One of the most iconic remaining pieces of physical media can be found eight times a week in Midtown, Manhattan. But is it here to stay? We’re talking about the Playbill, of course—and more specifically, the often hastily-printed understudy slip tucked inside.
The History of Playbills
The long-standing tradition of Playbills began all the way back in 1884, when Frank Vance Strauss began creating the magazine-style theater program in New York City. The programs have been a Broadway landmark and memorable keepsake for generations. They’re informative, decorative, and so effortlessly New York.
The tradition recently celebrated a milestone birthday, as well. Last year, for Playbill’s 140th anniversary, the covers of each show returned to vintage versions of the beloved catalogs. Bold, bright colors were replaced with muted, black and white covers that reminded show-goers just how long this tradition has run.
In a completely opposite vein, it seems like physical media is disappearing by the second, and though Playbills are here to stay, the long-standing tradition of understudy slips and inserts may be the next Broadway casualty, potentially replaced by QR codes linking to digital cast announcements.
The Rise of the QR Codes
QR codes have become ever-present in everyday life, transforming restaurant menus, ticketing systems, and even art exhibits. Now, they’re potentially making their way into one of Broadway’s most important aspects: understudies.
In October, a new Production Contract was officially approved between the Actors’ Equity Association (the union for actors and stage managers) and The Broadway League (representing producers and theatre owners).
The contract, which will remain in effect until September 2028, included pay increases for actors and stage managers, increased employer contributions to health funds, and improvements towards scheduling and sustainable working conditions.
Nestled among these headline changes, however, was a clause that made Playbill inserts optional, officially allowing shows to replace physical understudy announcements with digital alternatives accessed through QR codes.
Understudy slips, or “stuffers,” have long been the humble heroes of the Playbill. Tucked between pages, they announce last-minute cast changes or the appearance of an understudy. For performers, seeing their name on one can be a career milestone. For collectors and fans, these slips are unique markers of a particular performance that may never happen again in the same way.
To some, this change represents progress in reducing paper waste, streamlining communication, and aligning with a tech-savvy audience. To others, it feels like the slow erasure of something sacred.
Without these slips, quick cast changes may go unnoticed, and an ephemeral yet beloved part of the Broadway experience could quietly disappear.
So while Playbills continue to hold their place as the quintessential Broadway souvenir, their companion inserts might soon become part of theater history themselves. And for an art form that thrives on tradition, that shift may be harder to take than a simple page turn.