Open Forum

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

As stated before, sorry to hear about the trouble. We worked with R&H a few years ago and I remember them being stricter with their rights than other publishers. I think it's just that they have more protocol to follow and that's why sometimes it can be unpleasant to work with them sometimes. So I don't think you're alone and good luck!

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I had a very similar experience working with them last year; so you're not alone! They are just not very friendly and really dont go out of there way to help you.  I had one experience where I was trying to be exceptionally nice and the gentleman on the other end sounded almost annoyed that I was trying to be friendly.  Hang in there!

As stated before, sorry to hear about the trouble. We worked with R&H a few years ago and I remember them being stricter with their rights than other publishers. I think it's just that they have more protocol to follow and that's why sometimes it can be unpleasant to work with them sometimes. So I don't think you're alone and good luck!

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

Mark - 

in 2012, when we did "The Sound of Music," we were extremely mistreated by R&H. First of all, they took over 9 weeks to process rights for us. We are an extremely small school in central NJ -- there was no news whatsoever of a revival or tour of any type in the professional world. Other publishing companies such as MTI, TRW, and Tams take about 5 days to process rights for our school.

Secondly, we were overcharged for the extra song that is available. They never refunded us.

Lastly, they claimed we never returned their scripts. Even with our shipping and insurance receipt as evidence, they sent a collections officer after our school's business office. 

Our business office was able to fight the charge because eventually the collections service accepted our receipt of return.

I will never do another R&H show again. EVER.

There are too many other houses who are efficient,  respectful, and organized. R&H  need to up their game to compete, and they are able to get away with this treatment of customers because of what they hold. There are other shows out there! Don't patronize this business.

LH

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I was under the impression that all the big Musical licensing houses treated school productions like mild annoyances 😂

Mark - 

in 2012, when we did "The Sound of Music," we were extremely mistreated by R&H. First of all, they took over 9 weeks to process rights for us. We are an extremely small school in central NJ -- there was no news whatsoever of a revival or tour of any type in the professional world. Other publishing companies such as MTI, TRW, and Tams take about 5 days to process rights for our school.

Secondly, we were overcharged for the extra song that is available. They never refunded us.

Lastly, they claimed we never returned their scripts. Even with our shipping and insurance receipt as evidence, they sent a collections officer after our school's business office. 

Our business office was able to fight the charge because eventually the collections service accepted our receipt of return.

I will never do another R&H show again. EVER.

There are too many other houses who are efficient,  respectful, and organized. R&H  need to up their game to compete, and they are able to get away with this treatment of customers because of what they hold. There are other shows out there! Don't patronize this business.

LH

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

Is anyone from R&H reading this? Are they listening?

Lin Manuel Miranda are you reading this? R&H handles "In the Heights".

I was under the impression that all the big Musical licensing houses treated school productions like mild annoyances 😂

Mark - 

in 2012, when we did "The Sound of Music," we were extremely mistreated by R&H. First of all, they took over 9 weeks to process rights for us. We are an extremely small school in central NJ -- there was no news whatsoever of a revival or tour of any type in the professional world. Other publishing companies such as MTI, TRW, and Tams take about 5 days to process rights for our school.

Secondly, we were overcharged for the extra song that is available. They never refunded us.

Lastly, they claimed we never returned their scripts. Even with our shipping and insurance receipt as evidence, they sent a collections officer after our school's business office. 

Our business office was able to fight the charge because eventually the collections service accepted our receipt of return.

I will never do another R&H show again. EVER.

There are too many other houses who are efficient,  respectful, and organized. R&H  need to up their game to compete, and they are able to get away with this treatment of customers because of what they hold. There are other shows out there! Don't patronize this business.

LH

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

Is anyone from R&H reading this? Are they listening?

Lin Manuel Miranda are you reading this? R&H handles "In the Heights".

Is anyone from R&H reading this? Are they listening?

Lin Manuel Miranda are you reading this? R&H handles "In the Heights".

