Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

#1

Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 10:51pm

Basically what the subject heading says. I've gotten Playbills with color cover art and then gotten some in b&w. I'm guessing it's much cheaper, but is there any other reason?

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#2

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 10:52pm

Yes, it's cheaper.

The only reason.

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Updated On: 1/15/08 at 10:52 PM

#3

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 10:54pm

$

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Other than that, did you enjoy the play Mrs Lincoln?

#4

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 10:55pm

T

Updated On: 3/7/08 at 10:55 PM

#5

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 10:56pm

Thanks, henryt... I was just about to post that same quote!

#6

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 10:59pm

I thought that all shows started with color, but if they can choose, do some choose to start off in black and white from the beginning?

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#7

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 11:00pm

Updated On: 3/7/08 at 11:00 PM

#8

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 11:01pm

Updated On: 1/16/08 at 11:01 PM

#9

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 11:05pm

Is He Dead? had color Playbills during at least part of the preview period, but someone mentioned that the Playbills were B&W by the Saturday after the Sunday opening (six days after opening). Does anyone know the exact date the changeover took place, and does anyone know of any other examples of extremely rapid changes from color to B&W?

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#10

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 11:05pm

Because RENT had no $ to begin with.

No need to add color after that...

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#11

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 11:08pm

SEARCH!!!

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#12

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 11:15pm

I have a RENT Playbill from 1998. It's in color and features pictures on the cover very similar to those on the CD.

#13

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 11:15pm

Really? That's cool. Considering I was 6 in 1998 I wouldn't know that.

#14

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 11:46pm

"Also, the reason why they might switch in the middle of a run is because if a show is struggling to meet their weekly nut, it is a superfluous part of the budget that can be easily eliminated."

hm that's weird - because my Mamma Mia playbill was black and white when I saw it, and I'm pretty sure that they aren't struggling haha.

#15

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/15/08 at 11:58pm

Updated On: 3/7/08 at 11:58 PM

#16

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/16/08 at 12:09am

"And RENT I'm sure only has ever done B&W...There's no need for color"

I have a Rent playbill in full color, with the logo in the middle, surrounded by a bunch of pictures of cast members. Lots of red. Kind of ugly, actually.

#17

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/16/08 at 1:07am

"And RENT I'm sure only has ever done B&W...There's no need for color"

I love when people make dumb comments.

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#18

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 1/16/08 at 1:43am

Sorry AshBash...but it appears other people learned from this question as well. Thanks for the concern though :)

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#19

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 12/27/08 at 4:30pm

this is a picture of Rent's closing Playbill it is probobly the same as the one it had when it opened and it probably changed after 9/11 because it went from selling out to only selling 30% of its seats and never really bounced back only selling approximatly 60%-85% of its seats.

#20

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 12/27/08 at 4:38pm

That is the Playbill Rent had for a long time after the show opened.

I just assumed that they switched to the black and white logo after all the OBC left since those then would be pictures of people not in the show anymore.

#21

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 12/27/08 at 5:26pm

Would that be why they kept all those same pictures on the marquee for the entire run ... after the OBC left?

#22

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 12/27/08 at 5:54pm

It certainly does change to black and white to save money...even big hits may want to save money (most don't...most keep color). Roundabout is always black and white, I believe...

On a note...I was pleasantly surprised when I attended Gypsy this month and received a color Playbill!

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#23

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 5/10/09 at 9:33pm

do yall know which shows playsbills are in black and white that r playing now?

#24

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 5/11/09 at 9:06pm

black and white:
39 steps
Mama Mia
Waitingfor Goodot
Accent on Youth
Philanthropist
irenas vow
33 Variations
Reasons to Be pretty

#25

re: Why does Playbill cover art go from color to black and white?

Posted: 5/11/09 at 9:42pm

i believe Billy Elliot switched over to black and white a couple months ago (so glad I saw it before they did...). I am not sure why, as I am sure they can't be hurting too bad for money...