requesting a playbill

[steven22]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:34pm

I would like to request a signed playbill from the cast of Next To Normal. How do I go about doing this? (with envelopes, notes, etc..)

thanks

[roseaddams]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:42pm

Send a letter to the stage manager (or anyone in the cast if you want to write to a specific actor or actress)

c/o The Booth Theatre Stage Door
222 W 45th Street
New York, NY 10036

Be sure to include an self-addressed stamped envelope addressed to yourself, otherwise there's no chance in hell of getting one back. Also, use two first-class stamps. One stamp isn't enough to send something as heavy as a Playbill. (I know it's not that heavy, but it's too heavy for one first-class stamp.) I use 6x9" manila envelopes for my requests -- they're durable enough and a Playbill is heavy enough that it won't bend in there.

As for the letter, that's up to you. Write it to a specific cast member or to the stage manager. Try to be complimentary. Y'know, standard fan letter-type stuff. And be sure to ask for the signed playbill in the letter. Otherwise they'll wonder why you sent them an envelope. =D

Hope this helps.

Updated On: 5/18/09 at 07:42 PM

[steven22]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:45pm

Thank you!

one more question..should I type or hand write the letter?

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:46pm

well is your handwriting neat or messy? I usually hand write because a typed letter seems so much less personal to me.

[steven22]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:48pm

ok thanks..and just wondering..how long does it typically take for the cast to send back the playbill?..thank you!

[roseaddams]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:51pm

I agree with obsessedjb -- go handwritten.

And turnaround time varies from show to show. I sent a letter to Next to Normal about a week ago and I haven't gotten a response yet. But I'm also in California, which does affect the time. I don't think it would take too long, though -- I don't think N2N is swimming in playbill requests. =D

[steven22]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:56pm

I just wrote my letter on a pad and tomorrow Ill get a few envelopes and stamps. What size mailing envelopes should I get and how many stamps do you think?

[roseaddams]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 8:01pm

The return envelope has to be at least the size of a Playbill. I usually use a 6x9 manila envelope. And I usually just get two and put the return envelope inside the other one. You only need one stamp to send it out, and two first-class stamps are enough to cover return postage.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 8:10pm

I have a friend who lives on the west coast and collects EVERY Playbill from every show each season on Broadway. He just sends a large shipping envelope to the theatre of the show along with a note saying he would like 3 or 4 Playbills. He includes a pre-paid self-addressed shipping envelope inside the envelope he just sent so that they can put the Playbills in to send to him. That's it. In about a week's time he receives the Playbills. On rare occasion, he's even received a few Playbills autographed by the entire cast.

As for how much postage should you use for the return shipping envelope, just go to your post office and put a few Playbills inside the envelope so they can weigh it for you. They'll tell you how much postage you should use on that envelope, etc.



NOTE: a little common sense here goes a long way, folks. Seriously.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 8:13pm

Remember, you want your letter to stand out from the hundreds of others that are delivered to the theater every week. With that in mind, I suggest you write your letter in crayon.

[steven22]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 8:26pm

umm I didn't write my letter in crayon, I wrote in on a pad of mine in blue pen

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 9:45pm

Dollypop LMAO!