Tams Witmark question

[calichristmas]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 4:01pm

Fees for licensing a show can vary according to the run/availability/ticket prices, seating capacity, etc.

For example I have a group who is looking into doing Pirates of Penzance that MTI now owns the rights to. I was quoted in the area of $65 per night, plus $400 deposit for royalties, plus $400 deposit for scripts/music, That could end up being a cool $1,000 all before any tickets get sold or an actor hits the stage!

For a booked show you can imagine what the costs will be and if you are talking professional theater it is even more $$$! it's all about making money.

When you own rights to a major musical you're probably all set, it's collecting from the bums who do not pay that really burns it for everyone else! This is probably why the theatrical agencies now want money up front.

good luck to all.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 4:05pm

Cali -- you do realize that the version of PIRATES that MTI licenses is the Broadway revision from the late 1970s. The original script/score is in the public domain. That could save you some bucks right there.

[magruder]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 4:05pm

So...what's your question?

[Forester]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 4:10pm

Michael, do you know where one can get the public domain script/score?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 4:13pm

Amazon sells the score. The script is online. Orchestrations can probably be ordered from the publisher of the score.

You'd have to pay for the books, but not the rights to play the material.

Here's another good source:

http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/pirates/html/

And just about any public library should have it too.
Updated On: 7/26/05 at 04:13 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 4:21pm

Yea, you can get them anywhere and they're very cheap. The complete scores are usually $15 (if you get them from G. Schirmer) instead of Broadway's usual $50-$100 for a score. Definitely DON'T pay for the rights for PIRATES...it's unnecessary.

What's your question...?

[Forester]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 4:26pm

Thank you all