Seconding what's said below. I deal with this far too often, especially in a church setting. "Well, we're non-profit, so it's okay, right?" Uh, no.
You could do a full-on parody. That's protected (but you've still got to be careful: changing character names, show title, etc). But an adaptation? Not until the Hughes estate decides it's okay.
It's getting worse in this day and age of "I saw it on YouTube." But, no matter how much pirating has become the norm, it's still wrong. And producing stage plays without authorization is piracy.
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Scott Piehler
Director
SUWANEE GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-19-2015 10:13
From: Jonathan Dorf
Subject: The Breakfast Club - Does anyone have a script adaptation of this?
Thank you, John and Lindsay, for speaking up on this. Violating copyright can trigger statutory damages of up to $150,000 per incident (in addition to legal fees), and teaching young artists that it's OK to steal the work of other artists is, I hope everyone on this board can agree, never the right lesson to teach.
Cheers,
Jonathan
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Jonathan Dorf
Playwright/ Co-founder of YouthPLAYS/ Co-chair of The Alliance Of Los Angeles Playwrights
Los Angeles CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-18-2015 06:40
From: Lindsay Shields
Subject: The Breakfast Club - Does anyone have a script adaptation of this?
Agreed with John. My students did some thorough research on rights for the Breakfast Club (and other things they have wanted to produce) and learned a TON in the process. Same goes for changing a line, cutting a song, etc. You MUST ask permission.
I learned this lesson in 7th grade when my theater troupe wrote an adaptation for Peter Pan. Our group leader thought the story was in the public domain. WRONG! We received a "cease and desist" or pay a $10,000 fine.
If you choose to produce something anyway, it can put your program at serious risk.
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Lindsay Shields
Drama Specialist
Flushing High School
Brooklyn NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-17-2015 08:51
From: John Perry
Subject: The Breakfast Club - Does anyone have a script adaptation of this?
Producing a performance without permission is illegal and unethical. You are teaching your students that the rules don't apply to them and it's OK to steal the work of an artist or artists.
It's that simple. You are stealing and teaching your students to steal. An artist should be paid for their work. Do you work for free? Do you get a salary? Why not teach for free?
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John Perry
Drama Instructor
Atherton High School
Louisville KY
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-10-2015 15:14
From: Heidi Frederic
Subject: The Breakfast Club - Does anyone have a script adaptation of this?
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Heidi Frederic
Gonzales LA
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