Now that the back-to-school craze has settled and classes have begun, it's a great time to whip out those command hooks and clothespins to start displaying your dorm decor. Whether you brought framed posters or you just have a few Playbills on hand from shows you've seen, we have you covered on inspiration for how to display your theatre treasures.
Some of these ideas are as simple as hanging a poster up with some double-sided tape, while others require a little DIYing or hunting for call boards outside of a Broadway theatre after a show closes...you'll see what we mean. Check out the photos below showing how readers (and some of our staff!) decorated their college dorms with a little Broadway flair.
Playbills hung on a clothesline are a classic dorm decor choice for theatre fans, but Jillian (@bookishlybroadway on Instagram) took it a step further and added dangling cutouts of stars for a sparkling tribute to Broadway. Also, check out that Beetlejuice sign on the other wall!
Madie (@m.rwinningham on Instagram) didn't shy away from declaring her love for Bad Cinderella in the biggest way possible—literally. The cast call board, which was left outside of the theatre after Bad Cinderella's closing, is used in place of a headboard in this student's apartment. It's a fantastically fun and quirky way to recycle something otherwise left behind after a show's closure.
Chris (@chrisdbayan on Instagram) accentuated classic show posters with a colorful string of lights surrounding them. Turn off the lights, and boom, you've got the multicolored, stage-lighting vibe to make your Broadway bedroom feel like a Broadway house.
Playbill Senior News Editor Andrew Gans shared a photo from his college dorm room with his early love of Broadway (and Bernadette Peters) on full display. He hung a poster of the Song and Dance marquee with a flurry of small, printed Playbills surrounding it. If you have access to a printer and a list of your favorite shows on hand, this is an easy one to recreate!
Playbill Staff Writer Margaret Hall spent her years of studying musical theatre building a solid collection of show window cards, which she stacked in photo frames to make a complete Broadway wall. She's still collecting post college, and even acquired a signed Dance of the Vampires poster at this year's Broadway Flea.
Playbill's Editorial Intern Julia Chambers has an easily-swappable corkboard of Playbills secured by push pins. This is a great idea for any frequent theatregoer, as you can change out the Playbills based on what you've recently seen.
One last idea from the author, who used washi tape to hang every The Phantom of the Opera ticket acquired. This was a particularly sentimental display, as each ticket had the name of whoever picked up the tickets on it—all the friends and family members who tagged along to see the long-running musical.
For more pictures and ideas, check out our previous round-up of dorm decor pictures, and check out the Playbill Store for official Playbill and merch from your favorite shows to display in your home!
