CHOOSING A PLAY & SECURING A LICENSE WAINSTEIN, CHAPTER TWO

PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS Personal Taste Available Talent Budget Audience and Suitability (Community Standards) Stage Configuration Rehearsal time

MAKING IT LEGAL Public domain plays do not require a license You must obtain a license and pay a fee for public performances

FIND THE PUBLISHER & SECURE THE RIGHTS Stage Agent Stage Agent website Scroll down to Stage Agent Resources Type the name of the play Select the play from the drop down list Go to the play’s page See the name next to Licensing Follow the link or search the name on Google to open the Publisher’s site Find the play on the publishers site and proceed from there FIND A PLAY FIND A PLAY website

APPLY FOR A LICENSE Most applications require the following 1.Details and contact information for producing organization 2.Primary contact name and phone 3.Theatre name and address (where it will be produced) 4.Website address of producing company 5.Performance dates 6.Number of total performances 7.Number of seats in the theatre 8.Ticket prices 9.Previous productions produced by producing organization 10.Designation as professional or amateur production

KEEP IN MIND Apply in Advance Stipulate a range of prices Make sure the right person signs the contract Read and understand the contract Pay attention to cancellation clauses Don’t accept the first fee schedule if you think it is unfair Don’t claim your production is professional unless it is Negotiate deposits Some publishers require weekly statements and payments Handle rented materials carefully Shipping cost will be billed Licenses can be denied

THEATRICAL PUBLISHING HOUSES Dramatist’s Play Service Dramatic Publishing Company Playscripts, Inc. Samuel French, Inc. (and Baker’s Plays) Music Theatre International (MTI) R& H Theatricals The Really Useful Group Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.

SMALLER, SPECIALTY HOUSES Anchorage Press Broadway Play Publishing Contemporary Drama Service I.E. Clark Miracle or 2 Productions Pioneer Drama Service Plays for Young Audiences Steele Spring

YOUR ASSIGNMENT PRODUCTION BOOK Script analysis Blocking/cues Cast lists Rehearsal schedule Journal Sources (bibliography) Groundplan Lights Sound Props Costumes Performance rights