GYPSY Choreo Question

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 5/25/12 at 7:19pm

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?

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

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/25/12 at 7:31pm

Does anyone here NOT KNOW the meaning of IMMEDIATE ANSWER?!!

Guess not...

:: SHRUGS ::

[random person 112]

Posted: 5/25/12 at 7:38pm

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

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 5/25/12 at 7:44pm

That's what I thought...

Updated On: 5/27/12 at 07:44 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/25/12 at 7:53pm

Is this a professional or amateur production?

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 5/25/12 at 9:04pm

Its an equity waiver production. Professional pay for the entire cast, excluding the children.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/25/12 at 9:15pm

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.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/25/12 at 9:43pm

I am certain that the 'requirement' is for professional EQUITY shows only. Thousands of Gypsy productions each year do not use the original choreography.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/25/12 at 9:46pm

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.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 5/25/12 at 10:22pm

Re: West Side -- they send out the choreographic guide of the Robbins steps prepared by Alan Johnson for a reason. Like a restraining order to a stalker, the guide is absolutely, positively not a suggestion, although, again like stalkers, people seem to think it is.

Also, the link below may help the OP. Direct contact with the Jerome Robbins Rights Trust and explanation of the circumstances may help.


Robbins Rights Trust | Jerome Robbins

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/26/12 at 11:47am

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

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 5/26/12 at 11:58am

My local theatre was set to do West Side Story this Summer we even had the Robbins Guide. But just right before Auditions our performance contract was restricted, do to the Non- equ tour coming in less than 100 miles away from us next year. I don't know the specific clauses but I thought it was strange because we were set to do the show this August when tour isn't coming in until March and it's a one nighter.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 5/26/12 at 3:01pm

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

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 5/26/12 at 3:45pm

And as I recall (yes, folks, still unable to edit), the guide was available for rental in the millennium catalog from MTI, which pre-dates the time of your production (2012 - 10 = 2002). Must've just not been considered a worthwhile rental.

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 5/26/12 at 8:19pm

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

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 5/26/12 at 8:20pm

For Ballet there are repetiteurs. Jerome Robbins Foundation has Repetiteurs for West Side Story.