Play Publishers ​

Broadway Play Publishing, Inc.

• All competitions require a performance-rights license with the exception of those five minutes or under in duration for which no license is required.
• For competitions with a duration of greater than five minutes a standard fee of $50.00 per performance applies for full-length plays and $35.00 per performance for short plays.

Dramatic Publishing Company
There is no charge for use in Thespian Festival NIEs

Dramatists Play Service

• All Dramatists Play Service properties are pre-approved for Thespian Festivals, with no written permission required, for no royalty unless the student is selected for the NIE Showcase.
• If the student is selected for the NIE Showcase, the student must secure performance rights within 48 hours of the showcase:
• The exceptions to this guide are plays by Samuel Beckett and Edward Albee.
• In both of these cases, the student must secure the rights in advance and for each time it is performed.

Samuel French, Inc.

• Monologues and brief excerpts of less than 10 minutes do not require a license or other permission from Samuel French. If the piece is under 10 minutes, there is NO need to ask or pay for the rights (unless it's Neil Simon).
  • If Neil Simon, the rights need to be secured, in advance. 
  • EVERY time it is performed (the minimum rate is $125).
  • If Grease, a single song is OK, but if any dialogue or scenes are used, you must ask and secure the rights in advance.
• A license must be obtained through www.samuelfrench.com for any performance of a copyrighted work, including cuttings and excerpts over 10 minutes (this is not a NIES issue, but wanted to share the information in case your chapter has other events).
• Titles approved for cuttings are marked “Cuttings approved for competitions.”
• A brief summary of proposed cuts or scenes must be included in the appropriate section of your license request. If the piece is over 10 minutes: National Individual Events Guide, 2016-2017 Page 23 of 24
  • 10-45 minutes - flat fee of $45 is due and payable in advance.
  • Over 45 minutes - the same cost as a full production - due and payable in advance.
  • At the chapter level, Samuel French has requested that for ALL works over 10 minutes, the Chapter collect and remit a single payment with a list of all the pieces being done (vs. having each student submit separately).
• For more information, visit Samuel French, or contact Texas representative, Theresa Posorske

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Playscripts, Inc.

• Royalties are waived for the performance of excerpts lasting less than 10 minutes at adjudicated school theatrical festivals or auditions, unless otherwise noted in the script.
• These particular performances, only these, are automatically authorized by the playwright when you purchase books from Playscripts.
• (Note: Any other cuttings must receive prior approval from Playscripts.)

Smith and Kraus
Most Smith and Kraus collections include a blanket permission statement for audition use. Remember, however, the particular piece you’re interested in performing must be found in one of these collections that include blanket permission

Theatrefolk
Monologues and scenes/excerpts lasting 10 minutes or less taken from scripts published by Theatrefolk maybe performed in any Thespian Society Individual Event program without royalty.

YouthPLAYS

• Royalties are waived for monologues and scenes/excerpts lasting less than 10 minutes for Thespian IEs.
• To receive a statement of permission, an entrant must purchase a single printable perusal copy of the play through the YouthPLAYS website, then email info@youthplays.com with their name(s), school, and event information.