Saturday Night Fever

[James S]

Hi all, thanks for taking the time to check this topic:

 

 

We are involved in providing lighting for a yearly production at a local school. They are interested in doing Saturday Night Fever but cannot work out who owns the copyright/ how to go about getting permission to perform a short run.

 

They asked me if I had any idea if I knew but don't really know much about this side of productions. Does anyone know who owns the copyright or how to go about seeking permission?

 

(I am aware that it is currently touring - will this have any effect?)

 

Thanks for your help

[Bobbsy]

Plays currently touring are almost never available for amateur production. I'd assume that's why you're having problems finding the rights holder.

 

I've had a quick look at all the usual suspects (Samuel French, Josef Weinberger and Warner Chappell) and none of them list it.

 

Bob

[paulears]

I wouldn't give up. I've been involved with a few shows of this kind and sometimes things might actually be possible. One of my students 7 or 8 years ago wanted to do a pro show, that was touring. I said exactly that - no chance! He wrote to the producer of the show and asked if we could do it (without my knowledge!) I got a phone call from the top man asking what we wanted to do. He said he'd never though a college could consider something like that, but he said yes! The main problem was copyright on the songs. They all had to be cleared individually. PRS cannot help as the songs in shows like this are normally 7F'd - removing them from control by PRS. You have to deal directly with each copyright owner and they will/may want a percentage of the box office or a fixed fee. Some will want the money, others won't be bothered and just allow you to do it, but they don't want you to put anything in writing. In our case, we paid the music fees, the producer sent a word version of the script and a few beer stained copies of the md's pad - that was it! Everything else we did ourselves.

 

I even asked a couple of years later for permission to do a Disney show that hadn't been even seen in the UK - they didn't say no straight away, asked for loads of info, dates places etc and then told us it had been approved at low level, but had to be confirmed at a higher level. They then told us they had a plan to bring it to the UK, so had decided no. They would give permission for a concert version, but no lights, no costumes! (No use)

 

So don't give up - try and see if they will say yes?

[Tomo]

Going by the info on the website, my guess is that the rights are owned by

Adam Spiegel Productions.

If not, they certainly know who has them!

[J Pearce]

A local youth musical theatre group did it recently, and they always do licensed shows, if I see any of the management I'll ask them.

[James S]

Thanks for all the helpful responses - we'll continue to try. Has anyone got any tips/ tricks from previous runs for lighting or setting this show in a school/ lower budget environment?