I was under the impression that all the big Musical licensing houses treated school productions like mild annoyances 😂

Mark - 

in 2012, when we did "The Sound of Music," we were extremely mistreated by R&H. First of all, they took over 9 weeks to process rights for us. We are an extremely small school in central NJ -- there was no news whatsoever of a revival or tour of any type in the professional world. Other publishing companies such as MTI, TRW, and Tams take about 5 days to process rights for our school.

Secondly, we were overcharged for the extra song that is available. They never refunded us.

Lastly, they claimed we never returned their scripts. Even with our shipping and insurance receipt as evidence, they sent a collections officer after our school's business office. 

Our business office was able to fight the charge because eventually the collections service accepted our receipt of return.

I will never do another R&H show again. EVER.

There are too many other houses who are efficient,  respectful, and organized. R&H  need to up their game to compete, and they are able to get away with this treatment of customers because of what they hold. There are other shows out there! Don't patronize this business.

LH

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I agree!  R & H are difficult to work with for their main shows.  Their G2K show collection and those who handle the collection are actually much nicer.  Tams is another problem. Old books, very little support materials for schools and often high royalties. I look for musicals at MTI first!!! and if a show is at one of the other houses it is seriously considered in choosing a production now.  Yeah MTI!!!!

Is anyone from R&H reading this? Are they listening?

Lin Manuel Miranda are you reading this? R&H handles "In the Heights".

I was under the impression that all the big Musical licensing houses treated school productions like mild annoyances 😂

Mark - 

in 2012, when we did "The Sound of Music," we were extremely mistreated by R&H. First of all, they took over 9 weeks to process rights for us. We are an extremely small school in central NJ -- there was no news whatsoever of a revival or tour of any type in the professional world. Other publishing companies such as MTI, TRW, and Tams take about 5 days to process rights for our school.

Secondly, we were overcharged for the extra song that is available. They never refunded us.

Lastly, they claimed we never returned their scripts. Even with our shipping and insurance receipt as evidence, they sent a collections officer after our school's business office. 

Our business office was able to fight the charge because eventually the collections service accepted our receipt of return.

I will never do another R&H show again. EVER.

There are too many other houses who are efficient,  respectful, and organized. R&H  need to up their game to compete, and they are able to get away with this treatment of customers because of what they hold. There are other shows out there! Don't patronize this business.

LH

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I was under the impression that all the big Musical licensing houses treated school productions like mild annoyances 😂

Mark - 

in 2012, when we did "The Sound of Music," we were extremely mistreated by R&H. First of all, they took over 9 weeks to process rights for us. We are an extremely small school in central NJ -- there was no news whatsoever of a revival or tour of any type in the professional world. Other publishing companies such as MTI, TRW, and Tams take about 5 days to process rights for our school.

Secondly, we were overcharged for the extra song that is available. They never refunded us.

Lastly, they claimed we never returned their scripts. Even with our shipping and insurance receipt as evidence, they sent a collections officer after our school's business office. 

Our business office was able to fight the charge because eventually the collections service accepted our receipt of return.

I will never do another R&H show again. EVER.

There are too many other houses who are efficient,  respectful, and organized. R&H  need to up their game to compete, and they are able to get away with this treatment of customers because of what they hold. There are other shows out there! Don't patronize this business.

LH

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

My experience is that TRW is the gold standard for customer service in dealing with high schools.

I have never had any trouble with MTI and have consistently found them to be very helpful and friendly.

I wrote off Tams-Witmark a few years ago but I understand that they are trying hard and getting better.They will have to be willing to complete a w9 for my treasurer's office before I use them again.

I was under the impression that all the big Musical licensing houses treated school productions like mild annoyances 😂

Mark - 

in 2012, when we did "The Sound of Music," we were extremely mistreated by R&H. First of all, they took over 9 weeks to process rights for us. We are an extremely small school in central NJ -- there was no news whatsoever of a revival or tour of any type in the professional world. Other publishing companies such as MTI, TRW, and Tams take about 5 days to process rights for our school.

Secondly, we were overcharged for the extra song that is available. They never refunded us.

