We want to put on a small production of the musical "Rent", and I'd like to know how to go about doing that. How do we get the book & music? I assume we have to pay for the rights, but who do we get in touch with? Any help at all would be appreciated.
2006-06-12 16:38:46 · 6 answers · asked by gene_blackthorne 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
CURRENTLY RESTRICTED
2006-06-18 04:31:01 · answer #1 · answered by Robsthings 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
OK, listen very carefully, because this is the correct answer, and if you don't listen, you will find yourself in really big trouble:
You can't.
"Rent" is one of the single most lucrative properties in the American musical theatre. It's still running on Broadway (in a theatre owned by the powerhouse Nederlander organization), and still touring professionally in commercial productions. The producers of the show and the Nederlander organization have an absolute lock on it. Yes, maybe in about a decade you may be able to get the rights from Tams-Witmark or Music Theatre International or somebody, but don't hold your breath. Those rights won't be available until the show closes on Broadway (it's been running for 10 years now...), and THEN, priority will go to theatres who can make the producers even more money--major regional theatres and commercial producers throughout the country. Sorry to say it, but your "small production of 'Rent'" will be way WAY back at the end of the line. My warning is because if you try to do it anyway--just sort of do a little production out in some town somewhere on the theory they won't find out--trust me: they'll find out. And you will very quickly get a nice cease & desist letter from their team of highly-paid lawyers.
I hate to discourage theatre,I really do, and someday small productions of "Rent" will abound. But that time is many many years away. Enjoy the album, sing it with your friends, but find another project. Sorry.
2006-06-13 00:14:22 · answer #2 · answered by zeebaneighba 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first thing to do would be either produce it professionally as a tour through the original producers or wait until the rights become available for other productions. Some productions never become available for non-professional productions, although it is rare, and if there is the possibility of more tours or productions, rights may temporarily become unavailable.
The rights will probably be available through one of the big houses: Samuel French or Tams Witmark, most likely.
You can sign up for notification of new releases from them.
2006-06-13 00:00:12 · answer #3 · answered by blueowlboy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is usually harder to get the rights to Musicals when they are on Broadway. Sometimes they are available for venues some distance from professional productions.
It is currently playing at:
The Nederlander Theatre
208 West 41st Street
(between Broadway & 8th Avenue)
It will be a lot easier to get the rights in a couple of years.
I would think that the cost would be prohibitive at the moment.
2006-06-13 07:58:10 · answer #4 · answered by DramaGuy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Firstly...im not sure where you are from, but in australia, there is a company known as amcos..which you pay a fee and they pay the rights to the correct members of the copyright...i am sure there is similar companies. perhaps go through your local council for geants..and get incontact wiht your local arts council and they can give you all the details you need...their is a lot more than just the production rights you have to look at...but venues, and public liability etc...best advice i can give you is go to you local arts council.
hope it all goes well....touytouy.
2006-06-12 23:51:41 · answer #5 · answered by Natti 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the rights for rent have actually just been released. but the big clo's are going to get first dibs on it. you would have to get in contact with the publishing company (ie samuel french, dramatists, mtw) and file a request for the rights with them.
2006-06-13 00:51:11 · answer #6 · answered by topher 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