I'm an avid playbill collector, and I was wondering what some of my playbills are worth.
I'm not SURE if i'm gonna sell, but it'd be nice to know
Some big ones I have are: Alice Ripley autographed next to normal John Stamos autographed Bye Bye Birdie Adam Pascal/Anthony Rapp/Tamyra Gray autographed RENT David Hyde Pierce autographed Curtains
After seeing Les Miserables at the Broadhurst, I would often pass the Hirschfeld on the way back to my car. One time I asked David Hyde Pierce to sign my Les Miz Playbill. He informed me that he wasn't in that show; he was in this show -- but he finally signed it anyway.
How about a GYPSY playbill signed by Patti LuPone and an original SUNDAY playbill signed by Bernadette Peters? And an American Idiot window card signed by Billie Joe?
Mind you i don't plan on selling these until it is 100% necessary to be able to eat food.
To the op: None of the playbills you list are rare. Alice probably signed several hundred a week. Stamos and Pierce also were frequent signers. Heck, even when Stamos wouldn't go out, he would send presigned programs out to those waiting.
The most valuable one MIGHT be your Rent playbill --- but I still doubt it's rare.
Checking ebay (as mentioned above) is probably your most reliable way to gauge.
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I had an "Equus" program signed by Anthony Hopkins. He told me at the time (which admittedly was YEARS after the show had closed) that he made a point of signing anything put in front of his nose - except blank checks - so that anything with his signature would remain relatively worthless.
I used to have a "Mame" playbill signed by Angela and a "Hello Dolly" signed by Carol. I donated both to charities for their fundraiser auctions. Just curious - anybody know what their value might be?
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mamie4 5/14/03
Mr. Roxy, do you really have a Yul Brunner signed HOME SWEET HOMER playbill? Did you see it, and did Yul sign it after the show? Or did you purchase it after the show had closed? Just curious. That is definitely worth a lot though. I own an unsigned HOME SWEET HOMER window card that cost me $200.
Overkill, I have a Carol Channing signed souvenir program of THE VAMP, but she also personalized it to me, which I'm sure brings the value down (not that I have any intention of ever selling mine). Where did you get that playbill and when did she sign it?
A CARRIE playbill without Betty's signature could go for $100, so I'm sure a (non-personalized) signed one would go for $150 at least...probably more, depending on the condition of the playbill. I have a Betty, Charlotte, Darlene, and Debbie Allen signed CARRIE souvenir program, and it is one of my most treasured theater items. Updated On: 12/28/10 at 12:07 PM
Re the Playbill, Yul did not come out & went directly from his dressing room to a limo. If you wanted a playbill signed, you gave it to his rep with your name & address & he signed it & mailed it back.
Just curious, don't want to sell, but what would you think these would go for:
1. Auntie Mame program, signed by Rosalind Russell; 2. The Vist program, signed by Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne; 3. Pleasure of His Company program, signed by Cornelia Otis Skinner and Cyril Ritchard; 4. Master Class program, signed by Zoe Caldwell; 5. Moose Murders, not signed, but first preview and one of two performances that Eve Arden played; 6. Major Barbara program, signed by Charles Laughton; 7. Preview Smile program, signed by Helen Hayes (she was in the audience; 8. Beckett program, signed by Laurence Olivier and Anthony Quinn; and 9. Medea program, signed by Zoe Caldwell.
It's not a Playbill, but how much do you think an original RENT cast album signed by Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp would be? Updated On: 12/28/10 at 04:06 PM
I think I only paid $100 for my Eve Arden in MOOSE MURDERS window card, so the playbill would probably also go for somewhere around $100. Just a guess. If it was signed by Eve Arden (which I know it isn't...just being hypothetical), I would then place it in the $500 realm.
The Rent cast album signed by Adam and Anthony (in my opinion) isn't worth very much more than the regular price of the album. Maybe tack on another $10 or $15.
I'm not sure any Playbill from 1990 or later is that valuable, with the exception of an original cast autographed Rent Playbill or Wicked Playbill. There are a lot of Playbills that were valuable in the moment (I remember seeing an Encores Follies NON-autographed Playbill go for $50 right after that weekend, and someone just paid $76 on EBay for a Playbill signed by Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice), but I'm not sure any other Playbill from the past 20 years would go for more than $30 or $40 at this point.
From the 1980s, there are more possibilities, including Moose Murders and Carrie as mentioned before, as well as original cast autographed Phantom and Les Miz Playbills.
It doesn't seem that more recent flops are as infamous as earlier ones such as Moose Murders and Carrie. I don't see recent flops like Glory Days, In My Life, or Enron having valuable Playbills in the future.
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WithoutATrace, I found it at an old antique show just looking around one day in 2007. Along with a bunch of other playbills. Surprisingly mint condition! I mailed it to her and she was very sweet to sign and send it back with a little note. I would never sell it, of course, because it's also personalized, but I would wonder what it's worth. Personalized or not. It's very old.
I have a 'Candide' Playbill signed by Jason Danieley...
Of course, I am also of the belief that these Playbills are only 'worth' as much as someone is willing to pay at the time. I've seen an OBC-signed 'In the Heights' Playbill go for both $10 and $45 on eBay before.
I have a color-cover OBC THE PRODUCERS Playbill signed by Nathan and Matthew only on the cover, but the rest of the cast inside.
Not that I want to sell, far from it, but how much...?
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Sure, some of the playbills might be worth $500, but you have to ask yourself, how many people will pay that?
If you go look on eBay at the pricier items, most of the ones over about $20 have been listed there for months.
Your best bet, if you're selling is to auction it with a low starting price. You stand a better chance of getting more money, than listing it Buy It Now for one price.