Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Need playwrights permission...

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Nyria
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Topic: Need playwrights permission...
Posted: 2/01/09 at 4:49pm

I am reading a one act right now that I really like.

However, it was written in the 60's and one of the character's is referred to several times as a 'negro'. This is not a necessary part of the play or the character.

I would like to remove these lines - or at least change them to 'black'.

Who do I contact to ask permission? The publisher? (Samuel French)

Thanks =)

NYRIA

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Tishwyo
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Posted: 2/02/09 at 5:28pm

Yes, contact the publishing house that owns the right and they will advise you as to what can and cannot be done with the script. This sometimes takes a little while for the reply so have some patience.

Jeff

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jayzehr
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Posted: 2/03/09 at 8:53am

Is the play set in the sixties? When the use of the term "Negro" would be appropriate?

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Nyria
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Posted: 2/03/09 at 5:10pm

The play was written in the 60's but doesn't really 'take place' in the 60's -- I would make it be modern day.

Also I want to do it for a high school festival and I know if we kept it in that that's all the kids in the audience would focus on.

I could tell my students that it's appropriate for the time etc. but the audience would probably get all giggly and create a stir -- not worth it ;)

NYRIA

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pdavis69
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Posted: 2/03/09 at 6:04pm

Perhaps if you can't do the show as written, you should look at a different show. I might suggest you avoind To Kill a Mockingbird and Huck Finn.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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Nyria
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Posted: 2/04/09 at 3:24pm

Originally posted by pdavis69

Perhaps if you can't do the show as written, you should look at a different show. I might suggest you avoind To Kill a Mockingbird and Huck Finn.

As I said before - this word is not needed in this particular play. It can easily be changed -- obviously this is not the case for To Kill A Mockingbird.

No need to patronize...

NYRIA

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MartyW
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Posted: 2/05/09 at 8:04am

If trying to update, and either thruogh proper channels or, god forbid, just doing it, and if the fact that there is either a person of color as one of the actors or at least an intigral part of the back story, then I would just substitute the current point of reference.. ie if updating the line from 1960's that might say "sit down at the typewriter and do up a draft" to "sit down at the keyboard ( or computer)...." So if Negro is the word, than possibly Black, or depending on the reference/situations in the show, African American... Just my thoughts if you do plan to change, it via updates than I don't see the difference between that and my example..

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

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P&M Sales
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Posted: 2/13/09 at 7:19pm

I think Marty's reply above is eminently sensible. Speaking as a rights-holder, if a customer wrote and suggested that course of action, and the play didn't actually need the word in question to fulfil it's creative endeavour, then I would generally accept it. Most playwrights are realists, and would prefer a director to update where necessary, rather than not have the play produced at all!

best regards

David
http://www.stagescripts.com

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