Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Clue the play

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Coconut
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Posted: 1/22/09 at 8:10pm

Very interested. Is an April production unrealistic?

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donzolidis
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Posted: 1/22/09 at 10:11pm

That's quick. But I could do it.

Do you represent the same theatre in the Virgin Islands that did my Christmas shows two years ago? (or maybe three?)

www.donzolidis.com

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donzolidis
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Posted: 1/22/09 at 10:14pm

That's quick. But I could do it.

Do you represent the same theatre in the Virgin Islands that did my Christmas shows a few years back? And if so, when are you going to fly me out to see the plays?

www.donzolidis.com

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SpenceKenzer
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Posted: 1/23/09 at 5:12pm

My community theatre group is also VERY interested in producing a stage adaptation of "Clue" the 1985 movie.

To that end, (STEP ONE) I emailed Jonathan Lynn, the director of the movie and the author of its screenplay. His response was as follows:

<START>
Thanks for your well-informed email and your kind words.

Unfortunately, Paramount Pictures Corporation is 'deemed' to be the author of the CLUE screenplay, even though I wrote it all. In any case, they own all rights, and you would have to apply to them. I'm sorry to tell you that history suggests that they will say an automatic 'no'. But you can certainly try.

Sorry I can't help more. Good luck.

Best wishes

Jonathan Lynn
<END>

--------------------<*>
Saludos, my dahlinks, and you know who you are ... !

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SpenceKenzer
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Posted: 1/23/09 at 5:17pm

As I said before, My community theatre group is also VERY interested in producing a stage adaptation of "Clue" the 1985 movie.

To that end, (STEP ONE) I emailed Jonathan Lynn, the director of the movie and the author of its screenplay.

Based on his reply, (STEP TWO) I emailed Paramount Licensing. Their response was as follows:

<START>
This will respond to your January 18, 2009 email regarding stage rights in the motion picture CLUE (the “Picture”). Paramount does not own the Picture’s stage rights. Those rights are controlled by Parker Bros. and Waddington Games, or their successors in interest.

Paramount does own all rights in the Picture’s screenplay (“Screenplay”), including any original elements that were included in the Screenplay but were not part of the board game Clue. However, Paramount is not interested in licensing any of its rights in the Picture or the Screenplay at this time.

Sincerely,
Kevin Sheridan
Research Manager
Motion Picture Legal
<END>

It should be noted that the "successors in interest" to Parker Bros. and Waddingtons is Hasbro. I have email communication in progress with them on this matter. Wish me luck! Cross your fingers!

--------------------<*>
Saludos, my dahlinks, and you know who you are ... !

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rtpgurl
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Posted: 1/23/09 at 6:34pm

LOL
Looks like you when the same route, only I called them. The guy I spoke with said they get a lot of calls about a play version of Clue.
Good luck with Parker Bros.

*that just happened*
www.roundtownplayers.com
http://rtptreasureisland.blogspot.com

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Coconut
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Posted: 1/27/09 at 7:44pm

LOL, I don't know because I've only recently gotten involved with this school. PM sent.

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returntosender
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Posted: 2/12/09 at 10:05am

Originally posted by SpenceKenzer

As I said before, My community theatre group is also VERY interested in producing a stage adaptation of "Clue" the 1985 movie.

To that end, (STEP ONE) I emailed Jonathan Lynn, the director of the movie and the author of its screenplay.

Based on his reply, (STEP TWO) I emailed Paramount Licensing. Their response was as follows:

<START>
This will respond to your January 18, 2009 email regarding stage rights in the motion picture CLUE (the “Picture”). Paramount does not own the Picture’s stage rights. Those rights are controlled by Parker Bros. and Waddington Games, or their successors in interest.

Paramount does own all rights in the Picture’s screenplay (“Screenplay”), including any original elements that were included in the Screenplay but were not part of the board game Clue. However, Paramount is not interested in licensing any of its rights in the Picture or the Screenplay at this time.

Sincerely,
Kevin Sheridan
Research Manager
Motion Picture Legal
<END>

It should be noted that the "successors in interest" to Parker Bros. and Waddingtons is Hasbro. I have email communication in progress with them on this matter. Wish me luck! Cross your fingers!

So just to clarify, does this mean that to do the stage adaptation of the movie, you only need to get the rights from Parker Bros?
(I'm also trying to do Clue: The Play, by the way)

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SpenceKenzer
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Posted: 2/12/09 at 10:38am

Originally posted by returntosender

Originally posted by SpenceKenzer

{snip}
This will respond to your January 18, 2009 email regarding stage rights in the motion picture CLUE (the “Picture”). Paramount does not own the Picture’s stage rights. Those rights are controlled by Parker Bros. and Waddington Games, or their successors in interest.

Paramount does own all rights in the Picture’s screenplay (“Screenplay”), including any original elements that were included in the Screenplay but were not part of the board game Clue. However, Paramount is not interested in licensing any of its rights in the Picture or the Screenplay at this time.

Sincerely,
Kevin Sheridan
Research Manager
Motion Picture Legal
<END>
{snip}

So just to clarify, does this mean that to do the stage adaptation of the movie, you only need to get the rights from Parker Bros?
(I'm also trying to do Clue: The Play, by the way)

Frankly, I'm not sure how to interpret Mr. Sheridan's 2nd paragraph. His 1st paragraph seems to say that Hasbro holds the stage rights. However, his 2nd paragraph MAY be saying that some permission from Paramount might still be required.

It is all annoyingly unclear.

UPDATE: My inquiry to Hasbro got deflected -- that is, I didn't get any actual answer, but I was instead referred to Hasbro's office in Canada (since that's where I'm from) -- no email address, no website, just snail mail contact info.

I don't understand. Community theater companies and school drama groups all over the place would love to pay SOMEONE royalties to perform a stage adaptation of the movie "Clue", and yet no one involved with the movie seems to have any interest in collecting that royalty money!

Anyone else get any kind of specific response from Hasbro (or Paramount)?

--------------------<*>
Saludos, my dahlinks, and you know who you are ... !

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Rorgg
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Posted: 2/12/09 at 4:47pm

I think I get what he was saying. The general rights to perform a stage production based on Clue (tm) the board game is controlled by Hasbro. However, the rights to the script for Clue, the movie, and its derivatives are controlled by Paramount.

So, you could create an entirely new script based on the game with the permission of Hasbro only. However, to adapt the movie script, you'd need the permission of Paramount as well as Hasbro (since it sounds like Paramount can't license a stage production from what he said).

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