One of the best sources for info on the licensing of Broadway musicals
is the Rodgers & Hammerstein organization. R&H Theatricals handles the
rights for a wide variety of musicals -- including, of course, those
written by Rodgers & Hammerstein, but also many others, including
Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Fees vary, depending upon the specific title chosen and the licensee's
circumstances (size of auditorium, number of performances, ticket
prices, etc.)
You'll find an application for an amateur performance license here:
R&H Theatricals: Amateur Performance License Application
http://www.rnh.com/theatricals/index.php?page=application&type=amateur
A list of the titles licensed by R&H:
R&H Theatricals: Titles
http://www.rnh.com/theatricals/index.php?page=quicksearchresults&alltitles=true
Frequently Asked Questions about licensing and the fee structure:
R&H Theatricals: FAQs
http://www.rnh.com/theatricals/index.php?page=faqs
Info about R&H's performance licensing & fees:
R&H Theatricals: About Us
http://www.rnh.com/theatricals/index.php?page=aboutus
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Music Theatre International (MTI) is another such firm. Its titles:
Music Theatre International: Browse Shows
http://www.mtishows.com/browse.asp
Licensing info for MTI:
Music Theatre International: Licensing
http://www.mtishows.com/licensing.asp
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Samuel French, Inc. handles quite a few musicals:
Samuel French, Inc.: Musicals
http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/index.php/cPath/30?osCsid=0db31c69daa2ac81157882479d7dcefe
General info on royalty fees and rights from Samuel French:
Samuel French, Inc.: Royalties & Rights Information
http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/royalties.php?osCsid=0db31c69daa2ac81157882479d7dcefe
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Baker's Plays, a division of Samuel French, also licenses musicals. A
list of titles:
Baker's Plays: Musicals
http://www.bakersplays.com/store/index.php/cPath/10?osCsid=a78be4fb51e0b5dd81631ea4c5f04ffa
Royalties & rights info for Baker's Plays:
Baker's Plays: Royalties & Rights Information
http://www.bakersplays.com/store/royalties.php?osCsid=a78be4fb51e0b5dd81631ea4c5f04ffa
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OTHER LICENSORS OF MUSICAL PLAYS
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Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.
Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.: Musicals
http://www.tamswitmark.com/musical.html
Contact form for Tams-Witmark:
Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.: Contact
http://www.tamswitmark.com/contact.html
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Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
Dramatists Play Service, Inc.: Musicals
http://www.dramatists.com/text/musicals.html
Licensing info (nonprofessional):
Dramatists Play Service, Inc.: Nonprofessional Licensing
http://www.dramatists.com/text/npalinks.html
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Dramatic Publishing Company
Dramatic Publishing Company: Musicals
http://www.dramaticpublishing.com/ciMusical.cfm?pick=musical
Licensing info:
Dramatic Publishing Company: Licensing
http://www.dramaticpublishing.com/licensing.cfm
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Pioneer Drama Service
Pioneer Drama Service: Musicals
http://www.pioneerdrama.com/musical-full.asp
FAQs:
Pioneer Drama Service: Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.pioneerdrama.com/faqs1.asp
http://www.pioneerdrama.com/faqs2.asp
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Here's some good general information on licensing of musicals and plays:
"The rights for most plays and musicals are held by play publishing
houses. To obtain the rights to produce a play or musical, complete
the following steps:
1. Determine which play publishing house has the rights to the play
you wish to produce. Each company has a catalogue which will indicate
a royalty fee. However, be aware that the fee for your particular
organization may differ.
2. You should call the company to find out if the play is available
for production. In some instances, plays are 'restricted' which means
that a particular play/musical is not available for production. Never
assume that a play is available, you should always check with the play
publishing house before you advertise or begin work on the production.
3. Once you have determined that the play is not restricted, you will
need to contact the publishing house in writing. Generally the
following information is needed in order to provide a royalty quote:
a. Play Title
b. Place of performance (City, State & Theatre)?
c. Producing organization?
d. Seating capacity?
e. Ticket prices?
f. Not-for-profit or for-profit group?
g. Number of performances?
h. Performance dates?
i. Equity (Actor?s Union) or non-Equity production?"
University of Texas: Obtaining Rights to Produce a Play or Musical
http://www.utsystem.edu/OGC/intellectualproperty/perform.htm
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My Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: musical plays licensing OR royalties
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=musical+plays+licensing+OR+royalties
Google Web Search: broadway musicals "licensing organizations"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=broadway+musicals+%22licensing+organizations%22
Google Web Search: "joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat" royalty fee
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22joseph+and+the+amazing+technicolor+dreamcoat%22+royalty+fee
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I hope this is helpful! If anything is unclear or incomplete, or if a
link doesn't work for you, please request clarification; I'll be glad
to offer further assistance before you rate my answer.
Best regards,
pinkfreud |