 |
The Guild is creating a new initiative called "Career Groups," intended to build community around the professional needs of playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists.
These groups will serve as support systems, so that you can share your experiences with colleagues who are in the same boat. You'll also be able to receive advice from the Guild, and from other theatre writers who have already been through what you're experiencing, as you continue to navigate challenges, triumphs, and career milestones throughout your journey as a professional writer.
First Class/Broadway Career Group (By Invitation Only)
For theatre writers with a previous or upcoming/confirmed First-Class production. (Please note that this group is by invitation only.)
Exploratory Broadway Career Group
For DG members who are exploring how Broadway works and what a First-Class production entails.
LORT Theatre/Off-Broadway Career Group
For theatre writers with a previous or upcoming/potential LORT or Off-Broadway production.
Intergenerational Career Group
For DG Members of all ages who want to share, connect, and build bridges across generations.
Theatre Educator Group
For theatre educators who want to learn more about how they can better teach, work with, and honor the plays and musicals created by dramatists.
Other potential Career Groups include a group for writers producing work in the Community Theatre market, a group for writers who create new work for Middle/High School or the University Theatre market, and a career group for writers creating Musical Theatre.
Remember, you are not alone. Your Guild is here for you and your Career Group will be too.
Please note that DG Career Groups are still in the ideation stage of development. Some groups will be open only to Dramatists Guild members, while groups will invite non-members to participate so that they can more meaningfully connect with the Guild. The frequency of gatherings has yet to be determined.
|
|
|
|
|
Joint Statement Condemning the Cancellation of Indecent at the Douglas Anderson School of Performing Arts
|
We urge school officials to rescind their decision and work with students to stage the play as initially planned. The play was scheduled to open in March 2023, but in early January, a few weeks after casting had been decided, the school officials pulled it from production due to “adult sexual dialog that is inappropriate for cast members and student audiences.”
|
|
|
|
|
What Should We Discuss in our National Community Conversations? |
This March, the National Affairs Committee is hosting its third annual Community Conversations gathering. But first... we want to hear from you!
At the Community Conversations, we'll be bringing theatre writers together, via a virtual meeting space, to share resources and create community with others in your region. To ensure that these events are as impactful and effective as possible, we’re asking you to please guide our planning by filling out a brief form.
Join the conversation, and help us support the needs of playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists in your community!
|
|
|
|
|
New Works Enter The Public Domain in 2023 by Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, Virginia Woolf, and More! |
January 1, 2023 was Public Domain Day, the day each year when copyrights expire and new works enter the public domain. The “Progress Clause” of the U.S. Constitution established the legal basis for federal copyright law, and it did so in order to encourage the progress of our society, to incentivize the creation of new works that would eventually enrich the public domain and be accessible to everyone. So, each work entering the public domain is an example of how that purpose continues to be fulfilled.
This year, the works entering the public domain include noteworthy literary texts such as Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse, Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey, Willa Cather's Death Comes for the Archbishop, Edith Wharton's Twilight Sleep, Herbert Asbury's The Gangs of New York, and all of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries, as well as Alfred A. Cohn's The Jazz Singer - the first feature length film with sound and dialogue.
Musical compositions that have just entered the public domain include "Funny Face" and "'S Wonderful" by Ira and George Gershwin (from the musical Funny Face), "Ol' Man River" by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern (from the musical Show Boat), and Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz," along with jazz standards "Potato Head Blues" and "Gully Low Blues" by Louis Armstrong and "Black and Tan Fantasy" by Duke Ellington.
The public is now free to build upon these works, including dramatists who wish to adapt them for the stage, without having to worry about securing any rights. That said, there are always caveats in terms of what, when, and how works enter the public domain. Given these complexities, it is advisable that you consult with an attorney to help you clarify a work’s copyright status and your right to adapt it or incorporate such material into your own work.
Please direct any questions you have to our Business Affairs department. They can also offer members any of the many past articles and seminars on the subjects of copyright, public domain, and fair use.
|
|
|
|
|
Career Training and Craft Workshops |
Introduction to Email Marketing for Dramatists |
Thursday, January 26
Atlantic Time: 2pm
Eastern Time: 1pm
Central Time: 12pm
Mountain Time: 11am
Pacific Time: 10am
Alaska Time: 9am
Hawaii Time: 8am
Discover how email marketing campaigns can help you to promote your work!
The Dramatists Guild is teaming up with email marketing platform Constant Contact for a free webinar that will cover:
- Why email marketing is an effective communication channel;
- The basic elements of an email campaign;
- How to incorporate digital marketing into your creative process;
- How to promote your work and increase attendance at your live performances.
As part of your DG member benefits, you are eligible to receive up to 40% off Constant Contact! For more information, and to request your discount, click here.
|
|
|
|
|
Creating Opportunities in Alternative Venues |
Tuesday, January 17
Atlantic Time: 8pm
Eastern Time: 7pm
Central Time: 6pm
Mountain Time: 5pm
Pacific Time: 4pm
Alaska Time: 3pm
Hawaii Time: 2pm
|
Learn how to create production opportunities at site-specific venues! Please join Ohio's DG Regional Rep, Mike London, along with award-winning playwrights Patrick Gabridge and Bob Bartlett, for an informal conversation on site-specific theatre.