Lastly, they claimed we never returned their scripts. Even with our shipping and insurance receipt as evidence, they sent a collections officer after our school's business office. 

Our business office was able to fight the charge because eventually the collections service accepted our receipt of return.

I will never do another R&H show again. EVER.

There are too many other houses who are efficient,  respectful, and organized. R&H  need to up their game to compete, and they are able to get away with this treatment of customers because of what they hold. There are other shows out there! Don't patronize this business.

LH

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I can Say that I have not had any issues with R&H the last 2 years we did Oklahoma, Cinderella, and this year we are doing Once Upon a Mattress and I have had very little trouble with them.  We will see this year because I ordered the perusal score and script this year and they sent everything early.  So I will see if they take it off the invoice.   

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I did a production of Sound of Music at my previous school. We never took the orchestrations out of the box because our conductor had a family emergency and did the show with piano instead. I got billed to replace several of the orchestra books because they were so badly marked up. I explained that the books were never used and they told me I was still liable because it was my responsibility to look at them and make sure they were cleaned before returning. I thought they were supposed to send them to use cleaned!

I can Say that I have not had any issues with R&H the last 2 years we did Oklahoma, Cinderella, and this year we are doing Once Upon a Mattress and I have had very little trouble with them.  We will see this year because I ordered the perusal score and script this year and they sent everything early.  So I will see if they take it off the invoice.   

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I've had horrible experiences with R&H in the distant past and in the recent past.  Many years ago we did Sound of Music and even though we didn't use all of the orchestrations - the music we did use was erased and cleaned - we were billed for the music cleaning that we DIDN'T use.  I thought they were supposed to check those things before they are shipped to new customers.

Last year we did Cinderella, returned the scripts in one box and the orchestrations in another, both left the school on the same day.  Both insured, both tracked.  Scripts made it but the orchestrations didn't.  My school district and them are battling who is going to pay the replacement.  I'm almost convinced that my box of orchestrations are sitting somewhere in their warehouse unchecked, or they sent my box to someone else without checking it in.  This is after my district people called UPS, showed them that both boxes were sent at the same time, insured, etc.

I avoid R&H at all cost - along with Samuel French (for different reasons).  However, occasionally there are shows that are perfect for the available talent.  MTI is 150% better at customer service than R&H and/or SF.

My two cents. 

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I have had the same problems with R and H.  We ordered an advance rental for "Joseph...Dreamcoat", it didn't come and we were not reimbursed.  Then when we did Mattress they claimed we didn't send back all of the rentals!  A parent sent them off for me and after a month considered it to be delivered, so she got rid of the tracking #.  Then I get a bill 2 months after our show saying we owe over $1600!!!   So when I saw on here that they did the same thing to them, I say beware of R and H.

I've had horrible experiences with R&H in the distant past and in the recent past.  Many years ago we did Sound of Music and even though we didn't use all of the orchestrations - the music we did use was erased and cleaned - we were billed for the music cleaning that we DIDN'T use.  I thought they were supposed to check those things before they are shipped to new customers.

Last year we did Cinderella, returned the scripts in one box and the orchestrations in another, both left the school on the same day.  Both insured, both tracked.  Scripts made it but the orchestrations didn't.  My school district and them are battling who is going to pay the replacement.  I'm almost convinced that my box of orchestrations are sitting somewhere in their warehouse unchecked, or they sent my box to someone else without checking it in.  This is after my district people called UPS, showed them that both boxes were sent at the same time, insured, etc.

I avoid R&H at all cost - along with Samuel French (for different reasons).  However, occasionally there are shows that are perfect for the available talent.  MTI is 150% better at customer service than R&H and/or SF.

My two cents. 

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I felt compelled to chime in here. I am a thirty-five year veteran teacher and director of musicals. I have to say without any reservation that Theatrical Rights Worldwide and MTI are high school and Jr. high school's  most user friendly. Theatrical Rights Worldwide wins hands down. I always feel one-hundred percent supported and encouraged by TRW and MTI. I really try to avoid ALL the others. They make it a real challenge for schools. As we train tomorrow's audiences, "All the Others" have no ideas what they are mission out on. 

