There's no business like show business. My first big break in show poster illustration was when I was assigned to Broadway's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. It was ambitious and a unique undertaking. Prior to this poster, I always did poster art as a singular image - one piece of art - one format. With the digital era emerging, the agency requested that I create all the artwork in layers so it could be easily adapted to multiple formats. In the end, it required nearly 30 separate pieces that made up the final poster. All the cameos have full backgrounds so they could each be a stand-alone illustration.
As the show opening night grew closer, Times Square was painted from head to toe with all things ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. Opening night attracted countless A-list celebs and Bernadette Peters nocked it out of the park!
That experience opened doors for several other Broadway and Off-Broadway show posters. The stage industry is completely unique to working with other illustration buyers. The challenge is to breath life and energy into a show that is often still being rehearsed. Details can be spare such as costumes or sets, and talent can change. The fluid nature of branding a show results from many adaptations and a plethora of opinions.