Last night I saw a production of Next to Normal... — Page 2

"Most" might be pretty strong. But in this case the return of Diana to the home at this time, is NOT present in the story. She's off with her parents trying to get a hold of herself....how can she already be back with the family? Miraculously she "saw the light"?

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I think that if a new staging FUNDAMENTALLY changes the fabric of the show (i.e. - not Mimi's pants), it violates the contract of the license.

"I think that if a new staging FUNDAMENTALLY changes the fabric of the show (i.e. - not Mimi's pants), it violates the contract of the license."

Incorrect.

ETA: the only time that might be true or actionable, in the eyes of the agency and/or court, is if the license requires that you stage the show using one's copyright protected choreography, such as Fosse's or Robbin's. Aside from that, the protection can only be applied to the written word.

"You may like the decision, or dislike it, but to imply that the license was somehow violated as a result of the staging is untrue."

This is correct. I'd encourage anyone who doubts this to contact MTI, or any agency for that matter, and ask for yourself.

Updated On: 1/30/14 at 01:39 PM

"I think that if a new staging FUNDAMENTALLY changes the fabric of the show (i.e. - not Mimi's pants), it violates the contract of the license."

What, like everyone playing musical instruments in Sweeney Todd and Company? Like Kate punching Petruchio in the nose after her submission speech? Like Hedda Gabler showing her bare butt at the top of the show?

These things happen. A lot.

Updated On: 1/30/14 at 01:54 PM

"Most often in a script the stage directions you see are not by the actual authors. They are penned by someone who was involved in the original staging, and placed in... Mostly as a guide. So while you need to follow and honor the written text by the author, most often then not stage directions are not penned by them."

It really depends on what script you're talking about. Book writers and playwrights do write stage directions. Some acting editions like Samuel French sometimes put in additional stage directions, diagrams of the original set etc. But this is starting to become more rare. Brian Yorkey's script for Next to Normal has his stage directions in it.