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

We have also had great difficulty with R&H.  We did the new Cinderella last year and it took almost three months to get the approval for rights.  We actually had to delay auditions because of that.  There were errors in the billing, we didn't get everything we requested, and above all, they were incredibly rude everytime we called with a questions.  As another poster said, most of those were questions about trying to comply with our contract.  (Which among other things, did not allow us to use the title of the show to advertise off the school grounds.  I've never heard of such a thing before.  How in the world do you advertise if you can't use the name of the show???  And by the way, the closest tour location was 4 hours away and two months previous.)  

We have previously done Footloose, Sound of Music, and Oklahoma that are all with them.  The only one that went smoothly and had pleasant interactions with them was Oklahoma.  If given a choice, I avoid their shows.  Same thing for Samuel French.  With both companies, it's not the material that's the problem, it's the customer service.  

I felt compelled to chime in here. I am a thirty-five year veteran teacher and director of musicals. I have to say without any reservation that Theatrical Rights Worldwide and MTI are high school and Jr. high school's  most user friendly. Theatrical Rights Worldwide wins hands down. I always feel one-hundred percent supported and encouraged by TRW and MTI. I really try to avoid ALL the others. They make it a real challenge for schools. As we train tomorrow's audiences, "All the Others" have no ideas what they are mission out on. 

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

Where are the representatives from the companies who are being discussed/maligned in this forum?  You'd think they would want to chime in and at least attempt to defend themselves???  

Maybe they are busy providing such great customer service that they are too busy...      chirp chirp chirp

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

Where are the representatives from the companies who are being discussed/maligned in this forum?  You'd think they would want to chime in and at least attempt to defend themselves???  

Maybe they are busy providing such great customer service that they are too busy...      chirp chirp chirp

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

Speaking only for myself, I have now heard from representatives from Tams-Witmark and R&H. 

Tams-Witmark seems sincere in their attempts to right the ship.

We'll see about R&H. I have a telephone appointment with them today.

Where are the representatives from the companies who are being discussed/maligned in this forum?  You'd think they would want to chime in and at least attempt to defend themselves???  

Maybe they are busy providing such great customer service that they are too busy...      chirp chirp chirp

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

R&H contacted me as well.  I've been busy but I hope to chat with them in the near future.

Maybe things are changing......

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

Yesterday I had a friendly and Frank telephone conversation with the amateur leasing director at R&H. She asked questions about how they can better serve high school theatre directors and seemed sincere in making changes for the better. She said she intended to reach out to everyone else who also expressed concerns. Finally, she told me she was glad I posted my concern on this board. Now I am, too, even though I was hesitant at first.

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I've been contacted by Samuel French twice as well to discuss issues! I was unable to talk this week but I will next week! I really hope this is a positive change for everyone! We are educators and we want to do what is best for our kids. I would hate to avoid a show that would grow my actors bc of customer service! 

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

Power to the show people! Thanks for validating that theatre educators are a vital link in building the industry of tomorrow. Our students are tomorrow's theatre professionals and consumers. Our ability to pass the torch effectively lies in such candid exchanges and positive problem solving among all practitioners of the craft, in their various roles. Thanks to the licensing agents and our colleagues for this exchange.

I've been contacted by Samuel French twice as well to discuss issues! I was unable to talk this week but I will next week! I really hope this is a positive change for everyone! We are educators and we want to do what is best for our kids. I would hate to avoid a show that would grow my actors bc of customer service! 

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

Well, it's sad to hear that I'm not alone in this R & H struggle. I've been trying to finalize the licensing agreement for an upcoming production since the end of the last school year. I was hoping to have the pre-production package to work on it over the summer, but here we are near the end of September and it's still not finalized. I first tried to discover the problem by checking the status on their website. It said that I had cancelled the booking. I contacted the company and received an email reply, in a timely manner, that said that they weren't sure why the website said that it was cancelled and that they were just awaiting the paper work (which had been sent over two months earlier). After that, any contact with R & H has me trying to be a detective trying to figure out what else needs to be done. They respond in brief cryptic emails that don't help. When I discuss the problems with our district's business office, they are simply left speechless as to why this hasn't been taken care of already. I wish that I could say that this was the first time that I've had a problem with R & H, but it's the third. I don't have these problems with any other company. As much as I'd love to do works of the artists they represent, I'm not sure that it's worth all the extra hours of work.

