changes in shows that are licensed out regionally

[NiceWork2]

Posted: 11/17/17 at 12:44pm

I was wondering if anyone could provide me some insight on how much change a director/production staff is allowed to make in a show that has been licensed out to them by MTI, Samuel French, Inc, etc.   Obviously any kind of alteration/cutting of songs must be approved by the licensing company.  Any deletion or addition of lines must receive permission.   But somebody told me that even drastic changes in choreography generally don't need prior approval, and that even serious changes in scenes don't necessarily require approval.  Seems kind of odd, I interpret this as a regional production sort of doing their own thing, when they obviously are not the creators of the material.    What about if you eliminate a character, or add an additional character.  I know many kid-friendly shows like Annie already say you can add extra orphans, children, etc, but what about what other shows.   In annie could you take out a minor character like Lily (Rooster's significant other) if you were running short on cast members?  Harold Ickes?  - though he has a larger role in the W. House scene.   

[grandpianoalex2]

Posted: 11/17/17 at 1:10pm

NiceWork2 said: "I was wondering if anyone could provide me some insight on how much change a director/production staff is allowed to make in a show that has been licensed out to them by MTI, Samuel French, Inc, etc. Obviously any kind of alteration/cutting of songs must be approved by the licensing company. Any deletion or addition of lines must receive permission.

Correct. You may not change anything that is WRITTEN. 

 

But somebody told me that even drastic changes in choreography generally don't need prior approval, and that even serious changes in scenes don't necessarily require approval. Seems kind of odd, I interpret this as a regional production sort of doing their own thing, when they obviously are not the creators of the material.

This is generally not true. You used to have to recreate the original choreography for Fiddler, but I don't think that is the case anymore. Otherwise, the choreography is not licensed. Recreating original choreography for a regional/community theatre production without prior approval and credit is technically illegal and against copyright laws. The choreography is meant to be created by each production themselves. It is not a part of the "rental package". 

 

What about if you eliminate a character, or add an additional character. I know many kid-friendly shows like Annie already say you can add extra orphans, children, etc, but what about what other shows. In annie could you take out a minor character like Lily (Rooster's significant other) if you were running short on cast members? Harold Ickes? - though he has a larger role in the W. House scene."

 

Expanding/Condensing casts is not a problem as long as the TEXT is not altered. Yes, you can have 50 orphans in Annie. No, you cannot CUT Lily St. Regis. She has lines, that would alter the licensed material. Same thing with Harold Ickes. He can be played be the same actor as other roles in the show, but he must be in the show according to the licensing contract. 

 

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/17/17 at 1:30pm

Grandpiano is 100 percent correct.  

You can't make changes without permission....which you can get often, dependent on the creators and request!

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 11/17/17 at 2:28pm

Based on my experience working on MTI shows, as long as people are reading the lines in the libretto and singing the notes in the sheet music, anything else goes.