Playbill...or not?

Question:I love broadway musicals, so I was thrilled to see that The Producers was coming to a location close by. I checked into prices and found that tickets were only around $20 for me as a student. I was immediately disappointed, because I'm used to paying about $70 per show I see, so I figured it wasn't a true tour, just a local group putting it on. Then, after looking into it, I found that it is the actual tour. So I went to it last night, and something I noticed was my playbill. It wasn't like the normal ones I usually get, the ones that say Playbill across the top and have a picture of the show. It was more like it was for the place I was seeing it at. It had a bunch of small pictures of the different shows they've had recently. It didn't even have the name of the show I was seeing. Inside of it, though, it had like a small section that was more like a playbill, with the cast and stuff, but not really. I was just wondering why it's different and if it's still considered a playbill.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I love broadway musicals, so I was thrilled to see that The Producers was coming to a location close by. I checked into prices and found that tickets were only around $20 for me as a student. I was immediately disappointed, because I'm used to paying about $70 per show I see, so I figured it wasn't a true tour, just a local group putting it on. Then, after looking into it, I found that it is the actual tour. So I went to it last night, and something I noticed was my playbill. It wasn't like the normal ones I usually get, the ones that say Playbill across the top and have a picture of the show. It was more like it was for the place I was seeing it at. It had a bunch of small pictures of the different shows they've had recently. It didn't even have the name of the show I was seeing. Inside of it, though, it had like a small section that was more like a playbill, with the cast and stuff, but not really. I was just wondering why it's different and if it's still considered a playbill.

If it says the word Playbill on the top in the usual way, it's a Playbill. Professional theatres and touring halls outside Broadway are able to contract with Playbill to furnish their programs. Sort of a "personalized" playbill for the specific venue you saw the show at. If it says "Showbill" or something else, it is technically not a Playbill.

i dont think its considered a playbill. all official b-way musicals and tours have "playbill" written on their playbill.