Open Forum

  • 1.  Are the following Public Domain?

    Posted 07-29-2014 06:31
    Hello! I am having trouble finding out if certain plays are public domain. 1. Arsenic and Old Lace 2. Blithe Spirit 3. Importance of Being Earnest Also, if anyone can point me to a search-able website of public domain plays suitable for high school, I would be eternally grateful!!!!!! ------------------------------------------- Anne Murphy Theatre Teacher Campbell CA -------------------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Are the following Public Domain?

    Posted 07-29-2014 08:21
    General Rules for public domain in the United States is a little complicated, but in simplest forms. (Which I mention to help decipher what is public domain and not)
    Before 1923 just about everything is public domain.
    Most works since then have a protected rights for 70 years unless noted.  Authors or estates have the right to renew protection, so keep an eye out for that.

    Arsenic and old lace rights are controlled by Dramatists.  It was written 70 years ago but the rights were renewed.
    Blithe Spirit is licensed by Samuel French
    The importance of Being Earnest is in public domain, here is a link to a free ebook from Project Guttenberg.
    http://www.gutenberg.org/files/844/old/tiobe10h.htm

    There are not a lot of sites dedicated to public domain plays (where is the money in that) pun intended) but if you look for plays written before 1923, you're usually in the clear.
    I did find this, but I always say do your due diligence.



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    Alan Strait
    Teacher
    CCSD
    Henderson NV
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  • 3.  RE:Are the following Public Domain?

    Posted 07-29-2014 08:58
    The Importance of Being Earnest is! Dramatics publishing has the royalties information!

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    Danysha Lamadieu
    Covington GA
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    Sent via Higher Logic Mobile



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  • 4.  RE: Are the following Public Domain?

    Posted 07-30-2014 08:21
    Just wanted to state, copyright laws just recently changed. A certain company just petitioned congress to extend copyright to 120 years after death of author/owner. Also, it depends on what version you are interested in using. Some adaptations/translations are copyrighted while others are not.

    Also, different countries = different rules. The UK has a different copyright (I don't remember off the top of my head).

    Here's is the US's copyright law information: http://www.copyright.gov/laws/
    It is a little hard to get past some of the legalize so I recommend hopping on Wikipedia/google for non-legalize versions but just in case anyone was interested. :)

    All this being said, importance is in public domain (and one of my favorites!). Happy hunting!
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    Elise Shuford
    Cumming GA
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  • 5.  RE: Are the following Public Domain?

    Posted 07-30-2014 09:42
    I look on Project Gutenberg for scripts -- it will tell you any restrictions - but almost all work on the site is public domain...

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    Darleen Totten
    TX
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  • 6.  RE: Are the following Public Domain?

    Posted 07-30-2014 15:04
    Alan Strait is correct. Earnest is the only one of those three titles that is in the public domain...as is all the rest of Wilde's work, and Ibsen's, and Shaw, and...you get the picture. This includes the work of Gilbert and Sullivan. When you pay MTI for the rights to The Pirates of Penzance, you're buying the rights to the arrangements written for the Public Theatre. Anyone can purchase the original libretto and present the show royalty-free.

    For several years, French used to charge for performance rights for Earnest, even after the play went into public domain. I know a Drama teacher who was told by French a few years ago that she couldn't do Earnest at her school because it was "restricted."

    A quick check of the French website shows several versions of Earnest, many of which are listed as "public domain"...I am intrigued by the "Original 4 act version" that lists both Wilde and his son Vyvian Holland as authors. It is somehow still covered under copyright. Holland, who was a child when his father died, must have adapted it in some way and republished it prior to his own death in 1967, thereby extending the length of the copyright.

    My point is simply this: make sure you are doing an original public domain work, not a modern adaptation.

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    Billy Houck
    Fremont High School
    Sunnyvale CA
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  • 7.  RE: Are the following Public Domain?

    Posted 07-31-2014 13:42
    I can tell you Arsenic and Old Lace is not in the public domain.It is licensed through Dramatists Play Service.

    http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=1841

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    Jennifer Vernon
    Piggott AR
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Are the following Public Domain?

    Posted 08-02-2014 10:25
    FYI, for all those who need it (or wish to follow it), here is the government document on photocopying: http://printmail.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/circ21.pdf ------------------------------------------- John Perry Drama Instructor Atherton High School Louisville KY -------------------------------------------
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  • 9.  RE: Are the following Public Domain?

    Posted 08-03-2014 17:17
    "Blithe Spirit" was copyrighted in 1941. Noel Coward died in 1973. I think the copyright is extended to 70 years after the death of the creator, which means that play will not be in the public domain until 2043. Samuel French has the rights, and it will cost you $9.95 per script and $100 per performance royalty. "The Importance of Being Earnest" is in the public domain. I always check Gutenberg.org for public domain plays. It is simple to download a work and format it for printing locally. ------------------------------------------- C. J. Breland Asheville NC -------------------------------------------
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