Opening night playbills

[Kempster]

Posted: 10/20/11 at 10:46am

What can you tell me about opening night playbills. Are they somehow designated opening night, if so where? Do they print more copies than seats the theater holds? What about collectability?

Any information you have would be appreciated, thanks

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 10/20/11 at 10:52am

It says "Opening Night: [date]" on the top of the title page in the Playbill in fairly small, regular, unobtrusive text. So, for ANYTHING GOES, on the top of the page that has the title, cast info, production info, logo, etc., it said "Opening Night: April 7, 2011"

Opening Night Playbills purchased from Playbill directly have a sticker that indicates it is an opening night playbill.

They are collectible but I wouldn't suggest buying them from Playbill because they charge a lot. They have them for free on the night of opening and you can sometimes find them for super-cheap online or for free at the theater in the last preview or 1st performance after opening.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/20/11 at 11:07am

It's been my experience that a lot of times almost a week before opening and after you can wind up with an opening night playbill. I saw [title of show] the Friday before it opened (I wanna say it was a Weds opening?) and got an opening night.

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 10/20/11 at 11:11am

husk_charmer - agreed, that's the same kind of thing I was getting at. But, it also works in the other direction: I saw BOOK OF MORMON's 1st performance after opening and I also got an opening night playbill. You just have to check the title pages.

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 10/20/11 at 11:45am

Kempster - check your messages. I just sent you one with a little more info.

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 10/22/11 at 5:25pm

Thank you so much for this information! I just looked through all the Playbills I bought at the Flea Market and just found out that my Playbil from The Rink is from Opening Night! Thanks so much!