Acclaimed Broadway illustrator Justin "Squigs" Robertson and Tony & Emmy-award-winning theatrical producer and filmmaker Dori Berinstein announce the release of The Lights of Broadway Show Cards™, trading cards featuring Broadway folks for folks who love Broadway!
The Lights of Broadway Show Cards™ celebrate Broadway theatre. The stories and the storytellers, the art and the artisans, those who make it all possible and the community embracing it. They salute the new and notable on Broadway, as well as the legendary and revered. Actors and actresses, writers, composers, directors, designers, personalities, organizations, theaters and related locales, theatre lore, traditions, and tall tales. So many possibilities!
The first edition of 75 cards (now sold out) was released to test the market waters in June of 2015. The second edition of 75 cards (now in limited supply) landed in November 2015 and ushered in online sales. Along the way, through word of mouth, social media, several online contests and promotions, and appearances at the 2015 BC/EFA Broadway Flea Market and the 2016 Broadway Con, an enthusiastic community of collectors and traders ("Lightcatchers") has blossomed in NYC and across the country.
The third edition features 120 unique cards featuring actors, directors, writers, designers, shows, kids, lore, and personalities. As in previous editions, the back of each card offers bios and fun facts about each subject. We introduce collaborations with The Ensemblist podcast (theensemblist.com) to honor stellar folks of the ensemble and the live show If It Only Even Runs a Minute (ifitonlyevenrunsaminute.com) to cheer underappreciated musicals. Additionally, fifteen cards from the now sold-out first edition are being reissued. Finally, we offer a number of super rarities in the Spring 2016 packs: 100 foil-decorated Tony Award cards, 50 Golden Wickets which grant their lucky finders prizes, 6 original pencil sketches by Squigs, AND the effort of which we're perhaps most proud...
Broadway luminaries have signed limited edition numbered cards to shine a light on charity. It's very important to us to support the causes close to the collective heart of the Broadway community, so a portion of proceeds from card sales perennially benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Actors Fund. Additionally, for each individual edition, Broadway notables are asked to choose a cause near to their hearts:
Autumn 2015 edition:
• Christian Borle - The Malala Fund (malala.org)
• Kelli O'Hara - Stuttering Association for the Young (say.org)
NEW Spring 2016 edition:
• Megan Hilty - Joyful Heart Foundation (joyfulheartfoundation.org)
• Leslie Odom Jr. - UGANDAPROJECT (ugandaproject.com)
And for the first time in this edition, beloved Broadway notables have signed cards in support of our perennial charities:
• Danny Burstein - Actors' Fund (actorsfund.org)
• Ann Harada - Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (broadwaycares.org)
Fifty signed and numbered cards from each of these generous folks have been randomly sorted into packs to be discovered by lucky collectors. Learn more about our Giving Back program at: http://www.thelightsofbroadway.nyc/giving-back/
The Lights of Broadway Show Cards™ provide unique interactive opportunities between creators and collectors via our website and social media: online contests and promotions, free downloads (checklists, branded graphics, coloring pages), etc. Additionally, live interactive events are in the works.
The Lights of Broadway Show Cards™ can be purchased online at thelightsofbroadway.nyc (currently US sales only) and in the Theatre District at Theatre Circle on 44th St. and One Shubert Alley. The remaining packs of our second edition (Autumn 2016) sell for $8/pack. Our third edition (Spring 2016) sells for $5 per pack of five random cards (beginning 4/15).
Spring 2016, in collaboration with Broadway shows directly, we're launching show-specific packs. Our first two packs are Fiddler on the Roof, initially only be available at the Broadway Theater, and Fun Home, initially only available at the Circle in the Square. These packs are priced at $10 per pack.
All news of The Lights of Broadway™ releases, contests and special events, charitable opportunities, etc. breaks first via e-mail newsletter. Sign up at: http://www.thelightsofbroadway.nyc/sign-up/
Below, check out an exclusive sneak peek of some of the third edition cards!
Photo Credit: ©2016 Justin 'Squigs' Robertson
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