Discover the benefits and pitfalls of making site-specific work, learn top tips for creation and production of these kinds of plays, and participate in a relaxed Q&A with Mike, Patrick, and Bob.
|
|
|
|
|
What To Expect
When Submitting Your Work to Festivals and Contests
|
Wednesday, January 25
Atlantic Time: 4pm
Eastern Time: 3pm
Central Time: 2pm
Mountain Time: 1pm
Pacific Time: 12pm
Alaska Time: 11am
Hawaii Time: 10am
|
Do you want to submit your work to contests and festivals? Discover the Guild's new Best Practices! At this free webinar, led by DG Executive Director Ralph Sevush and DG Director of Business Affairs Jessica Lit, you'll learn how to define important industry terms, what to expect from standard contest or festival contracts and promotional materials, and what your authorial rights are when submitting to a contest or festival. You'll also be equipped with strategies and suggestions for how to respond if a contest or festival flouts current industry norms.
This event is open to playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists, as well as potential producers/organizers of contests and festivals.
|
|
|
|
|
Producing in Multiple Cities for Independent Dramatists
|
Thursday, January 26
Atlantic Time: 11pm
Eastern Time: 10pm
Central Time: 9pm
Mountain Time: 8pm
Pacific Time: 7pm
Alaska Time: 6pm
Hawaii Time: 5pm
|
Discover how to navigate the complex process of getting your work produced in multiple cities!
Playwright Michael Madden will explore the intricacies of how to navigate the production process when your play or musical is produced in different cities. He will be joined in conversation by San Diego co-Ambassadors Aleta Barthell and Thelma de Castro. Learn how to connect with theatres, how to partner with non-profits, and more!
This event is free and open for all to attend.
|
|
|
|
|
Career Training Videos and Benefits |
New Videos added to the Career Training and Craft Video Archive!
DG members can peruse tutorials crafted by fellow dramatists and industry experts, via our Craft and Career Training Webinar Archive. These video discussions bring theatre professionals directly to your computer, phone, or tablet regardless of location.
With simple, easy-to-follow instructions, you can delve into pre-recorded seminars at your convenience.
|
|
|
|
|
DG members are now entitled to 20%-40% discounts off subscriptions to Constant Contact Email and Digital Marketing Services. You are also eligible for an additional 30% off for the first three months of any new account activation.
Constant Contact is an email marketing platform that can help theatre writers like you to more effectively promote your work!
|
DG members are now entitled to 50% off annual subscriptions to PowerYoga -- a series of online livestream Yoga and meditation classes.
As part of the PowerYoga subscription, you'll also have access to an online archive with previously recorded classes, meditation techniques, and more.
Incorporate care and wellness into your writing routine, and access your benefit now!
|
Are you looking to rent a space where you can produce your work?
DG members are now eligible to receive a discounted rental rate at Theater 555, the 160-seat off-Broadway theatre located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th & 11th Avenues).
Learn more and access your member benefit via the button below!
|
|
|
|
|
Free Rehearsal Space at the Dramatists Guild Foundation |
The Dramatists Guild Foundation is now offering free space for playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists to use to rehearse, work, and collaborate!
Three separate spaces (the Music Hall, the Composers Corner, and the Writers Den) are available for use, all of which are located at the Foundation's offices in midtown Manhattan. These spaces are open to all theatre writers, regardless of DG membership status.
|
|
|
|
|
Art of Negotiating Theatre Contracts
It can be daunting to negotiate with a producer, theatre, or school that wants to produce your play or musical. But it is important to advocate for yourself so that you receive the treatment that you deserve.
Our guide on The Art of Negotiating Theatre Contracts will ensure that you know your rights as a dramatist, that you understand the current market, and that you recognize what you get in a negotiation.
|
|
|
|
|
Devised Theatre Resource Guide
What happens when a theatrical collaboration expands beyond traditional definitions? Discover resources designed to help you form appropriate relationships with co-authors, devisors, and sponsoring theatres in the context of devised theatre!
This guide summarizes the ways in which devised theatre is made and offers contractual templates that ensure the equitable participation of the parties involved.
|
|
|
|
|
Broadway Contract Guide
Learn all about the Dramatists Guild's Broadway Approved Production Contract in this APC booklet guide!
Discover when to obtain the APC for First-Class Productions, how to use the APC, and what APC certification means. This guide also includes important information on the rights and responsibilities of DG members when they are produced on Broadway, such as Guild assessments and our Broadway Consultation member benefit.
|
|
|
|
|
Best Practices for Contests and Festivals
What should you look out for when trying to decide whether to apply to a contest or festival?
