Playbills/Box Office

[kelsey1389]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 10:05pm

The last thread about this is pretty old, so I thought I would make a new one. I'm going to New York in two weeks to see Chicago for my mom's birthday, but I was thinking of branching off and trying to see some other theaters. How easy is it to get playbills from the box office? I've heard it depends on the person working. (Specifically thinking of going for Mean Girls, Frozen, Hello Dolly, and Book of Mormon)

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 10:26pm

If you don't ask when they're busy (e.g. as they're checking everyone's bags 15-30 minutes before showtime) I've never had an issue with asking a guard (who usually then asks an usher) to snag me an extra Playbill. I'm not sure if all of those theaters have someone working during the show. Personally, I would not ask the box office. I think it's better to ask a security guard or one of the people scanning tickets if they happen to be hanging out in the lobby.

[yesraccoons]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 10:38pm

Hello Dolly gives playbills. They gave my friends and I 3.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 10:48pm

Just knock on the stage door and ask whoever opens the door.   Stage door personnel is always there from early morning till past performances (they receive deliveries, etc) and they are always gracious.  They always have Playbills around their area so they’ll gladly give you one or a few.  

No need to stand in line at the box office to ask for a Playbill and hope they’re cool about it.  

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/3/18 at 2:46am

BrodyFosse123 said: "Just knock on the stage door and ask whoever opens the door. Stage door personnel is always there from early morning till past performances (they receive deliveries, etc) and they are always gracious. They always have Playbills around their area so they’ll gladly give you one or a few.

No need to stand in line at the box office to ask for a Playbilland hope they’re cool about it. "

If you don't have business backstage, you shouldn't be knocking on the stage door.  Especially if the theater doesn't have a stage door directly adjacent to the sidewalk. Playbills aren't stored backstage, and the doorman may or may not have any (and can't just leave and get one). 

I don't understand why people think the box office would have Playbills stocked. If they have any it's because a) someone was nice enough to bring a few, or b) someone had it to use as a reference for information. I wouldn't be surprised that most of the claims here about getting Playbills from the box office are actually people getting Playbills from a ticket taker or security personnel.  

Updated On: 7/3/18 at 02:46 AM

[Will3700]

Posted: 7/3/18 at 10:12am

I go to New York about once a year and see several shows ,this past April I saw 11. I always ask for an extra Playbill as I frame my whole trip but also Ieep the second one in a trunk displayed so I can periodically look at them. I also collect Playbills from shows I don't see by going to the Theater Box Office when they are open but not during show times..I politely ask the person at the window for a Playbill and probably 70% of the time I get one. If they say they don't have them I just say Thanks for your time and i;m on my way. It's just a fun thing to do when you're just walking around. I've never had anyone be really rude to me,although Springsteen on Broadway won;t give you one and they are pretty adamant about it.lol I think it's worth the effort if yo, like me are a collector. Happy hunting

[vanbrig]

Posted: 7/3/18 at 11:42am

The only time I've ever asked the box office for a Playbill was when a friend and I saw the 2016 Falsettos revival, and he ended up losing his at some point on the way back to the hotel. The next day we popped by the theatre and asked the box office for an another one, and the man working at the time was very nice and understanding. He just pulled out a stack from under the desk and handed us one. I don't know if it made a difference that we had already seen the show, though. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/3/18 at 11:48am

I don't know if it made a difference that we had already seen the show, though. 

Playbills are free. You don't need "proof of purchase" for one.  If someone refuses to provide you one its their own doing.  No one is going to haggle you to provide proof you saw the show.  

[MaryShelleyDuvall]

Posted: 7/3/18 at 11:53am

You don't need proof of purchase for one, but it might increase your odd slightly to say you're seen a show. I know if I was working in a theater and busy I'd be more sympathetic to someone who had seen a show the night before and forgotten their playbill than someone who hadn't seen the show.

[deathofacatler]

Posted: 7/3/18 at 12:01pm

I've asked for a Playbill at box offices a bunch of times and have never had a problem. The only times I didn't get one was if they didn't have any in the box office and I was just told to come back during the show. I just stay out of the theaters when there's about an hour until a show starts if I'm not buying a ticket.

[vanbrig]

Posted: 7/3/18 at 1:50pm

BrodyFosse123 said: Playbills are free. You don't need "proof of purchase" for one. If someone refuses to provide you one its theirown doing. No one is going to haggle you to provide proof you saw the show."

