Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Play suggestion

Author

Message

tristanrobin
Celebrity

Joined: 4/25/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 704

Posted: 11/17/10 at 2:40pm

I agree - the Dining Room is an excellent choice. However, I would be careful about using more than the intended six actors - you can lose a lot of the theatricality of the piece.

http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com

IP Logged

stockhamlj
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 8/25/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 11/17/10 at 5:04pm

DAMNATION by Linda Stockham.
Logline: A dying private eye makes a pact with the devil
in order to learn the truth about a cold case murder.
Set: One simple set.
Cast: 6 (3m,3f - 1m is a non-spoken role)
This play was written for college theatre department students and had its premiere at California State University San Bernardino to sell out performances and excellent reviews. It is available at no cost to amateur groups. If interested and would like to receive a copy of the play, go to: lindastockham@netzero.net

Edited by stockhamlj - 11/17/10 at 5:05pm

Linda Stockham

IP Logged

jonplaywright
Star
Star

Joined: 7/20/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 53

Posted: 11/17/10 at 7:14pm

Linda,

I hate to be the Grinch, but offering a play for no royalties does a terrible disservice both to you and to playwrights everywhere.

Writing a play takes effort, and when a producer at any level pays royalties, it's an acknowledgment that the play is a thing of value. Royalties are typically charged regardless of whether admission is charged, whether the actors or other personnel are being paid, or whether a play is being presented by an educational or non-profit institution. (The only exceptions are usually for one-time benefit performances in which everyone is donating their services, and for performances in closed classrooms as part of the curriculum.) The Dramatists Guild and other playwrights' organizations have fought hard--and continue to fight--for playwrights to receive this recognition that their work is valuable. If someone can be paid to flip burgers, why shouldn't the playwright be paid? And quite frankly, the amateur market is the largest royalty paying market out there. When you give your work away, not only are you failing to respect your own time and effort in creating your play, but you undermine every other playwright out there. Don't do it.

Regards,
Jonathan Dorf

Edited by jonplaywright - 11/17/10 at 8:49pm

Co-Chair, Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights
Resident Playwright, Final Draft

YouthPLAYS, plays for young actors and audiences
www.youthplays.com

IP Logged

Play Suggestions
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Play Suggestions

Author	Message
tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 11/17/10 at 2:40pm
	I agree - the Dining Room is an excellent choice. However, I would be careful about using more than the intended six actors - you can lose a lot of the theatricality of the piece.
	http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com
	IP Logged

stockhamlj Walk-On Joined: 8/25/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 11/17/10 at 5:04pm
	DAMNATION by Linda Stockham. Logline: A dying private eye makes a pact with the devil in order to learn the truth about a cold case murder. Set: One simple set. Cast: 6 (3m,3f - 1m is a non-spoken role) This play was written for college theatre department students and had its premiere at California State University San Bernardino to sell out performances and excellent reviews. It is available at no cost to amateur groups. If interested and would like to receive a copy of the play, go to: lindastockham@netzero.net Edited by stockhamlj - 11/17/10 at 5:05pm
	Linda Stockham
	IP Logged

jonplaywright Star Joined: 7/20/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 53	Posted: 11/17/10 at 7:14pm
	Linda, I hate to be the Grinch, but offering a play for no royalties does a terrible disservice both to you and to playwrights everywhere. Writing a play takes effort, and when a producer at any level pays royalties, it's an acknowledgment that the play is a thing of value. Royalties are typically charged regardless of whether admission is charged, whether the actors or other personnel are being paid, or whether a play is being presented by an educational or non-profit institution. (The only exceptions are usually for one-time benefit performances in which everyone is donating their services, and for performances in closed classrooms as part of the curriculum.) The Dramatists Guild and other playwrights' organizations have fought hard--and continue to fight--for playwrights to receive this recognition that their work is valuable. If someone can be paid to flip burgers, why shouldn't the playwright be paid? And quite frankly, the amateur market is the largest royalty paying market out there. When you give your work away, not only are you failing to respect your own time and effort in creating your play, but you undermine every other playwright out there. Don't do it. Regards, Jonathan Dorf Edited by jonplaywright - 11/17/10 at 8:49pm
	Co-Chair, Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights Resident Playwright, Final Draft YouthPLAYS, plays for young actors and audiences www.youthplays.com
	IP Logged

Topic: Play suggestion( Topic Closed)
	<< Prev Page of 2