#76
Posted: 1/14/26 at 1:53pm
I'm still not sure why so many shows are still using the paper slips
The Death of the Understudy Slip — Page 4
#77
Posted: 1/14/26 at 2:26pm
Equity just stopped requiring them yesterday so most shows will drop them this week.
wck.org
#78
Posted: 1/14/26 at 2:50pm
Although the the slips are no longer required, there's no prohibition on them. Any production could continue to use them if they wanted.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#79
Posted: 1/14/26 at 3:31pm
I hate having to go to a QR code for anything in a program - but I'm old :) I will say I saw what Just in Time did this week with Matt Magnuson doing Bobby Darin during Groff's vacation and I thought it was really cool. They reprinted the programs with Matt's name above the title. Groff's picture is still on the front of the playbill - but it has actually printed accurate playbills for this week with Matt's name on it. Obviously not feasible for normal understudy and swing performances - but I still thought it was pretty cool for just a one week run.
#80
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Posted: 1/14/26 at 8:12pm
Went to see Chess last week and saw the QR code in the corner, not really obvious at all. If I didn't look for it, I would've just assumed who I'm seeing on the stage is the cast printed in the Playbill itself. Didn't like it.
Also, is it me or have the "At This Theatre..." disappear also? Last couple of shows I saw since December didn't have that page about the theatre also.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
#81
Posted: 1/15/26 at 12:09am
Getting rid of understudy slips really drives me nuts, not because I'm against it in a vacuum but The Broadway League is being really selective in what they consider wasteful. At least those slips are giving me information I'll look at. The full color inserts I often get in Playbills reminding me to turn off my phone I'm sure are more expensive to make and are pretty redundant, as ushers are paid to make the same point.
#82
Posted: 1/15/26 at 12:13am
I got an “At This Performance” cast slip at RAGTIME this evening.
“I am furious, but I am sailing.”
#83
Posted: 1/15/26 at 12:15pm
I saw Chess last night and forgot about this change, even after seeing the board in the lobby. I still think it would help to have some sort of signage about "there are swings/understudies on today, check the QR code in your program" in case people miss the board.
#84
Posted: 1/27/26 at 11:16am
Playbill gives an update on this. More shows will join the new process in February.
https://playbill.com/article/playbill-launches-at-this-playbill-to-credit-understudies-standbys-alternates
#85
Posted: 2/3/26 at 2:46pm
BVSC and Chicago have been added
https://linktr.ee/broadwaycastboards
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#86
Posted: 2/3/26 at 9:42pm
I know this is technically off-broadway, but when I saw spelling bee a few weeks ago I think it had a paper in it.
#87
Posted: 2/3/26 at 10:14pm
This change doesn't bother me a ton but I will riot if the actual Playbill ever goes digital only (or something annoying like having to pay extra for a hard copy).
#88
Posted: 2/4/26 at 7:40am
ACL2006 said: "BVSC and Chicago have been added
https://linktr.ee/broadwaycastboards"
Now & Juliet and Hadestown have been added.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Updated On: 2/4/26 at 07:40 AM
#89
Posted: 3/22/26 at 1:24pm
15 shows are now using the QR code. Cats and Death Becomes Her are the recent additions.
https://linktr.ee/broadwaycastboards
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#90
Posted: 4/5/26 at 1:49pm
Majority of shows now are doing the QR code. Most new shows are now listed, including Beaches, Death of a Salesman, CATS, The Lost Boys, Giant, Dog Day, Fear of 13 & Schmigadoon.
Notables not using the QR code: Aladdin, Lion King, Hamilton & Book of Mormon.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#91
Posted: 4/5/26 at 2:11pm
Jonathan Cohen said: "Getting rid of understudy slips really drives me nuts, not because I'm against it in a vacuum but The Broadway League is being really selective in what they consider wasteful. At least those slips are giving me information I'll look at. The full color inserts I often get in Playbills reminding me to turn off my phone I'm sure aremore expensive to make and are pretty redundant, as ushers are paid to make the same point."
I can tell you from my experience as a front of house staffer, that, while your use of them is great, there are many more who just let them fall to the floor and not give them any attention.
