Broadway Play Rumors

[Wannabe Walt]

Can anyone confirm this?

I have heard it rumored that Disney (or some other company) is turning The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and AIDA (all three Broadway productions) into scripts that schools and drama organizations can use and perform. Is this true? If so, I'm buying TLK and BATB!

 

[barnum42]

I don't know about America, but in the UK, if a production is still in the West End or in a major tour, you generally can not get rights to perform the show in a school or an amateur stage.

I know they sometimes make exceptions for schools - Technicolour Dreamcoat being one and there is a lite version of Les Miserables for school use only. Contacting Disney would probably be the only way to make sure.

 

[imagineer boy]

I think it might be true. I remember hearing somthing like that somwhere, but I can't remember!!

 

[nicholas]

Yes, it's the same here as in London. If a show is currently playing on Broadway (or even has a first run national tour out) the rights are not available. However, there are a few occasions where they will make exceptions. Les Mis has a student version here in the US that they will license as well, and did this (though in a limited number) back when it was still playing. I worked at Beauty and the Beast on Broadway for about 18 months and I remember once during that period that they experimented with allowing one high school (I think they were in Florida) the rights to the show. So while possible that they are slowly opening up the rights on a very limited basis, I wouldn't hold my breath for the Lion King. Seeing a high school even attempt that with the technicality of the show would be a nightmare. But now that AIDA has closed, that one should end up being available in the near future. And then all teenaged girls can belt their hearts out as much as they want

 

[Wannabe Walt]

Thanks for the info guys! I may contact Disney about it.