Playbill Collectors

[suitelife123]

Hello Greg,
Is it normal for actors to respond even after the show's run has been completed?

[Selise]

Some actors/actresses do reply when the show's run ends. They take all their mail with them and reply later. Some reply with a pre-print, some reply authentically, and some never reply at all.

[Gracie84]

Has anyone tried 33 Variations yet? Would they have a playbill? I don't want to write to a specific person in the cast since I think they are all grea,t I just thought I would ask if anyone got a playbill from them yet?
Oh I got my success from the SF Wicked today, I'll post it later since I'm off to work.

[Selise]

Has anyone tried 33 Variations yet? Would they have a playbill? I don't want to write to a specific person in the cast since I think they are all grea,t I just thought I would ask if anyone got a playbill from them yet?
Oh I got my success from the SF Wicked today, I'll post it later since I'm off to work.

Yes, the should have a playbill. I mailed off to them but I didn't get a response back yet.

Congrats on your Wicked success.

[TheScarletPimpernel]

Yes, as Selise said...33 Variations has a playbill. It looks like this:



The official opening is March 9. Therefore, you probably won't get a reply until after that date -- most shows don't start it until after the opening (which actually makes your playbill more "valuable" ... even though plays don't necessarily matter; you may either get an Opening Night playbill or atleast one from after the opening and it will list the opening. If it's a musical, a preview playbill isn't anything too special to marvel over, as many shows make changes. If you get one after the opening it's the "finalized" product and of course...it's officially open. (Although flop playbills sell for tons (ie: Carrie The Musical (1988 - 5 performances on Broadway)'s playbills sell on eBay from anywhere between $30 - $199!)

Hello Greg,
Is it normal for actors to respond even after the show's run has been completed?

Yes & no. You cannot write to someone once the show has concluded it's run. Like it'd be stupid to write to Stockard Channing at Studio 54 now -- if anything she will come and clean out her dressing room one day this week, but she would not really be looking for mail! If you wrote well beforehand, then yes, you can still get a success (such as many Stockard ones are showing up now!). Actresses like Sierra Boggess (title role in The Little Mermaid), Kate Shindle (Lucy in Jekyll & HYDE, Vivienne in Legally Blonde) and Audra McDonald (quite famous actually - started on Broadway) all tend to pile up their fanmail until they have some free time. Sierra seems to do it about every 5-months-ish, and Kate & Audra did it at the end of their runs. I wrote to Kate Rockwell (final Margot in LB) and didn't get a response until late November -- the show closed October 19. It really does deal with the person, but I can guarantee that if you don't send off by Tuesday/Wednesday week of the closing it's slim chances.

Hope this helps & thanks Selise too!

[shaun]

How long do you have to wait for the playbills to come?

Also does it depend on what you write in the letter, if you get one.

I wrote my requests, and sent them on:

West Side Story- 3rd March 2009

Shrek The Musical- 27th February 2009

Wicked - 25th February 2009

You're Welcome America- 24th February 2009

Phantom of the opera- 24th February 2009

Pal Joey- 24th February 2009.

Do you think I will get these back.

[Selise]

It does take time for shows to respond. Yes, it matters what you write in your letter if you get one back. Chances are, you WON"T get one from Pal Joey.

[TheScarletPimpernel]

Shaun, considering you live in London/England I believe, there's about NO chance at all your getting back a Pal Joey one, save anyone really getting one from the US.

It does often depend what you write in your letter; if they know your BSing the entire thing, they obviously aren't just going to ship you one, and also they just about never send out repeats - and I sincerly hope you do not do that to Broadway shows. Please save your time, money, energy and the hobby of collecting playbills alone to one playbill per show.

West Side Story- 3rd March 2009 - Possible, they're probably waiting until closer to Opening Night.

Shrek The Musical- 27th February 2009 - I got one during previews, so more than likely.

Wicked - 25th February 2009 - Yes, Wicked has always been known to send them out.

You're Welcome America- 24th February 2009 - Don't know. I would doubt they'd be doing them since it's a small show with one big star and four "ensemble" members practically. They may jjust forward it to Will Ferrell.

Phantom of the opera- 24th February 2009 - Yes, more than likely.


This all depends of course if you sent a SASE. Certainly shows take a little (a show like Phantom of the Opera could have a dozen backstage already signed) or a long time (West Side Story probably does not have any / a lot already signed by everyone - which takes a while).

Good luck.

[thebucch]

Just got back today a hand written note from stage manager of Shrek. anyone else ever get a hand written note or even a letter back from the stage manager i also got a letter personalized from wicked.

[Selise]

Yep, most everyone gets a letter from Wicked.

I've gotten short handwritten notes from a few plays: Tale of Two Cities (now closed), American Buffalo (closed), Little Mermaid (when it first opened), and a few others that I can't think of off the top of my head.