Power to the show people! Thanks for validating that theatre educators are a vital link in building the industry of tomorrow. Our students are tomorrow's theatre professionals and consumers. Our ability to pass the torch effectively lies in such candid exchanges and positive problem solving among all practitioners of the craft, in their various roles. Thanks to the licensing agents and our colleagues for this exchange.

I've been contacted by Samuel French twice as well to discuss issues! I was unable to talk this week but I will next week! I really hope this is a positive change for everyone! We are educators and we want to do what is best for our kids. I would hate to avoid a show that would grow my actors bc of customer service! 

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

I have also avoided using R&H after a bad experience with them about 6 years ago. I've stayed exclusively with TRW or MTI and had no problems. I'd appreciate it if anyone who is contacted chimes in to let everyone have an update on how people are treated

I have also avoided using R&H after a bad experience with them about 6 years ago. I've stayed exclusively with TRW or MTI and had no problems. I'd appreciate it if anyone who is contacted chimes in to let everyone have an update on how people are treated

Well, it's sad to hear that I'm not alone in this R & H struggle. I've been trying to finalize the licensing agreement for an upcoming production since the end of the last school year. I was hoping to have the pre-production package to work on it over the summer, but here we are near the end of September and it's still not finalized. I first tried to discover the problem by checking the status on their website. It said that I had cancelled the booking. I contacted the company and received an email reply, in a timely manner, that said that they weren't sure why the website said that it was cancelled and that they were just awaiting the paper work (which had been sent over two months earlier). After that, any contact with R & H has me trying to be a detective trying to figure out what else needs to be done. They respond in brief cryptic emails that don't help. When I discuss the problems with our district's business office, they are simply left speechless as to why this hasn't been taken care of already. I wish that I could say that this was the first time that I've had a problem with R & H, but it's the third. I don't have these problems with any other company. As much as I'd love to do works of the artists they represent, I'm not sure that it's worth all the extra hours of work.

Power to the show people! Thanks for validating that theatre educators are a vital link in building the industry of tomorrow. Our students are tomorrow's theatre professionals and consumers. Our ability to pass the torch effectively lies in such candid exchanges and positive problem solving among all practitioners of the craft, in their various roles. Thanks to the licensing agents and our colleagues for this exchange.

I've been contacted by Samuel French twice as well to discuss issues! I was unable to talk this week but I will next week! I really hope this is a positive change for everyone! We are educators and we want to do what is best for our kids. I would hate to avoid a show that would grow my actors bc of customer service! 

I have been having a little trouble working the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization on some rights related issues. They so far have not been especially customer-friendly. This is my first time working with them since the ownership change. I am wondering if I am an outlier of if some other high school directors have experienced this.

Well, it's sad to hear that I'm not alone in this R & H struggle. I've been trying to finalize the licensing agreement for an upcoming production since the end of the last school year. I was hoping to have the pre-production package to work on it over the summer, but here we are near the end of September and it's still not finalized. I first tried to discover the problem by checking the status on their website. It said that I had cancelled the booking. I contacted the company and received an email reply, in a timely manner, that said that they weren't sure why the website said that it was cancelled and that they were just awaiting the paper work (which had been sent over two months earlier). After that, any contact with R & H has me trying to be a detective trying to figure out what else needs to be done. They respond in brief cryptic emails that don't help. When I discuss the problems with our district's business office, they are simply left speechless as to why this hasn't been taken care of already. I wish that I could say that this was the first time that I've had a problem with R & H, but it's the third. I don't have these problems with any other company. As much as I'd love to do works of the artists they represent, I'm not sure that it's worth all the extra hours of work.