Playbill On-Line: An overview of the venerable site
so few of the people in its database could honestly be considered celebrities (at least not yet!). This is another excellent searchable database; type in a name and, if they've done a show that Playbill has provided a program for, you're presented with the biography that originally appeared in that Playbill. Two odd things about this area: if you type in a name that brings several results (e.g., more than one person with the same last name), the listings' category heading calls them "Cast Members" whether they were cast, crew, or staff; and, when you get to the bio, there's no way to tell which show's program that biography appeared in.
The SHOPPING category allows you to search lists of "Hotels" and "Restaurants." Peculiarly, although you can search by location the database contains only NYC hotels, and NYC restaurants -- except for a single restaurant in New Jersey. POL also offers an occasional "Travel Package," which you can buy through the site -- the current one is a trip to London.
At the bottom is the LINKS link. These lists of links are valid but short, with a preponderance of dance related sites. (You're better off with Suite101!)
You'll also see mention of the Playbill On-Line Club. Members receive a newsletter with special offers on tickets and travel and have access to special "Members Only" areas. Membership is free, and is well worth the price.
Other than the few niggling complaints mentioned above, there are few major inconveniences. Every page has ads/links extolling the virtues of, explaining how to get better use out of, or cajoling you to apply for an Amex card, or pitching the Lincoln Mark MCMXIV or something. And some download time could be conserved if the omnipresent graphics containing identical upper portions with the words "Playbill On-Line," were split into two parts so that the top part ("Playbill On-Line") could be read from disk instead of doubling the size of the graphic download.
Altogether this is an excellent site, both readable as an e-magazine and searchable as a theatrical information database. The writers are top-notch, and you'll find news here you won't find anywhere else -- at least not right away. I think you'll find any time spent at Playbill On-Line to be worthwhile.
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