Which Shows are Newly Available for Licensing?

Ready to put on a show? Whether you are looking to make theatre on Broadway or very far from it, it takes more than just a great venue, cast and creative team to create a quality theatrical production. Before any of those pieces come together, you first need to license rights to perform the show.

What is theatrical licensing?

Licensing is a crucial step in staging any copyrighted play or musical. While it might seem like just a bureaucratic hoop to jump through, licensing not only ensures compliance with copyright laws but also respects the creators' work.

Why do I have to license a show?

The world of theater is built upon the creativity and hard work of playwrights, composers, and other artists who bring stories to life on stage. Licensing ensures that these creative works are protected and fairly compensated. The process supports the sustainability of the arts, honors the original creators, and maintains the integrity of the work. 

Is licensing optional?

No. Any performance of a copyrighted work, whether for a public or private audience, requires a license. This applies regardless of whether tickets are sold, whether the event is for charity or profit, or even if no money changes hands at all. Performing a copyrighted work without a performance license means that your production could face serious legal and ethical consequences, halting your dreams before the curtain even rises. Be sure to acquire a license agreement before auditions, casting, and rehearsals.

NOTE: Not all plays are restricted by copyright. Those in the public domain are free to perform without a license or fee.

How do I license a show?

The process of licensing a show can vary based on the title and licensing agency that holds its rights. While rights to some shows my be granted quickly, others might require more time and may be restricted based on the where the piece is being performed, whether the theatre is amatuer or professional and other various limitations set by the show's author. The cost to license can also very from show to show.

How do I get started?

Most shows are available to license from a core group of agencies: Music Theatre International (MTI), Concord Theatricals, Broadway Licensing and Theatrical Rights Worldwide. Get started by perusing their catalogs and follow their instructions to acquire a licensing agreement for your next production. 

Newly Available Shows to License:

The Best School Year Ever: This unforgettably hilarious play, adapted from the Young Adult book, follows the beloved characters from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever as they navigate a full school year at Woodrow Wilson Elementary. LEARN MORE

The Gardens of Anuncia: Graciela Daniele’s coming of age in 1940s Buenos Aires, in the shadow of the Perón regime, is retold in this gorgeous, tango-infused new musical written by her longtime collaborator and friend, Michael John LaChiusa. LEARN MORE

Crime and Punishment, A Comedy: Dostoyevsky’s turn-of-the-century masterpiece is reimagined as a 90-minute romp of a morality tale, with five actors playing over 50 zany characters. Riffing on the famous novel – and all of Russian literature – brilliant comic collaborators Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen bring the whacked-out sensibilities of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors to 1860s Russia. This classic story follows Raskolnikov, an impoverished student who becomes a murderer in order to save his family. Based on the book you didn’t actually read in high school, this is literature retold as you’ve never seen it before. LEARN MORE

The Ally: When a college professor is asked to sign a social justice manifesto, he becomes embroiled in an increasingly conflicted web of relationships that challenge his commitments as a liberal, a husband, an academic, an American, an atheist and a Jew. LEARN MORE

Our Play: A glimpse into the lives of high school students as they mount a production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, mirroring the classic’s style and structure in three acts: rehearsal, opening night and the unexpected tragedy that follows. A beautiful inspection of the hopes and fears of growing into a life. LEARN MORE

The Game: Bekah Brunstetter’s hilarious and heartfelt play – about a group of women who decide to withold sex from their video game-addicted partners – brings technology and community together in the most unexpected ways. LEARN MORE

Origin Story: As she works two jobs to pay down her debt, Margaret grapples with not knowing who she is or what she’s aiming for. Funny, satirical and surprising, Origin Story is an offbeat look at the quarter-life crisis and how to connect in an unconnected world. LEARN MORE

The Ask: With comedic precision, this thought-provoking two-hander dissects a tense visit between a struggling young fundraiser and an affluent liberal donor as they navigate the treacherous power dynamics at the heart of charitable giving. LEARN MORE

To Tell A Story About the Earth: After a disastrous first production, a fledgling theatre company wants to call it quits. But when the local librarian requests a new performance for Earth Day, the artists have a decision to make. Part scripted play, part guided introduction to devising methods, this unique work prompts ensembles everywhere to create and share an original show about the natural world close to home. LEARN MORE

Reykjavík: Beneath the otherworldly glow of the Northern Lights, tourists and locals mingle in the shadows of Iceland’s capital city. Told through eight interconnected vignettes, Reykjavík eavesdrops on lovers, siblings, hotel employees, sex workers – and even some birds with really strong opinions about honesty. In this tour-de-force collision of sex and danger, playwright Yockey propels us on a thrilling journey through a world in which the supernatural is closer than we think. LEARN MORE

Mercury: Three stories cross outside of Portland, OR in a pitch-black comedy featuring an illicit affair, a couple hanging on by a thread, bears at the window, the worst curiosity shop on the West Coast, and an adorable missing dog named Mr Bundles. No one’s happy, people stop being nice and blood spills. This mash up of myth, missing empathy and “good neighbors” explores what happens when the mercury rises. LEARN MORE

Darling Grenadine: Bubbling over with charm, wit, and whimsy, Darling Grenadine navigates the tension between romance and reality, light and dark, bitter and sweet. This modern love story features a vibrantly eclectic score, stirring book, and lyrics by Daniel Zaitchik. LEARN MORE

Between the Lines: Between the Lines is an empowering and enchanting story for anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world. An outsider in a new town and a new school, Delilah seeks comfort in the pages of her favorite book, where she feels heard and understood by the handsome Prince Oliver. But as the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur in extraordinary ways, Delilah realizes her dreams in the real world are worth fighting for. LEARN MORE

