Writing an original play is a satisfying endeavor. Seeing it performed on stage and receiving a royalty check, however, is even more rewarding, as it takes you into the realm of professional playwrights. So, once you've finished that script, how do you go about marketing your plays?
Instructions
1. Edit your play until it is the best you can make it. Be careful not to make the play too long. Keep the number of scenes down to 20 to 24. It can take about 2 minutes to change a scene and one page of script generally takes about 1 to 2 minutes to perform on stage. So a 45- to 60-page script with 20 scenes and one 15-minute intermission makes a total performance of about 2 hours.
2. Type your script in a standard play format. Format is very important and can mean the difference between your play being considered or not. There are several books available that explain proper format, including "Professional Playscript Format Guidelines & Sample" by Mollie Ann Meserve. Include a copyright date and your name on the front page of the script.
3. Contact the local theaters to see if they have evenings that offer "Writers’ Nights" where scripts are read aloud with critiques following. Playwrights generally do not receive payment for these evenings, but it is a good place to get your play before an audience. Ask for written comments about the script.
4. Design a website for your plays. Include the play's genre, estimated duration of the show, cast size and synopsis. If you have comments or reviews, post those on the same page. Set a royalty fee, which generally ranges from $30 to $60 per performance. You might want to set a price for a perusal copy, which is a copy of the script that theater companies can read in order to consider producing the play. Have a email address for people to contact you on the website as well.
5. Draft a license royalty agreement to use when a playhouse wants to perform your plays. State that this agreement is for “nonexclusive stage performance rights of, [name of your play] by [name of the contact person] with [name of the theater company]. Include bullet points, listing performance dates, how your name is to be printed on playbills, whether or not you will allow photographs or videotaping, contact name and address of person with the theater company, royalty amount per show and when and how they are to be paid. Have a place for both you and the contact person to sign.
6. Pitch your plays to theater companies. Begin with local theater companies and school drama departments; many theater companies like working with local playwrights. You can also pitch your play to out of town theater companies; you find listings of them in the "The Writer’s Market." Some theater companies want playwrights to send a letter that include the play's genre, estimated duration, cast size, synopsis, production history and any reviews.
7. Keep a record of which theater companies you send your play scripts to and what their response was. If they choose to perform your play, list when you sent the contract and when you received the royalty check. Post any positive comments and reviews about the plays on the website as well.
Tags: theater companies, your play, your plays, about minutes, cast size