How do I get my play to be performed?

Question

Do I just contact local theatre companies and university acting troupes and give them my a copy of my play? Surely, it can't be that simple.

Answer 1

From copyright.gov: A Copyright is Secured Automatically upon Creation of the material. The way in which copyright protection is secured is frequently misunderstood. No publication or registration or other action in the Copyright Office is required to secure copyright.

There are, however, certain definite advantages to registration. Anything one writes is automatically copyrighted. Your play is automatically copyrighted: see copyright.gov

The easiest way is to produce your own play. My co-writer and I produced the play we wrote and we're glad we did. We subsequently had it produced by a Broadway producer and it was a nightmare!

You can contact the theaters, colleges and universities in your area and ask their procedure for reading new scripts for possible production. If you choose this route (let someone produce it) the finished product may no longer be YOUR vision of the play.

Answer 2

First. Copyright the play. That's the easy part. Go to:

http://www.copyright.gov

Next start banging on producer's doors. That's the hard part.