Joseph licensing question

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 12:58pm

A friend of mine and I have been asked to direct a show at a local private school and we are looking at possible shows to do. We were thinking of the possibility of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The Really Useful Group website is really not being very useful at all. Is there more of a children's version out there, and if so does anyoen know aproximately how expensive it would be to license. Remember we are talking 1-8th graders here. Thanks!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 1:16pm

I don't think there is - I just think there is the actual show, which really, is a kids show anyway.

Rodgers and Hammerstein have all the rights to the ALW shows, so check with them.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 1:19pm

Yes, R&H license this show.

[PottstownTeacher]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 2:12pm

Yes, R&H does license the show, but be forewarned ... if you are looking for the "Broadway" version, or the version that has been performed around the country, in London, etc., etc., that is NOT the version you are getting. You are getting the version that is in the PUBLISHED vocal score (check out www.halleonard.com or the Colony record shop in New York, or any music store). This is the 1970's version when the Narrator was still played by a man. The Narrator songs are written in higher keys. You don't get the big finish to "Pharaoh's Story". You don't get the megamix. You don't get the modulation in "Close Every Door". All of the "revisions" to the score, at this point, are not licensed to amateur groups, unfortunately. Many groups, however, do some "tweaking" to the material to make it more like the "Joseph" we all know and love, but I am guessing it's probably frowned upon by the licensor. As a former "Joseph" myself, I wish you all the best with your production!

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 2:24pm

Well then there's another version out there somewhere. I did the show in high school back in 99. We had the woman's key's albeit very mixy belty and the megamix was our curtain call. It's gotta be around, unless things have changed. I don't recall the royalties on it. I know the whole production cost us about $6,000.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 2:28pm

I did the show and we had female keys and the megamix...you're wrong.

[PottstownTeacher]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 3:03pm

Well, I just closed a production and the materials licensed from R&H had NO megamix, had NO female keys and no high belty finsih to "Pharaoh's Story". Perhaps the versions previous producers have done were the ones licensed from MTI, not the R&H ones. I am only telling you what we received.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 3:05pm

Perhaps you can request a certain version?

When I did the show, it WAS Mti, that I know for sure. R&H's materials suck in general, though...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 3:08pm

There is definitely a licensed version with the woman's keys for the Narrator. For a while they weren't licensing the version with the mega mix though.

But you can definitely have the Narrator played by a woman.

As for kids...yes, it's a kids show, but I think it would be very difficult for 1-8th graders to perform. The music isn't easy, especially the Narrators songs. Additionally, there is a LOT of music- it's sung through. Most Joseph's I've seen have had a "children's chorus", but that was it. It's not as easy a show to do as most people think.

It's a shame they're not licensing one of the early versions of the show that Webber wrote for that school in England.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 3:36pm

Actually R&H are great materials. They've discovered Finale which is more than I can say for some MTI and Tams-Witmark scores. They're just a little disorganized that's all.

[elmore3003]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:04pm

Joey, the show is licensed by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Theatre Library, I believe. Their number is 800-400-8160, and their email is [e-mail]. If you call, ask for my friend Helen.

[PottstownTeacher]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:49pm

This is probably for another thread, but since we're talking about R&H materials, I have to throw in my 2 cents. When I directed a production of ASPECTS OF LOVE, the materials they sent were pristine and brand new. The only "complaint" I have with those materials were that there were no Vocal Books. They sent 22 piano/vocal scores for the actors to use. 300 spiral bound pages is a lot to carry around when you're trying to learn music and block.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:43pm

That's very odd that they did that. Personally I'd prefer the piano conductor score, but I know for FLoyd Collins they sent vocal books.