ACL vs Working

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 11:49pm

In the creation of A Chorus Line, it is always mentioned how the stories of some dancers were used, but they were not properly compensated for their stories.

In the musical Working, some of the show is lifted almost word for word from interviews conducted by Studs Terkel. But you never hear of those people being compensated. Was it because Working wasn't as successful as ACL?

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/30/10 at 11:56pm

Working, the musical, was adapted from the acclaimed book. The only person owed royalties would have been Studs Terkel.

The book itself, however, is a different matter. I assume Terkel interviewed all of these people, just like a talk show or a newspaper would interview them. They would have presumably signed a general waiver, just as people who appear on the news or on a "reality" show do.

It's all about the advance agreement.