Producer’s Legal Checklist


freely adapted from a checklist in The Law and the Amateur Theatre by Roger W. Suddards and Dorothy White, published 1962 by Samuel French Ltd, London, and used with permission.

  •  1) Is the performance to be a “public” performance? (means a license and royalty for a copyright-protected play)
    (Basically, any performance except one in your living room for just your family and maybe your friends, or one under certain narrowly-defined classroom conditions, will be a “public” performance.)

  •  2) Is the play you want to do under copyright (see US public domain chart) and who controls the rights?
    (Perhaps one of the houses on the play publishers/licensing agencies list.)

  •  3) Is it available for amateur performance?
    (Ask the licensing agency.)

  •  4) Are any changes required in the script for reasons of casting requirements, community standards, etc., acceptable to the owners of the copyright on the play?
    (Ask the licensing agency.)

  •  5) Can you get copies of the play?
    (Ask the licensing agency.)

  •  6) Is music to be used? In what way?

  •  7) Is the music to be used live or recorded?

  •  8) Is the performance space covered by a performance rights society (ASCAP/BMI/SESAC) license?

  •  9) Is the performance space safe and properly insured?
    (No, this isn’t a copyright question, but it does have a bearing on legal/financial responsibility.)

  • 10) How do the neighbors of the performance space feel about parking, foot traffic, etc.?
    (Again, not exactly a legal concern, but if the answer isn’t positive, it just might develop into one, so it’s worth being aware of.)


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This page last updated on Wednesday, December 31, 2008

 
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