Need to contact two authors for permission to use some of their stuff, please help?

Question

I need to contact Dan Kurzman and H. Leivich (can't find his first name) or their estate so that i can ask their permission to use some of their writings in a play i wrote a year ago. Dan Kurzman is the author of "The Bravest Battle", and H. Leivich wrote the poem 'Gvald, Fellow Jews, Do Not Despair'. Assistance in contacting them would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I once contacted an author by writing him care of his publishing company & recd a response from him. I suspect that that would be the only way to reach them. Good luck.

Answer 2

Write to the publishers of their books. They may still have the ability to contact the author or a representative.

Answer 3

I would say contact the publisher. When you sell your book you are selling the rights to it. You get royalties after you sell it (negotiated) and the contract monies. They have legal precedence over the works.