For the same reason LOTS of shows don't have a color Playbill. It's free in BW, but the production pays for it to be in color.
Since it doens't have any noms, there is no one to impress by spending extra money.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Most, but not all, start with color. Some will bring it back once in a while -- Tony time...if the show opened earlier, etc.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
^ Very much so. And with some Playbills, it just looks better in color, like Wicked, and with some shows, there is no need for black and white, like Newsies (which in color would just be stupid) and Mamma Mia!.
Maybe not always a bad sign. Could be they sold more seats than expected and had to do a second printing. If you're getting color Playbills many months into a run, THAT may be a bad sign .
"Through The Sacrifice You Made, We Can't Believe The Price You Paid..For Love!"
Color Playbills for a Broadway house run the production around $2000 a week. Black-and-white is no extra charge, unless the production switches from color to b&w, in which case I believe it's about a $400 one-time fee. For some shows, it just doesn't make sense to bother with color.
"Why, I make more money than... than... than Calvin Coolidge! PUT TOGETHER!" ~Lina Lamont
I think it would be great if every opening night Playbill could be made in color - the ones you can buy for 10$ on Playbill.com long afterwards. That way producers could potentially recoup the cost for that printing if they could arrange something with Playbill for cost-sharing.