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  • 1.  Licensing fees

    Posted 10-26-2023 09:34

    Hello friends.  I saw a few conversations about this last year, but didn't have to deal with it back then.  I'm currently looking into getting  a license for Almost, Maine and have the smallest amount of actors needed for the play.  Why am I needing to purchase 18 scripts, plus music rights and a nonprofessional fee for my high school production?  We are a financially challenged district and community in Tennessee, and  level 1 school.  These fees take up a little more than half of our entire budget.  Is this the only way to put on plays, now?  



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    Ernesto Rosas - SAG-AFTRA
    Theatre Arts Teacher
    East Hickman High School
    Lyles, TN
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  • 2.  RE: Licensing fees

    Posted 10-26-2023 12:43

    It's definitely challenging, but artists deserve to get paid for their work. We don't get a free pass just because we're at a school. It costs money to do bigger name shows.



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    Becca Lillias
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Licensing fees

    Posted 10-31-2023 11:49

    Different publishers have different policies regarding fees. In general, the more popular a title, the more expensive it can be.

    For some Almost, Maine alternatives, this article has some great suggestions: https://school-theatre.com/f/5-great-plays-for-schools-in-the-style-of-almost-maine

    No matter where you go, you will have to pay licensing fees (unless you use something in the Public Domain), but there are great publishers that have plays that can more easily be produced on a smaller budget.



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    Brendan Conheady
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Licensing fees

    Posted 10-31-2023 15:55

    We had the same issue with script requirements for The Play That Goes Wrong. We are casting the minimum amount of actors, 8, and yet we had to purchase 14 scripts. Plus two director scripts and two stage manager scripts. We only have one director and one stage manager. I called to inquire if we could only order the minimum we needed. Received a big fat no and was told because it is listed as flexible casting we are required to purchase the maximum scripts "in case we decide to add additional actors later or for the tech crew" and the additional director and stage manager scripts "are to be used for the techies if we don't have other adults". We also had to purchase an additional production package and didn't have the option to just pay the regular royalties without all the extra stuff. When I pushed back he said he was happy to help me find other show options that don't require all this additional stuff. Really that's their solution? I'm just as frustrated as you are.

    I am all for paying the authors what they are entitled, that is the proper and right thing to do, but they need to allow us to buy only what we need and don't demand that we purchase additional materials we don't need and can't afford. This new policy that is starting to run through the publishing houses is asinine. I've seen this argument on a number of message boards. The publishing houses are stating it's the authors that are implementing this new policy and yet I've seen a number of authors chime in to these discussions having no clue that this is happening or didn't know it was happening to this extent. Some authors have stated that they make most of their money off the royalties and not the scripts so don't really care about the script sales and instead it is the publishing houses that make more money off the scripts then they do royalties. Who really knows for sure where this is steaming from, but ultimately, and unfortunately, this seems to be the new direction the theatre industry is going. 

    I think we have a few options. Being up front with your admin about the rising costs and their new requirements. Hopefully if you have a supportive admin they are willing to send a little more money your way. Fundraising and being up front with the community about the rising costs as well. At least for us, we have found the families and community very supportive and willing to give because they want to continue to see good theatre and give our students a great theatre experience. We have a one act showcase night dedicated to donors and potential donors. We do a minimal "wine & dine" with desserts and showcase some of our best talent. At intermission we have a plea for donations or opportunities for business to purchase ad space in our programs and are up front as to why this plea is necessary. This funding helps to cover some of the financial gaps.   And there are still a number of shows out there that don't have those requirements (at least not yet) but I believe they tend to be the less popular plays. Ultimately it depends on the publishing house and the individual play as to what we must purchase. Generally, I have found the more popular the play the more purchasing requirements there seems to be on them.



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    Jillian Lietzau
    Lutheran High School
    CO
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Licensing fees

    Posted 10-31-2023 21:49
    Jillian, This is exactly the issue I'm facing.  It's all the extra purchases and fees.  I'm also fine with paying the artist for their work.  I was a professional actor for 2 decades and am a member of SAG-AFTRA, so I don't have a problem paying when needed.  Last year, I was gonna put this play on, but had to cancel, and the license was only $450 bucks with no minimum scripts to purchase and no production fee, plus the music was optional.

    I actually directed this for a community theatre a few years ago and still didn't need to pay this much.  It will break my budget and I will have to scrape for money for the Spring production.  We were planning on the Play That Goes Wrong, but after reading your comment, I'm not sure I'll even have enough to pay for the license, much less, props, wardrobe, and set.

    I teach in a community that doesn't have a lot of money and doesn't have a theatre culture.  I'm trying to build one.  I'm trying to get people excited about theatre, but I had one show last year (my first year here) and we didn't even make the amount that I'm having to pay for the license for Almost, Maine.  It just seems a little ridiculous, to me.  And I've been in the biz for a long time, It's obvious where some may be taking advantage of others.



    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Licensing fees

    Posted 11-30-2023 09:44

    It is definitely a hard part of the production, and at times the largest chunk of the budget.  One way we help divert these costs is we purchase the lot as a program, but then following the show, I let the kids purchase the book instead of returning it to our closet o'scripts. This helps recoup some of the costs, and for some really fun memorable shows, all scripts wind up getting bought. Another thing to try is contact the licensing agent and tell them your predicament, worst case they give you a discount! Some production companies also have grants or applications that you can apply for that waive rights or script costs too! It never hurts to ask.  I've also gone to our school booster program too in the past for musicals that rights came out way higher than expected or when costs just didn't go our way.



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    Kimberly Wibbenmeyer
    Sullivan High School
    MO
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Licensing fees

    Posted 12-05-2023 09:47

    I saw this thread, and, as a playwright, I just wanted to weigh in on this discussion.  I will say that there are other options for plays other than the well-known publishing houses.  In particular, some of my plays are licensed to Drama Notebook where they are offered royalty-free as long as no admission is charged for the show.  What happens if the theatre group wants to charge admission?  Good question!  I'll give an actual example of what occurred with one of my scripts recently.  I received an email from a middle school theatre teacher who contacted me directly about wanting to use my Halloween play in their fall production.  She said they were going to have a dinner theatre and charge admission.  I simply gave here a flat fixed price that I would charge for each performance.  I knew the price I gave her would definitely be within her budget and that was it.  Easy.  She was thrilled and my play got performed.  So, the point is, there are alternatives.  You just have to look outside of the more popular resources.  If the playwright has retained full copyright ownership of their script, I highly recommend negotiating with the writer directly.



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    Robin Blasberg
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    Original Message


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