to do away with the Slips. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 10:02pm

uncageg said: "I changed it to "Wicked" and it came up.

Is this a really new thing? Maybe not all shows are in their database for this feature yet. It is really nice that you can print it out.

Also, I assume there is an "At this performance" board in the lobby. I didn't see one when I saw it but wasn't really looking for it."

They are. Equity rules require 2 of 3 firms of communicating absence:

1) Lobby board

2) Understudy slip

3) Overheard announcement on the God mic (usually the last resort for last minute or mid-show changes)

[kdogg36]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 10:05pm

John Adams said: "...so now you NEED to have your phone in the theater?"

There's certainly a tension between this policy (which, to be honest, I think is defensible) and any effort to expand the use of Yondr pouches or the like. You can't do both.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 10:08pm

kdogg36 said: "John Adams said: "...so now you NEED to have your phone in the theater?"

There's certainly a tension between this policy (which, to be honest, I think is defensible) and any effort to expand the use of Yondr pouches or the like. You can't do both."

I mean, its pretty simple. You use the pouches then you need to use the slips. Or use the Board and pre-show announcement. 

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 10:25pm

ACL2006 said: "sppunk said: "I greatly dislikethis change. it’s bad for the performers and for audiences in my opinion."

do they really expect every audience member to scan that QR code? Imagine those at Chess tonight not knowing Lea is out and running to the box office to ask."

isn't there a board in the theatre showing whose in and out?

I still remember going to see Sunset Boulevard in Melbourne in the 90s on a trip with my bestie and seeing on the board that Hugh Jackman was out and being very disappointed and this was before he was even super famous in Australia but I'd seen him as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast.

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 11:08pm

CJRochester said: "2) It allows you to print the slip, for anyone who wants the physical keepsake."

Please name anyone who still has a home printer for casual use. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 11:27pm

Me.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/16/25 at 11:43pm

quizking101 said: "CJRochester said: "2) It allows you to print the slip, for anyone who wants the physical keepsake."

Please name anyone who still has a home printer for casual use."

Y'all cant steal a print while you're at work? I just feel like... you want to live in the modern age and not need a home printer, but force shows to operate in the stone age to make you happy. I'm sure ushers are more than happy to stop having to stuff thousands of understudy slips a day for every small cast change. If having the slip really matters that much to people, I think putting it on them to make that happen isn't a crazy expectation. The information is there for the people who want it and the ability to have it printed is there.

[broadfan327]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 12:09am

TheatreFan4 said: "kdogg36 said: "John Adams said: "...so now you NEED to have your phone in the theater?"

There's certainly a tension between this policy (which, to be honest, I think is defensible) and any effort to expand the use of Yondr pouches or the like. You can't do both."

I mean, its pretty simple. You use the pouches then you need to use the slips. Or use the Board and pre-show announcement."

The new policy says that if Yondr pouches are used, printed slips are still needed in the Playbills.  I still have a printer at home, I might use it once a month  (I am 45).  Personally, after moving a bunch of times and seeing at my last count over 200 musicals, I leave my Playbill in the theater after the show, never mind an understudy slip.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 1:04am

quizking101 said: Please name anyone who still has a home printer for casual use."

Me and most of the people I know. If it's such a big deal for you to have a copy of a slip, simply buy a printer or use one at your workplace. It's not the theater's problem, it's very clearly yours.

Y'all cant steal a print while you're at work? I just feel like... you want to live in the modern age and not need a home printer, but force shows to operate in the stone age to make you happy. I'm sure ushers are more than happy to stop having to stuff thousands of understudy slips a day for every small cast change. If having the slip really matters that much to people, I think putting it on them to make that happen isn't a crazy expectation. The information is there for the people who want it and the ability to have it printed is there.

Thank you. Jesus. 

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 6:38am

TheatreFan4 said: "I mean, its pretty simple. You use the pouches then you need to use the slips. Or use the Board and pre-show announcement."

Simple for whom? "I mean", it's not.

It's antithetical. 

Once an audience is required to bring their phone into the theater, how does management expect to prevent them from using it for all those "unacceptable" behaviors?

 

Updated On: 12/17/25 at 06:38 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 6:59am

I'm all for this. Seems like a good logistical and operational change for theatres.

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 7:35am

bwayphreak234 said: "I'm all for this. Seems like a good logistical and operational change for theatres."

It does seem that way.

Potential issues arise when the operational change is dependent on an assumption that audience members can then further exercise responsible behavior regarding phone use during a performance. 

Many threads on this Board indicate that the assumption is unreasonable. 

Updated On: 12/17/25 at 07:35 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 7:41am

quizking101 said: "CJRochester said: "2) It allows you to print the slip, for anyone who wants the physical keepsake."

Please name anyone who still has a home printer for casual use."

I can print my stuff at work unless I need a color print out/copy. then it gets sent to Walgreens.

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 7:58am

This makes me sad and a bit angry, and I expect that the entire Playbill will become a QR code in the not-too-distant future.

When ticket sales sites removed the option to have physical tickets mailed or held at the box office, they basically indicated that either a printer or a smartphone was required in order to attend a Broadway show, and then they had the nerve to charge a "convenience fee" for the electronic ticket. As I told one box office employee who gave me an attitude when I requested a printed ticket ("You should already have your ticket in your phone"), if I paid somewhere upwards of $250 for a ticket, the least you can do is print the damned thing for me.