This guide offers best practices that playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists can consider when weighing submission opportunities for contests and festivals, so that they will be empowered to make informed submission choices. (Please be advised that these guidelines reflect ideal industry practices, not current minimum standards.)
|
|
|
|
|
Contracts and Best Practices |
|
|
|
|
Download a DG Best Practice, Model Contract, or Guide Today! |
Because the Guild tracks national and worldwide trends, we are able to provide certain model contracts that reflect up-to-date industry standards.
We encourage our members to use these models to educate themselves and to use them as guides when entering into productions or collaborations.
Devised Theatre
Anti-Piracy
Best Practices
Broadway
Collaboration
Commissions
Diversity and Inclusion
Live Stream/Digital Theatre
Negotiation
Opera
Production
Translation
Underlying Rights
|
|
|
|
|
We would like you to be informed, educated, and well-equipped when you navigate the business side of theatre. There are so many questions that writers have about this industry; we want to bring those questions and answers directly to you. Dear Business Affairs features DG members' most pressing questions, answered by staff in our BA department.
|
|
|
|
|
Question: What should I ask for regarding compensation?
|
How much compensation should you expect to receive from a commission or a production? How much money should you ask for when negotiating a contract, and how long should you have to wait before you get paid for your work?
As theatre writers, without the ability to collectively bargain, we are forced to negotiate for our compensation on an individual basis... which has led to confusion, inconsistencies, and a lot of questions.
But now, it’s time to get some answers.
Join your fellow writers and take the Dramatists Guild Compensation Survey this March!
We invite you to participate in the first ever wide-ranging examination of what theatre writers are getting paid and the sources from which we derive our income. This survey will give us a better understanding of what it's like to be a working theatre writer in America.
The data that we collect will be used to bolster our advocacy efforts as we work to standardize best practices and recommended guidelines of equitable compensation for playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists.
Don't miss your chance to be a part of this narrative! Never forget that as a dramatist, you have rights. It’s time to tell your story, so that you can advocate for what you need and make your voice heard.
|
Need Business Advice? The BA Career Help Desk is DG's support portal that allows us to answer your business related questions more quickly and efficiently. You can submit a query, or request a contract review, via our ticketing system.
|
|
|
|
|
We are writers; what we love to do most... is write! Second to that, we love rehearsing in the room with performers and getting to see our work fully realized and produced.
However, as writers, we will inevitably have to deal with the non-creative, not-so-fun, but very essential part of our industry-- the business. We might come across some complicated looking terms, such as subsidiary rights, copyrights, or collaboration agreement.
What do these terms mean, and why do we need to know them? The DG Glossary is your handy go-to guide on important terms that every writer of the theatre should know.
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Weekly Box Office Receipts
Gross Weekly Box Office Receipts (or GWBOR) refer to the revenue from ticket sales that is commonly used to calculate an author’s royalties.
The DG agreements define GWBOR as all sums received by the producer from all ticket sales allocable to performances given in a performance week, less specific “Allowable Deductions,” including:
- Documented federal, state, or local taxes that are imposed upon the admission and are printed on the ticket;
- Documented credit card (AmEx, Visa, MC, etc.) fees or discounts taken from the in-house sales of the theatre (not to exceed a certain agreed upon percentage);
- Documented fees or discounts paid in connection with the theatre’s in-house subscriptions. For instance, if tickets for the show are sold on a subscription basis for which the producer receives less than the full price that would be received if the ticket were sold at the box office, GWBOR for the show shall be calculated by multiplying the number of subscription tickets sold for the show times the full price of the ticket, calculated using the undiscounted box office price and then subtracting any discounts received by subscribers for such tickets;
- Documented fees or discounts paid in connection with the theatre’s group sales (not to exceed a certain percentage of the price of the ticket);
- Documented fees or discounts paid in connection with third-party off-site Internet sales (such as Groupon or Goldstar) that are not to exceed a certain percentage of the price of the ticket;
- Documented Ticketmaster or similar fees applied on a per ticket basis;
- Documented sums included as GWBOR in a prior performance week which were included in author’s royalty calculation, but which sums subsequently are refunded or uncollectible due to dishonored checks, invalidated credit card receipts, or for any other such similar reason; and
- Restoration or historic preservation fees printed on the ticket (not to exceed any cap then pertaining that may have been imposed on such fees by any theatrical union), provided that such fees are retained by the venue and not paid over to the producer.
No other deductions of any kind whatsoever are allowable, such as surcharges and/or operation costs connected with telephone or Internet sales, agency commissions, ticket broker fees, ticket printing expenses, mailing fees, telephone expenses, theatre maintenance or “restoration” fees paid to a producer, and any other expenses or fees not specified above as Allowable Deductions.
Significantly, Allowable Deductions from the GWBOR come only from third-party expenses. For instance, if a theatre sells its own tickets through its own website, it cannot pay itself its own “Internet Fee” and deduct that from the gross when determining an author’s royalty.
Need Business Advice? The BA Career Help Desk is DG's support portal that allows us to answer your business related questions more quickly and efficiently. You can submit a query, or request a contract review, via our ticketing system.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
