JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Another ASCAP Controversy

Regarding school plays:

I know that Samuel French, a large publisher of stage plays, has catalogs that list the royalty fees for performing particular plays.

Many schools can not afford such fees, and
some schools disregard the fees and take their chances at being sued. But, I have known of schools ( and drama directors) that got sued for not paying the royalty fees for a musical...

Here's a quote from the Samuel French catalog:

"Samuel French acts as agent for a number of plays in manuscript form. Such plays are ontainable on the following basis: One manuscript per customer, bought outright, will be sent upon receipt of $..... plus $....for postage and handling...."( amounts vary)

Some plays are considered by Samuel French to be "Budget Plays." This means that
they are produced by amateurs for one stage performance only without the payment of royalies fees, provide that the rpoducer purchases a script for each member with speaking parts....However, in plays with more than 12 characters, they are not required to buy more than 12.

Interesting stuff - this is a great discussion....I have mixed feeling about this issue, because I have seen mnay different points of view, and because I'm a writer myself...well, you guys have already stated many of my concerns!

Emily