The Death of the Understudy Slip- Page 2

[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.

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 8:18am

Lot666 said: "[...] if I paid somewhere upwards of $250 for a ticket, the least you can do is print the damned thing for me."

I share your frustration. 

I don't know what can be done about it, though, other than to consider that the days of collecting these kinds of physical souvenirs (tickets, understudy slips, possibly even Playbills, etc.) are going or gone. 

I think it will take a next generation of theater-goers, who have never experienced the sentimental attachments in collecting these souvenirs, to be "OK" with it.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 8:34am

John Adams said: "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?

"

If you'd read above there is a policy in place if the Pouches are used. They need to still use the Slips. See? Very simple...

[Fosse76]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 9:12am

ACL2006 said: "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?"

Shows aren't required to use it. So it's possible those shows aren't, or it's just not yet implemented.

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 10:09am

TheatreFan4 said: "If you'd read above there is a policy in place if the Pouches are used. They need to still use the Slips. See? Very simple..."

Again, "simple for whom?"

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 11:01am

Wasn't the QR code slip a compromise for NOT getting rid of physical Playbills?  I personally don't mind it as much, but I do wish it would be easier to get information at a glance once you're already in the theater.  The cast board is usually in the lobby and sometimes tucked away in a corner so you might not notice it unless you're specifically looking for it.  The process of scanning a QR code and letting a website load is certainly a bit more friction than just looking at a slip, but I've also had playbills that were incorrectly stuffed before, and I like that there will be a historical record of covers (I also appreciate that they have the head shot and bios included).

 

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 12:04pm

I work front of house on Broadway. I can say that I am beyond glad that the QR codes are being used.
 

Keep in mind a couple of things. One is that, when Playbills arrive at the theatre they come tied up in bundles with 25 playbills in each. Depending on what area I’m seating people in I could easily have to do five bundles which would be 125 playbills. It’s tedious work and I’m glad they are ditching the slips. The number of people who take the slips home as a souvenir/just generally likes getting them is a lot lower than those who just toss them on the floor.

 

I can kinda see where those who want it are coming from. But,  people will adjust. There are even Broadway touring houses that have started to use QR codes. Some have gone all digital too. So, this isn’t like it’s Broadway is breaking ground on something new altogether 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 1:32pm

I feel like if they are going to force people to use the QR code, they should at least include a pop up that says something about turning your phone off before the performance begins. It’s just a bigger nuisance waiting to happen.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 2:54pm

This will help understudies.org provide accurate reports for their website 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 2:59pm

John Adams said: "TheatreFan4 said: "If you'd read above there is a policy in place if the Pouches are used. They need to still use the Slips. See? Very simple..."

Again, "simple for whom?""

Are you illiterate? 

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 3:10pm

TheatreFan4 said: "Are you illiterate?"

You seem determined to be "simple" minded, so simply put:

The Policy: Antithetic

You: Obstinate

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 3:17pm

John Adams said: "TheatreFan4 said: "Are you illiterate?"

You seem determined to be "simple" minded, so simply put:

The Policy: Antithetic

You: Obstinate"

The question was raised about what is done in the case of using the Yondr Pouch. The answer is, they still have to use the slips. What opinion am I supposed to be changing here? That feels pretty simple to me? 

[saxpower]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 5:51pm

At the very least, its an improvement over what seems to have become the norm lately, where a "cast at this performance" list was inserted with all roles/performers listed, requiring an audience member to compare it to the cast list in the bound Playbill to figure out who's in/out. 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 6:00pm

TheatreFan4 said: "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."

That’s great. Now they can do away with the Yondr pouches so people can see who’s in the show they’re about to watch. 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 6:04pm

Sutton Ross said: "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."

America’s Assho——I mean Sweetheart strikes again!

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 6:41pm

Matt Rogers said: "America’s Assho——I mean Sweetheart strikes again!"

Your filthy comments addressed to or about Sutton Ross (here and elsewhere) are out of line and a violation of BWW's rules for participation.  If you have a problem with any contributor, report that person to the site.

Stop it.

 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 6:45pm

Highland Guy said: "Matt Rogers said: "America’s Assho——I mean Sweetheart strikes again!"

Your filthy comments addressed to or about Sutton Ross (here and elsewhere) are out of line and a violation of BWW's rules for participation. If you have a problem with any contributor, report that person to the site.

Stop it.

"

She violates policy on a moment by moment basis, babe, and I will not stop calling her out. She is a reprehensible troll and the fact that you are defending her awful behavior is pathetic. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 6:46pm

Matt Rogers said: "
That’s great. Now they can do away with the Yondr pouches so people can see who’s in the show they’re about to watch."

