By Aliza Gans, Arts and Culture Editor
Sitting on my overcrowded bookshelf, among the books, graphic novels and random knicknacks, are my bulging playbill binders. Physically, they are just a collection of colorful papers, but to me each page is a ticket to a specific moment and memory in time.
In these binders are playbills from every single play I’ve ever seen — whether it be an official one from a Broadway show or one from a friend’s school production — dating back to July of 2014. I am only missing three to date: Mary Poppins, Cinderella and Newsies. I estimate I have around 70 playbills in my collection if not more.
The collection says a lot about me. It shows how even at an early age, I had an interest in theater, partly thanks to my mother’s love of classic showtunes and the various theater outings she would take me on. As the years progressed and I gained independence, I saw more shows in a shorter span of time. My first binder is from 2014 to February 2023, but the second one, stuffed to the brim, only goes from March 2023 to January 2025.
The binders also serve as a way to preserve any additional mementos I may encounter at the theater. For instance, at Beetlejuice, every playbill included a thematic postcard tucked into its pages. And when I get a physical ticket, I love to keep that too, especially in the age of digital tickets. My collection also includes the slips of paper that announce when an understudy or swing will be on that night. These are especially fun to look back on; sometimes, I will see someone in a show, only to stop and realize I saw them perform years prior. Some shows release a stream of confetti at the finale, and the few times I have been in the orchestra and caught some, I have kept it tucked into the playbill so I can open it up later and cherish the excitement.
Sometimes these additional slips of paper highlight a common cause or issue relevant to the Broadway community. This past summer, playbills included an insert concerning the plan to build a casino in Times Square. It discussed the negative effects such a place would have on the industry and encouraged audience members to speak up against it. Playbills also feature articles about new shows and popular stars on Broadway. Of course you can always go online to read this kind of content, but there is something about flipping through a physical playbill that a website will never achieve.
Another reason I love to keep my playbills are the various signatures from all the actors. When I get the chance, I love to stagedoor and wait for the actors to come out, and sometimes they will sign autographs and take pictures. It is a really wholesome experience; they aren’t contractually required to do any of this, they come just to connect with the audience. Looking at the swirling cursive letters makes me think about meeting the actor, and that always makes me smile. Over the years I’ve managed to collect signatures from notable names like Idina Menzel, Sarah Hyland, Jordan Fisher and Phillipa Soo.
Some people prefer not to keep their playbills, but starting your own collection doesn’t take much. All you need is a binder and sheet protectors. The official Playbill brand sells binders specifically for this purpose, but those tend to be on the more expensive side. Personally, I’d rather save that money, and put it toward my next theater ticket.
Photo Credit: Aliza Gans