The Stage's Best Companion: Why Paper Playbills Matter in a Digital World
Rachel Wagner, Guest Editorial
The author is a theatre critic and cohost of The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast
It is totally understandable that after the COVID-19 pandemic-related closures that devastated the theatrical community, many companies have looked to cut costs and streamline their operations. One of the most common cost-cutting strategies is using digital programs over the traditional printed variety. While this may seem like a small, harmless change, it actually hurts the theater-going experience a lot, and I would encourage companies to re-think this change and bring back some paper programs as soon as possible.
The main problem with digital programs over paper is that they require something digital to view them, leaving the patron with two options: they can either look at their phone or device for the program, or they can go without a program for the evening. If the latter is the solution, one must ask, then what is the point of having one to begin with?
This is an issue because the program helps patrons in many ways. It tells them what is happening, the order of the songs, and where various scenes occur. A scene might be confusing, but looking at the program can clarify what is happening and improve the experience. In addition, the program can help the patron get a vision of what the director and producers are trying to do.
The other day, I was at an unusual Into the Woods production, where they had updated it to the 1950s and had the “woods” in a Central Park-type setting. Reading the director's notes was key to appreciating this vision and what they were trying to do. Still, I couldn’t do that because it was a digital program, and I could only speed-read through it during the intermission. I would have loved to have had a program to look at throughout the production when the lights were bright enough to do so.
In contrast, recently, I had a program to look at for a production of Oliver where the company gave everything a steampunk aesthetic, and the detailed director's notes added so much to the overall experience. In addition to these notes, the company provided a background segment in the program about Charles Dickens, Oliver as a book and then the musical and movie. It might seem like a small gesture, but it truly did make the experience richer and more immersive, and shouldn’t that be our goal?
The program can also provide context to the performances and explain casting decisions for a particular production. For example, recently, I was at a staging of The Little Mermaid, where Eric was not the strongest singer. When I actually looked at the program, I learned this was his first acting role, and he was trying something new.
Knowing that information, I was more inclined to be forgiving, and if it hadn’t been a digital program, I might have been more encouraging in my applause during the viewing.
A program does not need to be complicated or expensive. I’ve been to productions that gave out a one-page printed sheet without graphics or color photos. The key information we need to enjoy what we are being offered is helpful to the audience.
If you aren’t going to give a paper program, I hate to say it, then we as a theater community need to be more accommodating of cell phones. It makes no sense to tell everyone to access digital programs with their phones and then, in the next breath, tell them to put away their phones. If that’s where the program is, what else can they expect patrons to do? If they aren’t supposed to look at their programs until they get home, the audience is left adrift with no guide during the play or musical he or she is experiencing.
The sad part is that even professional and semi-professional companies are abandoning printed programs. There is a company near me that charges $70 a ticket, and even for such high prices, they do not provide printed programs!
It’s such a shame because not only is the viewing experience worse than it would otherwise be, but patrons do not have the memento of their night at the theater (it’s bad enough we got rid of paper tickets I used to love to collect now I don’t get a program to remember?) but also months later if I want to recall who was in a role or who directed a production, I don’t have my program to look back on and remember.
I understand company finances are tight these days, but the program is the exact wrong place to cut costs. It is, in many ways, the link between the company and the audience. Unless we want to become more phone-tolerant, I plead to bring back the simple, inexpensive paper program wherever possible. It will help the audience enjoy the productions more and give the cast and crew the shoutouts they so richly deserve.
More programs, please!