Performance Rights

Does anyone have any advice on seeking amateur performance rights for published plays. I do not seem to be having a great deal of success whilst trying to find out whether or not a couple of plays are available for amateur performance. In the first instance I have contacted Dominie Drama (who were very helpful), as they were not able to find out about a particular play I was after they suggested I contact the literay agent directly and provided me with an E-mail address to do so. I have E-mailed the literay a few times (over the course of a couple of months) and basically have had my queries ignored with no return correspondence what so ever. This has been the case with two separate literay agents including The Gersh Agency NY. I'm not sure if there are any other methods or options that anyone can suggest to help me find out whether or not performing a particular play is possible at this time.

Has it occured to you that if you've received no reply, that they do not wish to offer permission at this time? You may be better off finding another play (or writing your own). I'd also recommend checking: http://doollee.com/ They may have info there about the play you're looking for in terms of how to apply for rights, etc.

Hi Babarino, Firstly, good on you for persisting with trying to track down the rights to these plays, even in the face of adversity! A lesser person might have just proceeded ahead with staging a production and dodged obtaining performing rights. Kudos! Communicating with overseas agencies can be tricky, especially if the agent has changed hands, re-negotiated which writers they are representing or simply ceased business. It's frustrating that no-one has yet even acknowledged your emails. Perhaps giving them a timeline to respond in may motivate a response. If you explain that you need to have your next season decided by X date they may at least get back with a Yes or No. Perhaps checking that the email address Dominie gave you is still current may be worthwhile too. Have you tried an internet search on the playwright? Perhaps the author has some contact details available online and you may be able to chat to them direct. If an agency is being tardy about securing royalties for a playwright, then I'm sure they would be most interested to know about it! Perhaps the playwright was once represented by an agency but they now manage their own affairs and a direct contact is the way to go. Not sure if any of that helps, but that's how I would be tackling the situation at this point. Be interested to know how this all pans out for you. Tulipa.

It is always worth checking at www.doollee.com they are attempting to amass a record of every play written in the English Language since 1955. From my experience there details if they have them are pretty accurate with regard to rights. Tell us what the play is though. Someone on here may have up to date information. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Hal Leonard and Camerons Management are 2 other agents in Australia. They have play catalogues and writers listed on their websites. Try there. They may have them. If not give them a call and they can sometimes point you in the right direction.