Performances & Royalties

1. Why do I pay royalties? Where does that money go?

   When an author writes a play, they don't receive a salary. Instead, royalties are how they are compensated for all of the hard work that goes into creating that play. Playwrights have the same expenses as everyone else: rent, food, medical bills, etc. Being able to earn money through the licensing of their plays allows playwrights to have time to create new work (as a profession and not simply a hobby) for you to perform. On a philosophical level, the payment of a royalty is a statement that a play is something of value, and acknowledges the time and effort that went into it. On a legal level, a play is wholly owned by its author(s), and failure to license your performance in advance and pay royalties (and purchase sufficient copies for the cast and crew) is copyright infringement, which is against the law both in the United States and abroad.

2. How many performances do I need to order? What constitutes a performance?

   You must order one performance royalty for each time the play is produced in the presence of an audience outside of the cast and crew. It doesn't matter whether admission is being charged, whether the actors (or anyone else) are being paid, or whether it's part of a school assembly or other program. Therefore, an "invited" dress rehearsal at which friends, family or staff view the show still counts as one performance.

3. Do I have to pay royalties if we don't charge admission?

   Yes. Whenever a play is performed in the presence of an audience outside of the cast and crew (or outside of your closed classroom), royalties are due.

   Where does the royalty money go?

4. How many scripts do I need to purchase for my production?

   You must purchase enough hard copy scripts (when available) for each member of your cast and crew, or a Production PDF + Copy License, which comes with a PDF file and permission to make as many copies as you need for your production.

5. Can I make cuts, changes and/or additions to a play?

   It depends. Our authors tend to be very supportive of these requests, but you have to ask first, unless the script itself already gives you permission. Otherwise, to make cuts, additions or changes to the script (dialogue or stage directions), you must receive written permission from YouthPLAYS. Please email us at [email protected] with any questions or requests regarding a particular script. Please be specific (include specific lines with their page numbers). Because we must confirm any requests with the play's author, be sure to contact us sufficiently in advance.

6. We've paid our royalties electronically. Can we perform now?

   Wait! You need a performance license in hand first. But don't worry--we will review your order within one business day, and assuming there are no issues to be addressed first, we will approve your order and issue you a performance license. When your performance license has been issued, you may go forward with your production!

7. May we record our production?

   Almost all of our plays may be recorded with the proper permissions. To get them, purchase the Bronze Package, which allows you to make an archival recording for your school or organization, as well as to provide one copy (as a digital download, DVD or equivalent) for free to each actor and crew member. To sell your archival copies, you will need to purchase the Fundraising Add-On (in addition to the Bronze Package). To place a recording of your performance on your organization's website or a social media site, purchase a Platinum (two-week limit) or Diamond (no time limit) package. Full details on our streaming packages, go here.
   

8. Can I change my performance dates?

   Yes. As long as your original performance dates haven't passed, just send an email to [email protected] with the revised dates.

9. How do I add performances?

   This is a common occurrence when a group has licensed a play for competition and advances, for example, or when there is stronger-than-expected demand for tickets. Just go to the play's page and place a new order for the additional performances. Easy as pie.

10. What happens if we have to cancel our production?

    Printed and digital scripts, textbooks, copy licenses and musical tracks are non-refundable. In the case of performance royalties and video/streaming packages, these are refundable (minus any processing fees) up to the day before the scheduled production date. There are no refunds after the scheduled date of the first performance.

11. Where and how do I credit the author(s) of the play I'm producing?

    Whenever you produce a play, not only do you have to pay royalties, but you have to give credit to the author(s). It's required by your performance license. Here's what you must do:

    1. In any publicity you control (posters, program, ads, websites, social media posts, etc.), list the name of the author(s) immediately after the title in a font size that is at least 50% of the size of the title. Nobody else's name may be larger. After all, the playwright is the creator and owner of the play.

    2. On your posters and programs (including digital programs), include the following: "Produced by special arrangement with YouthPLAYS (www.youthplays.com)."

    3. If you're streaming a play, please make sure that the title and author of the play are credited as part of the stream or in an accompanying digital program (or both). Please make sure the credit to YouthPLAYS noted above is similarly included.

12. How do I get permission to perform a scene or monologue as part of a showcase?

    To perform a scene or monologue as part of a showcase (e.g., a group of scenes performed for parents or other students), purchase a copy of the play from which the scene/monologue comes for each participant, and purchase one Single Scene-Monologue Showcase Royalty for each performance in front of an audience outside of a closed classroom.

    You may make the requisite purchases on the page of each individual play you're using. For example, if you wish to perform "We're on a Mission" from Me, My Selfie & I, as part of a one-night showcase, go to the Me, My Selfie & I page and purchase 2 copies of the script (one for each performer) and 1 Single Scene-Monologue Showcase Royalty. Be sure to specify this usage in the Note to the Publisher as part of your order. Repeat for each title you'll be using, and if you don't see the Single Scene-Monologue Showcase Royalty option, please contact us.

    Please note that a showcase is different from an adjudicated competition like the STAR Awards, Thespys or forensics (etc.). For information on competition use, please go here.

13. What are professional rights?

    Professional rights are for fully staged performances employing at least one performer who is a member of a live performing arts union (e.g., AEA, AGVA, AGMA) employed on a union contract. They do not include performances for which tickets are not sold (e.g., TYA tours to schools, audiences brought in through grant or other outside funding) or performances by educational institutions, community or other theatres that do not market themselves as professional theatres (e.g., if they happen to employ a professional guest artist).

14. Why do we have to pay royalties and buy scripts if we're just performing scenes and/or monologues and not a full play?

    Because when you put them together, performing those scenes and/or monologues—regardless of whether it's called a "scene night" or a "showcase" (etc.)—is equivalent to performing a play. The only real difference between a 90-minute showcase with 15 different scenes and a full-length play is that there may be multiple authors; it's still copyrighted work being performed in the presence of an audience. Purchasing a script for each participant (just as you'd do for any play production) along with the Single Scene-Monologue Showcase Royalty (i.e., a pro-rated royalty) ensures that authors are properly compensated for the hard work that went into creating the material you're performing.