Personally, I find Yondr pouches to be more annoying and obnoxious than any sort of audience behavior I've ever witnessed. Maybe I'm easier to focus on whats on stage versus whats happening in the audience, but I feel unless there's something on stage that needs to be concealed (like overt nudity, etc.) that it's just... very self important to require an entire audience to pouch their phones. ESPECIALLY comedians doing stand up. What kind of jokes do you think you're telling that you need that level of clamp on it?

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 8:31pm

I've seen comedians say they use the Yondr pouches so they can work out new material without it being released to the world in unfinished form that likely won't represent the final product.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 8:42pm

SteveSanders said: "I've seen comedians say they use the Yondr pouches so they can work out new material without it being released to the world in unfinished form that likely won't represent the final product."

It's comedians with a high level of self-importance who don't want to ever see themselves bomb with bad material who have the money and clout to make such demands. Also happens with a lot of comedians who have already been shunned. Actual comedians who are actually out workshopping material just go do it. 

[Kad]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 9:24pm

Yondr pouches are still not very commonly used on Broadway so I don't really understand why they've become the focus of conversation here. 

I understand the elimination of the understudy slips- they're onerous on the house staff and the vast majority of them just end up on the floor and street like jumbo pieces of confetti. But the wastefulness of the slips is counterbalanced by the fact there doesn't really seem to be a truly better solution. I don't love the QR code - a digital solution to an analog problem brings its own problems (forget Yondr pouches- a far more common occurrence would be an audience member wanting to refer to the slip during the performance to remind themselves who it is they're seeing onstage. Or somebody's phone is dead. Or, as others point out, it leads to more phone use in the house). But I'm at a loss when it comes to thinking of a better method. The cast board in the lobby is easily missed for many; pre-show announcements could get out of hand for a bigger musical in which absences lead to a cascade of ensemble changes as understudies and swings go on.  

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 11:07pm

Matt Rogers said: "Highland Guy said: "Matt Rogers said: "America’s Assho——I mean Sweetheart strikes again!"

Your filthy comments addressed to or about Sutton Ross (here and elsewhere) are out of line and a violation of BWW's rules for participation. If you have a problem with any contributor, report that person to the site.

Stop it.

"She violates policy on a moment by moment basis, babe, and I will not stop calling her out. She is a reprehensible troll and the fact that you are defending her awful behavior is pathetic."

This is so funny, and HG is a hypocrite. It is probably a month or two ago, HG called "America's Sweetheart" unhinged and a liar. He said she posted many lies about him. I posted his remarks and called him out in a thread in the OT section when he suddenly became a big fan of hers -lol. Please keep calling her out, she deserves it.


 

Updated On: 12/17/25 at 11:07 PM

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 11:12pm

I am actually surprised they did not get rid of this years ago. Almost everything in the world today is paperless and I don't see why anybody would be upset about this going away. BTW - I have a home printer -lol.

Updated On: 12/17/25 at 11:12 PM

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/18/25 at 12:08am

Zeppie2022 said: "I don't see why anybody would be upset about this going away."

That's not what's at issue.

The idea is a good and useful one, but it's antithetical to the issue of cell phone use inside the theater that's been repeatedly discussed and complained about as problematic, in numerous threads, here.

Issues arise when this operational change (which would make cell phone use a necessity) is dependent on an assumption that audience members can then further exercise responsible behavior regarding phone use during a performance. 

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 other "unacceptable" behaviors that get posted about, here?

I empathize with Kad's statement above, "[...] But I'm at a loss when it comes to thinking of a better method."

Somehow, any kind of  "better method" would need to incorporate delivering/accessing the information outside the house.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/18/25 at 12:40am

John Adams said: "Zeppie2022 said: "I don't see why anybody would be upset about this going away."

That's not what's at issue.

The idea is a good and useful one, but it's antithetical to the issue of cell phone use inside the theater that's been repeatedly discussed and complained about as problematic, in numerous threads, here.

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 other "unacceptable" behaviors that get posted about, here?"

It's literally a non-issue. Those that just absolutely needed to read their understudy slip (or the playbill) did not do so in the dark. The phone would be already be out. Not that anybody is actually looking at the understudy list in the middle of the show, they're looking at the song list to know when they can go pee. 

People already bring their phone everywhere. There is literally zero chance that anybody did not bring their phone to the theatre out of respect for theatre etiquette. That's ridiculous. 

Nothing changes.