I hope I don't open a can of worms by asking this question or upset anyone. I am the backstage director for a small high school drama group. Our drama team is hoping to produce a musical next spring. In looking at the various musicals that are out there, we have discovered that many of the scripts and lyrics have content that is beyond our comfort zone for what is appropriate for middle/high school children. My director, who was a drama major in college, would like to change some lyrics and some of the script to fit our needs. She said she has seen it done numerous times when she was an actor on the stage. I looked up copyright laws and am concerned about doing this. The websites all clearly state that you are not to change anything without permission from the publishing company. Not only am I concerned about being held liable for breaking the law. But, I also feel it sets a poor example for the kids that "since everyone else is breaking the law, it is okay." So, my question to you experienced people is: what's the deal with copyright laws? I know it is against the law to alter scripts. Do people in the theatre world disregard copyright laws or honor them? Also, would another option be to contact the publishing company and ask permission to alter the lyrics/script? Is it hard to get publishers to agree to this? Any help would be apprecitated. And again, I do not mean to offend anyone I am just looking for answers.

There are many people on-line here who will respond exactly as Dondero has with a doom and gloom "the law is the law" standard party line, and they are in truth correct.  However.....very seldom will you get pulled over for doing 67 in a 65 speed zone.  The same applies with these copyright laws.  First bit of advise, don't advertise that you are making changes.  There are people that just love to cause trouble, will google your name find out the school and call the licensing agencies.  There are possible sanctions if you get caught and changes made without permission could be reported.  There will be several responses coming mostly saying don't don't don't.  They will talk about the words of the playwrite being golden and un alterable and who are we to rewrite his/her thoughts. They will talk about "the law is the law".  Good luck to you and as far as changes go....swim at your own risk, there is no lifeguard on duty.

    I certainly understand your strict stand Dondero.   And I certainly cannot disagree with you from a legal point of view.  However it is also

No different than 67 in a 65 and changing a word.  There is a law and you are technically breaking it.  People do it because they can get away with it and right or wrong people get away with changing words, phrases, genders etc all the time.  As was said in my first post, the rule is very black and white: it should not be done.  My response is still (an apparently we all agree) although it is wrong you will most likely get away with it.  As far as teaching morality, right/wrong to kids I can see your point, however when a child looks at someone else's paper on a test it's cheating, when a business man does it it's called using your resourses and he gets a raise.  Oh well, off topic.  I'm in theatre to provide entertainment not teach morals ,sometimes the bad guys don't get it in the end in all the shows and the white hat doesn't always get the girl.

It's OK I'm not all that proud of the last six generations anyway.