Playbill
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| Editor | Mark Peikert |
|---|---|
| Former editors | Blake Ross |
| Categories | Theatre |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Publisher | Philip S. Birsh |
| Total circulation (2012) |
4,073,680 |
| First issue | 1884; New Series 1982 |
| Company | TotalTheater |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | New York City |
| Language | English |
| Website | www |
| ISSN | 0551-0678 |
Playbill is a monthly U.S. magazine for theatregoers. Although there is a subscription issue available for home delivery, most copies of Playbill are printed for particular productions and distributed at the door as the show's program.
Playbill was first printed in 1884 for a single theatre on 21st Street in New York City. The magazine is now used at nearly every Broadway theatre, as well as many Off-Broadway productions. Outside New York City, Playbill is used at theatres throughout the United States. Circulation as of September 2012 was 4,073,680.
Each issue features articles focusing on actors, new plays, musicals, and special attractions. This "wraparound" section is the same for all Playbills at all venues each month. Within this wraparound, the Playbill contains listings, photos, and biographies of the cast; biographies of authors, composers, and production staff; a list of scenes, as songs and their performers (for musicals); and a brief description of the setting for the particular show. It also lists the number of intermissions and "At This Theatre", a column with historical information on the theatre housing the production. The Playbill distributed on opening night of a Broadway show is stamped with a seal on the cover and the date appears on the title page within the magazine.
In lieu of the cast and show information, the subscription edition of Playbill contains listings of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions and news from London productions and North American touring companies.
The Playbill banner is yellow with black writing. Every June since 2014, the yellow banner has been replaced with a rainbow banner for LGBT Pride Month.
The Playbill banner has changed the yellow to another color on rare occasions in its history:
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