Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Nonroyalty plays for children

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mtgirl118
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Topic: Nonroyalty plays for children
Posted: 6/20/06 at 5:57pm

Hi everyone. I *may* be teaching a theater workshop each Monday and Friday for 40 minutes a day. I am looking for a nonroyalty or very low royalty play for the children in the workshop. It is at the Center For Youth, which is an afterschool program that, according to their brochure, "is to provide elementary school children with after-school enrichment programs, clubs, activities, and mentoring relationships in a community center that promotes healthy lifestyles". The program is for 3rd-5th graders. Any suggestions?

Ellen

Once upon a time I was a shy young thing ~ Could barely walk and talk so much as dance and sing ~ But let me hit that stage I want to take my bow ~ Cause Momma I'm a big girl now - "Hairspray"

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Gaafa
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Posted: 6/20/06 at 9:30pm

Just a thought & I?m probably wrong as usual!
But is there not some special Royalty dispensation offered to schools, for works performed as part of a workshop?
Also I believe you can perform up to 10% or there about of the ?Small work? at no fee/licence. So long as you don?t attempt to portray &/or perform it in the same manner as depicting the original piece!
You might be able to string a few of these pieces together & let the tin lids use their imagination!
Maybe some one else here might be able to clarify these points or check with the Rights Association &/or the publisher!

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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Topper
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Posted: 6/21/06 at 1:27am

I'm not a lawyer, either, but I'm fairly certain the purpose of royalties applies to performances only. If you're using scripts for teaching purposes then no royalties should be incurred.

Are you attempting to stage an actual production? 40 minutes a day would hardly give you time to rehearse a show of any considerable length, regardless of the fact your actors are only 8,9 & 10 years old!

However, I'm sure the parents, grandparents and other family members would be thrilled to watch whatever your class creates and unless you're planning on charging admission to them or the public then you should be in the clear as far as royalty payments are concerned.

Good luck!

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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B-M-D
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Posted: 6/21/06 at 12:48pm

Be extremely careful where there's a performance of any kind involved, whether it's the entire script or a portion of it. The original question from Ellen was very specific about non-royalty shows for children.

Ellen, you should go to the various web sites of the publishers. Most of them will list their non-royalty or low royalty shows separately. Here's a few of them: www.samuelfrench.com, www.dramatists.com, www.bakersplays.com and www.dramaticpublishing.com. There are more out there but these are probably a pretty good start. Another place to go to is New England Entertainment Digest at www.jacneed.com which will have a link to a list of a number of other publisher web sites that may be helpful.

Good luck with your program!

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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mtgirl118
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Posted: 6/21/06 at 2:50pm

Thank you so much, all of you. The program is still in the planning stage now but I hope it works out. I will be checking out the websites. Thank you B-M-D!

I am planning on during part of a production. I think I will have the entire school year to rehearse so it should be fine. If I can't find a good production I will do little skits and scenes in class and then do improvisation games and not have a performance. But I think the kids would like a performance.

Ellen

Once upon a time I was a shy young thing ~ Could barely walk and talk so much as dance and sing ~ But let me hit that stage I want to take my bow ~ Cause Momma I'm a big girl now - "Hairspray"

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Shatcher
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Posts: 251

Posted: 6/23/06 at 11:47am

I once did a theatre camp. for our final show, I had the kids come up with their own scenes. these scenes were paeodies of poplar movies or plays the kids and seen as part of the camp. The kids loved it because it gave them the chance to do a show that was completly thiers. the scenes were developed through the improv. Have fun! Kids have such a passion for this kind of thing!

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Author	Message
mtgirl118 Player Joined: 4/10/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Nonroyalty plays for children Posted: 6/20/06 at 5:57pm
	Hi everyone. I may be teaching a theater workshop each Monday and Friday for 40 minutes a day. I am looking for a nonroyalty or very low royalty play for the children in the workshop. It is at the Center For Youth, which is an afterschool program that, according to their brochure, "is to provide elementary school children with after-school enrichment programs, clubs, activities, and mentoring relationships in a community center that promotes healthy lifestyles". The program is for 3rd-5th graders. Any suggestions? Ellen
	Once upon a time I was a shy young thing ~ Could barely walk and talk so much as dance and sing ~ But let me hit that stage I want to take my bow ~ Cause Momma I'm a big girl now - "Hairspray"

	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 6/20/06 at 9:30pm
	Just a thought & I?m probably wrong as usual! But is there not some special Royalty dispensation offered to schools, for works performed as part of a workshop? Also I believe you can perform up to 10% or there about of the ?Small work? at no fee/licence. So long as you don?t attempt to portray &/or perform it in the same manner as depicting the original piece! You might be able to string a few of these pieces together & let the tin lids use their imagination! Maybe some one else here might be able to clarify these points or check with the Rights Association &/or the publisher!
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 6/21/06 at 1:27am
	I'm not a lawyer, either, but I'm fairly certain the purpose of royalties applies to performances only. If you're using scripts for teaching purposes then no royalties should be incurred. Are you attempting to stage an actual production? 40 minutes a day would hardly give you time to rehearse a show of any considerable length, regardless of the fact your actors are only 8,9 & 10 years old! However, I'm sure the parents, grandparents and other family members would be thrilled to watch whatever your class creates and unless you're planning on charging admission to them or the public then you should be in the clear as far as royalty payments are concerned. Good luck!
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

B-M-D Celebrity Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Posted: 6/21/06 at 12:48pm
	Be extremely careful where there's a performance of any kind involved, whether it's the entire script or a portion of it. The original question from Ellen was very specific about non-royalty shows for children. Ellen, you should go to the various web sites of the publishers. Most of them will list their non-royalty or low royalty shows separately. Here's a few of them: www.samuelfrench.com, www.dramatists.com, www.bakersplays.com and www.dramaticpublishing.com. There are more out there but these are probably a pretty good start. Another place to go to is New England Entertainment Digest at www.jacneed.com which will have a link to a list of a number of other publisher web sites that may be helpful. Good luck with your program!
	BD "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
	IP Logged

mtgirl118 Player Joined: 4/10/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 6/21/06 at 2:50pm
	Thank you so much, all of you. The program is still in the planning stage now but I hope it works out. I will be checking out the websites. Thank you B-M-D! I am planning on during part of a production. I think I will have the entire school year to rehearse so it should be fine. If I can't find a good production I will do little skits and scenes in class and then do improvisation games and not have a performance. But I think the kids would like a performance. Ellen
	Once upon a time I was a shy young thing ~ Could barely walk and talk so much as dance and sing ~ But let me hit that stage I want to take my bow ~ Cause Momma I'm a big girl now - "Hairspray"
	IP Logged

Shatcher Celebrity Joined: 2/21/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 251	Posted: 6/23/06 at 11:47am
	I once did a theatre camp. for our final show, I had the kids come up with their own scenes. these scenes were paeodies of poplar movies or plays the kids and seen as part of the camp. The kids loved it because it gave them the chance to do a show that was completly thiers. the scenes were developed through the improv. Have fun! Kids have such a passion for this kind of thing!
	IP Logged

Topic: Nonroyalty plays for children( Topic Closed)