International Live Theatre Law

Bringing a live stage production to Broadway, the West End, a regional theatre, or on the road is no easy feat. Developing the environment and atmosphere for audiences to immerse themselves in the story presented takes a great deal of creativity, artistry, patience, and money! Ultimately, though, a live stage performance comes together because of the collaboration of many people, and it is these relationships we explore in International Live Stage Business & Legal Affairs. The course moves from an overview on professional communication, copyright implications (specifically in the United States and the United Kingdom), and financing commercial theatre and entities in the US vs. the UK to a deep dive on the people who make theatre happen - producers, playwrights, directors, performers, designers, stage crew, location and box office managers, and marketing teams. For each of these groups of people, the course will review (a) any trade unions or associations that are involved in the fair labour negotiations and deals that are made through collective bargaining agreements and (b) other typical deal terms and agreements governing talent contracts. We'll even explore ethical marketing practices that derive from potential legal implications. After reviewing Theatre BLA under the Broadway/West End spotlight, we'll turn our study to other forms of theatre that producers must utilize or plan for, including pre-Broadway/West End tryouts, Off-Broadway/West End runs, touring companies, regional & local productions, and replica vs. non-replica productions. Finally, we'll tie it all together to understand how the whole live theatre ecosystem functions (and how the ecosystem relates to other entertainment mediums) and apply what we've learned to develop a Production Launch Checklist of business and legal considerations for live theatrical productions. Course materials will include case law readings, case studies of productions (through readings and documentary media), and research materials found through legal research systems. Additionally, students will be introduced to expert practitioners in London as guest speakers and watch recommended shows while in London to expose themselves to the artform.