Perusal Script?

Question

Does anyone know if you have to pay to obtain a perusal script?

If so how much does it cost?

Answer 1

A perusal script is a script for you to look over in order to decide whether or not you want to put on that particular play. Some places charge, some don't. You have to check with whomever you are obtaining the rights from.

What show are you planning to do?

I just saw the other reply... yes Samuel French has an extensive supply of scripts, but they are all for purchase. If you want the rights to perform the plays there are also other places to go to such as:

www.MTIShows.com
www.pioneerdrama.com

Those are the most common, but there are many independent writers out there with their own perfectly good plays (or not) that you can do for free or cheap as well, just do a search but it's up to you to figure out if the plays are good enough for you to produce and maintain an audience's interest :-)

Good luck!

Answer 2

I'm not sure of the term 'perusal script', but if you mean a copy intended solely to read for your own pleasure or to see whether you could perform it, then yes you do I'm afraid. (this from someone in the UK)

I'm looking for a copy of Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead just to read for myself, and I'm having to buy it just as if it were any other sort of book. This would still be the case if I were to bring a copy to my theatre to read and see if we could do it.

The publisher (Samuel French does most of them) will have price lists: the scripts I've worked on (50 at last count) all have price bands rather than being individually priced, so you'll probably have to contact the publishers. I think they have different prices for scripts for personal reading and scripts intending to be performed.

Hope this helps!