Ok. It was just a thought because, considering the fact that some people DO refuse to give them out (earlier posters said a few shows are adamant about that), it's not like the average theatregoer knows what their motivations are. 

Updated On: 7/3/18 at 01:50 PM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/3/18 at 2:10pm

Sometimes shows with a high-profile celebrity (or celebrities) will restrict the distribution to ticket holders only. 

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 9/2/19 at 4:22pm

Has anyone tried getting Moulin Rouge, Betrayal, or Beautiful from the box offices? Going to the city on Sunday hoping to collect these 3.

BTW ones that have said no to me in the past are Hadestown, Beetlejuice, Ain't Too Proud, Aladdin, and Dear Evan Hansen.

Ones that have said yes include Tootsie, Hamilton, Book of Mormon, Waitress, Mockingbird, Oklahoma!, Constitution, Phantom, and The Lion King.

Don't know if that was helpful to anyone, but just in case anyone was curious.

Updated On: 9/2/19 at 04:22 PM

[JuneJune]

Posted: 9/2/19 at 10:54pm

Broadway Buddy said: "Has anyone tried getting Moulin Rouge, Betrayal, or Beautiful from the box offices? Going to the city on Sunday hoping to collect these 3.

BTW ones that have said no to me in the past are Hadestown, Beetlejuice, Ain't Too Proud, Aladdin, and Dear Evan Hansen.

Ones that have said yes include Tootsie, Hamilton, Book of Mormon, Waitress, Mockingbird, Oklahoma!, Constitution, Phantom, and The Lion King.

Don't know if that was helpful to anyone, but just in case anyone was curious."

I got one from Moulin Rouge. The first time I asked, the box office rep looked below the counter and said he was out, which I took as a cue that they normally hold them. So next time I was in the area, I asked again and the box office rep (different person) was happy to give me two.

As for Hadestown and Beetlejuice, I guess it depends who is at the box office that day. I've been told that they don't hold any at Hadestown, but my friend was able to get one the next day. This was before the Tony's though, and I never tried again. Likewise for Beetlejuice, I was told by one box office rep that they weren't allowed to give them out. Sometime after, a different friend had told me she was able to get one, so I came back the next time I was in the area and a different rep was more than happy to give me one.

Adding to this list, the shows that told me that they didn't offer playbills at the box office (that are still open) were Oklahmona!, Mean Girls, Hamilton, and Come From Away. Though the first two told me to come back 30 minutes to curtain and ask security (which I didn't do).

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 9/9/19 at 11:10pm

Okay, so I went yesterday, and for the sake of time, I oly got to visit two theatres. Jacobs and Al Hirchfeld. Betrayal=no (not surprised honestly due to just opened. Moulin Rouge=yes! So I conclusion is Nederlander and Jujamcyn almost always has them. Shubert is 50/50 shot.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 9/9/19 at 11:43pm

Broadway Buddy said: "Okay, so I went yesterday, and for the sake of time, I oly got to visit two theatres. Jacobs and Al Hirchfeld. Betrayal=no (not surprised honestly due to just opened. Moulin Rouge=yes! So I conclusion is Nederlander and Jujamcyn almost always has them. Shubert is 50/50 shot."

I'm seeing Beetlejuice and Betrayal September 21/22.  I don't collect playbills.  You pay the postage and you can have them both.  If you are interested you can pm me after my trip.  

[ArtMan]

Posted: 9/9/19 at 11:43pm

double.  

Updated On: 9/9/19 at 11:43 PM

[Rainah]

Posted: 9/9/19 at 11:57pm

Fosse76 said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "If you don't have business backstage, you shouldn't be knocking on the stage door. Especially if the theater doesn't have a stage door directly adjacent to the sidewalk. Playbills aren't storedbackstage, and the doorman may or may not have any (and can't just leave and get one).

I don't understandwhy people think the box office would have Playbills stocked.If they have any it's because a) someone was nice enough to bring a few,or b) someone had it to use as a reference forinformation. I wouldn't be surprised that most of the claims here about getting Playbills from the box office are actually people getting Playbills from a ticket taker or security personnel."

It wasn't a playbill, but something simular, and when I approached the box office at great comet they instructed me to knock on the stagedoor. Id never have otherwise, but it does seem like in some cases you are supposed to. They had a stack of playbills by the door as well, I noticed