When did RENT stop putting understudy slips in the Playbills?

At New Years, I was going through my friends' parent's Playbill collections, and they had one from when RENT had its origial cast--I opened it and was amazed to find an UNDERSTUDY SLIP! Did they stop putting them in the Playbills because understudies go on just about every night? When did they stop putting them in?

Are they not required to put them in?

---

I've seen the show 3 times since October and all 3 times there was a piece of paper in the Playbill listing who would be playing each role in that day's performance.

---

Hm. I didn't get one this summer (neither did my mom) when I know Ava was on as an understudy. Interesting. Thanks.

---

They usually post the cast list on a sheet of paper inside the playbill. They don't write u/s Mark, they just write the name so most people wouldn't know that someone was an understudy unless they looked it up.

And what Margo didn't post was that the Company can fine the theatre for grabbing fresh Playbills or not stuffing. And, it has happened.

---

The stuffer copying machine? They have the inserts printed. They may run out of inserts, yes. And it may happen too close to curtain for inserts. But in most cases, there are going to be inserts.

---

I went a few weeks ago, and I don't remember there being a slip..but I know that every other time there were slips. I still have some.

I went to RENT in november and got a slip for the understudy of Roger. So, obviously they go use them

I went tonight (heh) and my mom's program didn't have an understudy slip, but mine did.

---

Speaking as an usher, we sometimes run short of stuffers ...they hand us huge stacks of programs and not enough slips, so we have to unstuff the programs at the end of a show as well for any leftovers. If there's a change in the program, it's usually announced during the performance as well.

---

Updated On: 3/18/06 at 12:52 AM

If you run short of inserts (stuffers) you're supposed to let your chief usher know...they can either get you more from backstage, or stage management can choose to make an announcement at curtain if it's really bad. If you're supposed to have inserts, you should NOT be handing out blank playbills, opening fresh stacks during walk-in, etc. I saw a show recently and was given a Playbill with no slips (and major understudies on who were not announced at curtain); meanwhile the other usher working the aisle had Playbills with plenty in them...it was clear the one usher had not bothered to do enough inserts in her Playbills. Inexcusable! I'd actually love to know to whom that should be reported.

OK, repeated use of the term "stuffers" is starting to sound a bit silly.

I think "slips" or "inserts" does the job.

---

they are called all 3 things by various people. I happen to say "inserts".

---