GYPSY Choreo Question

Hey All,

Can't really explain the situation I'm in as I don't really want to speak out of turn and give away to many details.

However, as far as I'm aware it is expected and/or required to reproduce Robbins choreography for a production of Gypsy (or really any of his shows for that matter) you are staging. (At least in regards to dance numbers such as NEWSBOYS, FARMBOYS, BROADWAY, LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU, ROSE'S TURN, and ALL I NEED IS THE GIRL)

I've tried to contact Tams Witmark but they are very hard to contact as far as office hours and actually getting someone on the phone to answer these questions.

Can anyone please shed light on this subject?

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Updated On: 5/26/12 at 07:19 PM

Yes it is required, LuPone talks at length about just how hard it is that productions of gypsy have to do so.

Is this a professional or amateur production?

This is from MTI's website.

While the Book, Lyrics and Music are part of the rights granted to you by MTI, the Directorial Concept, Choreography and Musical Staging are NOT. These rights are the intellectual property of the artists who created them and CANNOT be reproduced without their permission.

As an aide to help you enhance your production, several authors have made it possible for MTI to license to you their directorial notes and precise dance notations as part of our Director's Guide and Choreography Manuals.

So I can't speak for Gypsy, as it is licensed through Tams, but that wording does not imply that you MUST recreate the choreography for West Side Story, and in fact must pay an additional fee to do so.

So not all of the shows choreographed by Jerome Robbins must be replicated in order to be mounted.

I think there is some kind of clause for Broadway or big regional productions, that they must use the Robbins choreography. I'm sure Chorus Line is the same.

We did WSS about 10 years ago. There was no choreographic guide. Perhaps that only goes out to professional/regional groups?

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We did WSS about 10 years ago. There was no choreographic guide. Perhaps that only goes out to professional/regional groups?

It goes out to pretty much anyone who decides the rental is worth it. See link.
Choreographic Director's Guide on MTI

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You must license the choreography from the Jerome Robbins Foundation/Robbins Rights Trust, or create your own original choreography.

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