Hello, my women's theatre organization at USC is trying to get the rights for Catholic School Girls, but there has been some issues and it is certainly not guarenteed. We don't have time to apply for another show, so what shows could we do that don't require royalties and rights? I know Shakespeare and classical Greek works, but how about Oscar Wilde? Or any other playwrights that are slightly more modern than Shakespeare? Anything would help. Thanks.
2006-10-13 09:40:11 · 29 answers · asked by neverneverland 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
Gilbert and Sullivan operettas are public domain, but they do require you to buy your own scores.
2006-10-13 09:47:55 · answer #1 · answered by musicaangelica 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Be very careful here, there are a lot of half right answers and some that are just wrong. You cannot go by dates, there have been so many chages in copywright law in the US in the past 30 years (thank you Mickey Mouse) that nothing is as simple as "so and so has been dead for so many years". Oscar Wilde is public domain, as is every playwright before him, and quite a few after, but there is no simple answer. Also with non-English writers be extra careful, even if the original work is public doamin (like Ibsen and Checkov) that does not mean that the translation is, most are still protected. Same thing to look out for with Gilbert and Sulivan, yes the work is pretty much public domain, but The Priates of Penzance that was done by Shakespeare in the Park (The Public) is protected, so make sure you are using a free version.
This is far to complex of an issue to answer here, the guys who formed Playscripts Inc. (http://www.playscripts.com) are absolutely wonderful in helping with these questions. All the publishing houses will help you out, I have just had the most luck with polite answers from the Playscripts guys.
This is a highly misunderstood area, and you can get in a lot of trouble if you make a mistake, so please be careful, talk to the experts.
2006-10-16 01:13:38 · answer #2 · answered by Steven K 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Tristan's answer about no-Royalty plays listed in Samuel French and Dramatists Plays is probably the best answer...Deirdre H.'s info on that website is great, too.
Whatever you do, ignore the advice of those who are simply saying "X number of years after the playwright dies you don't have to pay royalties" because, as others have, said it is INCORRECT.
If your group is sponsored by USC and you don't pay royalties on a play that requires it, the entire school could get in trouble, not just your group.
Moliere has some wonderful plays of various lengths that you might enjoy.
2006-10-14 23:30:31 · answer #3 · answered by slw19090 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Both Samuel French, Inc. and Dramatists Play Service have royalty free play sections - some are old, some are new.
edited to add: be careful. I've been reading some of the responses - and you can NOT got by dates any more. For instance, Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller plays are NOT royalty free.
And if you get caught not paying royalties, the fines outweigh what the royalties would have been. Just a warning.
2006-10-13 11:18:42 · answer #4 · answered by tristanrobin 4 · 8⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
What plays/playwrights do you not have to pay royalties or get rights to do?
Hello, my women's theatre organization at USC is trying to get the rights for Catholic School Girls, but there has been some issues and it is certainly not guarenteed. We don't have time to apply for another show, so what shows could we do that don't require royalties and rights? I...
2015-08-18 14:27:04 · answer #5 · answered by Brinkley 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Public Domain Plays
2016-10-02 11:14:00 · answer #6 · answered by gonser 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plays In The Public Domain
2017-01-05 06:35:28 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Community theater .org maintains a list of plays in the Public Domain. Follow the link below and you will find about 80 separat plays from Shakespeare to George Bernard Shaw which are in the public domain and require no royalties.
break a leg!
--Dee
2006-10-14 17:14:37 · answer #8 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Never Eve: it depends on theater plays whom I saw julet& Romeo
an stage act sure all veiwers pay to see that .According any rights for supporters or research people some times college students wants to have funds towards newer books and could
put on a stage act check with professional actors which Royalty
will do as authorized
2006-10-14 09:12:52 · answer #9 · answered by toddk57@sbcglobal.net 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Check withthe Samuel French Company to see what may be protected.
Many have slid into public domain, but once you get into the 20th Century, many are still protected by the Estate Of whomsoever
What about Restoration Comedy or things from Ibsen, Chekov and Shaw?
2006-10-16 07:55:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
the general rule of thumb is - if the playwright has been dead seventy years or more the play is considered part of the public domain, but be careful..there are exceptions!!
here's a link that helps clarify the matter..somewhat:
http://www.angelfire.com/or/Copyright4Producers/chart.html
the Samuel French website has a small collection of non-royalty plays available...you have to pay for the scripts though
2006-10-13 10:22:17 · answer #11 · answered by hobbsworth 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