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This study examines the under-recognized performative function of early modern English playbook title pages, arguing they extend beyond mere informational prefaces. Unlike the proverb "don't judge a book by its cover," early modern readers relied on title pages for crucial context. Analyzing 559 single-play editions from 1574 to 1649, this research reveals how title pages, with their attributions, lengthy titles, and visual imprints, construct a mental stage for the reader. This work focuses on the unique contributions of early modern English playbooks. Through a discourse community framework, this study demonstrates how printers, publishers, playwrights, and audiences engaged in a textual and visual dialogue, using rhetorical devices and imagery to evoke the performative spirit of the plays. This analysis of title page elements, including printer marks, woodcuts, and language patterns, reveals how they function as more than marketing tools, serving as an induction into the play's performance.