Construct a playbill for your next play.
A professional playbill is necessary for producers of plays and musicals. It can also be an educational exercise for English literature teachers to teach students what goes into producing a stage show. Check the "Templates" section of your word processor, such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice, for a "Playbill" template. Consider using professional printing services to ensure your playbills are printed on high quality paper with clear graphics and color.
Instructions
1. Compile all of the information necessary for the playbill. Gather every aspect of the play, its cast and crew.
2. Open your word processing program and choose the layout of your playbill, which is typically in pamphlet style. A simple playbill would be printed in landscape mode and folded from side to side. More detailed playbills would include several pages, like a small booklet.
3. Design the cover of the playbill or hire a graphic artist. Choose an image that you feel best represents the play itself, which may be a single object, such as the ring in "Lord of the Rings," or an actual scene, such as Scarlett and Ashley's kiss in "Gone With the Wind." The cover should also display the name of the play, the author, the name of the theatre, and the dates and times of performances. Often, the name of the play is preceded by the name of the director and the author; for example, "John Brown Presents Tennessee William's Streetcar Named Desire."
4. Type the name of the play and director on the inside front cover along with a memorable quote from the play.
5. List the cast on the first inside page along with a short bio if there is room and your budget allows for it. The character name of each actor should be listed next to his name. For large casts, the main characters are usually given top billing with the supporting characters beneath them as a second list. This may fit on one page or take up the right inside page as well, depending on length.
6. List the acts and scene titles on the next available page. Some playbills also include a short synopsis of each scene below its title, which is up to the discretion of the director and producer.
7. List the crew members on the next available page, beginning with the director and producer, along with their bios. Give each crew member a title, such as "makeup artist" or "costume designer."
8. Create a page for the director's notes about the play, as well as any advertisements or words about the sponsors of the play (if applicable). Check with sponsors about the size and space of their ads. For sponsors who wish to be more prominently displayed, it is acceptable to print a few ads on the inside of the front cover.
9. Print a preview copy of the playbill first to be sure it meets with the producer's approval before you print enough for opening night.