#92
Posted: 4/5/26 at 10:29pm
Islander_fan said: "Jonathan Cohen said: "Getting rid of understudy slips really drives me nuts, not because I'm against it in a vacuum but The Broadway League is being really selective in what they consider wasteful. At least those slips are giving me information I'll look at. The full color inserts I often get in Playbills reminding me to turn off my phone I'm sure aremore expensive to make and are pretty redundant, as ushers are paid to make the same point."
I can tell you from my experience as a front of house staffer, that, while your use of them is great, there are many more who just let them fall to the floor and not give them any attention."
Also house staffed when I first got to the city for quite a while and while this is likely true for nearly half of the audience, not only does that not negate their usefulness for those who care, but knowing enough about the Broadway League and how these people spend their time and what their social events are like, the idea that this is about wastefulness is completely laughable.
I mean, even inside the actual event of a performance. Maybe a third of the alcoholics at Broadway shows take their adult sippy cups home as souvenirs sans lid, but these are mostly single-use thick plastics with several parts with vastly more environmental impact than the slips. But those are a cash cow.
#93
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Posted: 8/13/26 at 6:11pm
ACL2006 said: "BVSC and Chicago have been added
https://linktr.ee/broadwaycastboards"
Just bumping up this link to the understudy liste because I was looking for who was on for Moulin Rouge tonight and remembered this was somewhere in the thread.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
#94
Posted: 8/18/26 at 7:33pm
Aladdin, Hamilton and The Lion King are now using the QR code. This leaves just Harry Potter, The Book of Mormon & Just In Time as the last Broadway shows not using it.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Updated On: 8/18/26 at 07:33 PM
#95
Posted: 8/20/26 at 12:59pm
Saw & Juliet yesterday. Knew of the QR code issue. Didn't notice it at first (thought it was part of an ad). Given the Sondheim is underground I couldn't get a good signal and had to use Roundabout's wi-fi. This would normally be fine, but connecting required me to provide my name and e-mail. I just used random letters which it accepted.
If they are going to do this, the QR code should be easily noticeable and if the audience is going to have to use the theatre's wi-fi to connect, the audience should not need to provide information to connect
If they are going to do this, the QR code should be easily noticeable and if the audience is going to have to use the theatre's wi-fi to connect, the audience should not need to provide information to connect
#96
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Posted: 8/20/26 at 2:21pm
saxpower said: "Saw & Juliet yesterday. Knew of the QR code issue. Didn't notice it at first (thought it was part of an ad). Given the Sondheim is underground I couldn't get a good signal and had to use Roundabout's wi-fi. This would normally be fine, but connecting required me to provide my name and e-mail. I just used random letters which it accepted.
If they are going to do this, the QR code should be easily noticeable and if the audience is going to have to use the theatre's wi-fi to connect, the audience should not need to provide information to connect"
Totally agree. Even as a regualar theatregoer I forget where the QR code is, or that is even exists, and so many theatres rely on wifi to get a Wifi signal, I'm always having provide my email - well, some email - to connect. Data collection at is finest.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
#97
Posted: 8/20/26 at 2:54pm
I completely understand the reasoning for doing away with the understudy slips, although I recently had an experience that soured me slightly on this development.
I was at Titanique and checked the QR code when I sat down - no understudies. The show started and to my great relief, Frankie Grande was nowhere to be seen. I checked the QR code again after the show and it had been updated to reflect his absence.
I’m assuming this was a last minute callout situation, and the understudy listing was updated sometime before the show started but after I had checked it. Under the old rules, I think this circumstance would have required a curtain announcement to be made, and tbh I think it would still be reasonable to require an announcement if an actor becomes unable to perform after the house has already opened.
I was at Titanique and checked the QR code when I sat down - no understudies. The show started and to my great relief, Frankie Grande was nowhere to be seen. I checked the QR code again after the show and it had been updated to reflect his absence.
I’m assuming this was a last minute callout situation, and the understudy listing was updated sometime before the show started but after I had checked it. Under the old rules, I think this circumstance would have required a curtain announcement to be made, and tbh I think it would still be reasonable to require an announcement if an actor becomes unable to perform after the house has already opened.
#98
Posted: 8/22/26 at 12:48pm
My wife and I were recently looking at our Playbills over the years before and after we were married. We have them all in binders and I noticed we never kept any of the understudy slips. I never thought of keeping them and I guess in a way we should have kept them. For all we know some understudy we saw may have gone on to become a star. Oh well.
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