This month, Playbill is celebrating 140 years.
I have a collection of Playbills, so I really enjoyed this timeline of Broadway Playbill covers over the years from 1884 until today.
To mark the occasion, Playbill has created four different designs for each Broadway show that is currently running. Audience members will get one of four designs.
So, if you make it to any Broadway shows this month, please post a photo of your Playbill as a comment. (And/or get an extra Playbill for me!)
To incorporate this into the classroom/library, you could have students design their own Playbill for a favorite book or movie. What font would they use? What images would they use to represent the story?
Playbill is trademarked, but, for a small fee, using Playbillder, you can create your own Playbill using the Playbill logo. I use this for our third grade Women of Character play every year. It is easy to use and fill in, and it creates a professional-looking finished product.
Bravo, Playbill!
Art/Music Pre K - 2 3 - 5 6 - 8 9 - 12 13+ Library English/Language Arts Playbill Theatre Theater
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Very cool topic! I have a box full of playbills and other play programs packed with programs from many past years. I treasure that collection of memories and performances. There is a magnificent 50's era house in my community that has a bathroom "wallpapered" in a collage of Playbill and other theater programs. A member of the family was in the theater business.
I love Playbills as wallpaper! I had them posted on the wall of my college dorm room. And, instead of table numbers at our wedding, everyone was at a different Playbill. The wedding party sat at the Aspects of Love table :)
Soline Holmes
, I was fascinated by the Playbill design changes throughout the years. As you have already described, there are all sorts of directions for a teacher and librarian to take Playbill, from art lessons to history to theater and more. While the Library of Congress does not appear to hold a Playbill collection, it does hold all sorts of Broadway-related primary sources in multiple formats. Here are a few for starters:
Sheet music - A Broadway Honeymoon (1913 - great lyrics!)
Audio recording - Broadway Rose (1920)
Exhibition - Al Hirschfeld, Beyond Broadway (2000-2001)
Film - Street Scene on Lower Broadway (1902)
Engraving - Crossing Broadway (1870)
So many possibilities!
The LOC sheet music collection is one of my favorites! The covers are so beautiful--works of art!
Thank you for sharing these additional resources :)
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