MTI's All Together Now!: MTI is pleased to announce the availability of a special musical revue offered free of charge to theatres who have been significantly impacted by a natural disaster. MTI's All Together Now!: A Benefit Event for Disaster Relief is a show designed to be used as a fundraiser for theatres affected and is MTI's way of showing gratitude to our customers experiencing hard times. LEARN MORE

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!: Based on the iconic animated film and beloved children’s book, Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! features a book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin. This duo expands on the timeless story, adding new songs that are bound to have everyone tapping their feet. LEARN MORE

Left on Tenth: After Delia Ephron’s husband of more than thirty years passes away from cancer, Delia has to deal with logistical problems large and small—among them, cancelling her husband’s landline with Verizon. The frustrating experience becomes the basis of a New York Times op-ed, which in turn becomes the basis for a new relationship. Peter, a man she briefly dated in her twenties, contacts her after reading her piece and wants to reconnect. In classic romantic comedy–style, emails become phone calls become cross-country flights become lasting love. But when Delia is faced with a devastating new challenge, her newfound relationship with Peter comes to mean more than a happy ending—it means winning the fight of her life. LEARN MORE

McNeal: Finally, finally, Jacob McNeal has won an award he feels appropriately honors his genius: the Nobel Prize in Literature. The award is already improving his professional life, including high expectations for his newest novel which his longtime publisher has honored by providing an appropriately large advance. But McNeal's career success comes at a time of great personal turmoil. His alcoholism is spiraling out of control, and his estranged son, mistress, and a New York Times culture reporter threaten to ruin his reputation—something McNeal might accomplish himself with his use of Artificial Intelligence. McNeal must figure out how far he's willing to go to tell a good story and if the value of the message outweighs its perceived truth. LEARN MORE

Conversations with Mother: Growing up isn't easy—especially with a strong-willed, Italian-American mother keeping tabs on your every move. Free-spirited Bobby has a knack for getting into trouble, and his mother, Maria, never hesitates to offer her opinion, like it or lump it. As he comes of age and builds a life for himself in New York City as a struggling playwright — is there any other kind? — Maria is always there with a phone call or check-in, following her mother’s intuition. And when Bobby begins to seek independence as a gay man, Maria stretches her own beliefs to support him. Through learning curves, life's complications, and hard-won victories, their love for each other never diminishes, with plenty of laughs and only a few tears. LEARN MORE

Water for Elephants (High School Edition): Water for Elephants, based on the bestselling novel by Sara Gruen, is a dazzling, heart-filled musical about Jacob, a young man desperate to escape his past, who jumps aboard a moving train uncertain of the road ahead. Finding himself on the ride of a lifetime, Jacob joins the colorful company of a traveling circus and is hired by the imperious ringmaster, August, as caretaker to the animals. LEARN MORE

The Chicken-Fried-Fabulous Spa-Dee-Dah Sisterhood: The Chicken-Fried-Fabulous Spa-Dee-Dah Sisterhood, is a heartwarming, comedic tale of five feisty Southern women navigating life together at their favorite day spa. As they celebrate their 20-year milestone, the new title exemplifies the remarkable talent of Jones Hope Wooten, specifically for creating charming, character-driven comedies, which have made them one of the steadfast and adored playwriting teams in contemporary theatre. LEARN MORE

Oy! To the World: Oy! To The World, conceived by Gregory Thirloway and developed with Maurice Godin, is a musical comedy celebrating the significant contributions of Jewish composers and lyricists to the modern concept of Christmas. The show humorously and warmly explores the theme of unity, highlighting how diverse cultural backgrounds can bring people together through love, trust, and laughter.‬‬‬ LEARN MORE

The Holiday Songbook: Experience the magic of the season like never before with The Holiday Songbook—an interactive musical journey that brings your favorite holiday tunes to life! The latest installment in the acclaimed Songbook Series, this high-energy show delivers an unforgettable evening packed with show-stopping performances, fascinating backstories, and plenty of holiday cheer. LEARN MORE

The Secret Wisdom of Trees: Abby Green tries to prepare her family and herself for her journey into Alzheimer’s by planting trees at the locations of her biggest memories. When her daughter dies and her grandchildren turn against her, Abby struggles with knowing that even her most painful memories are becoming difficult to hold onto. With her husband of 46 years by her side, she is filled with questions in her own personal race against time. Though she’s survived her daughter, can she survive her grandsons? Is blood thicker than spite? What’s worse — losing your family or losing the memories of what has become of them? And can love live beyond memory the way trees never forget to regenerate their leaves? LEARN MORE

Just For Us: After following an anti-Semitic tweet aimed in his direction down an online rabbit hole, comedian Alex Edelman finds himself in an unexpected place: at a meeting of White Nationalists in Queens, face-to-face with the people behind the keyboards. What follows makes up the backbone of this show, equal parts hilarious and gripping, that made its way from small London theaters to a unanimously well-received hit run on Broadway. Within JUST FOR US, Edelman, who was awarded a Special Tony Award® for the show, explores religion, cultural identity, assimilation, empathy, gorillas that speak sign language—and what it means to be confronted with hatred. LEARN MORE

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Coming soon:

Good Night, and Good Luck
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The Notebook
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The Heart of Rock and Roll
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Oh, Mary!
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& Juliet
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Kimberly Akimbo
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Titianique
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Some Like It Hot
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Operation Mincemeat
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