FAQs:  Using and Ordering from the Online Catalog

No, you do not have to break your budget to select which show you’re going to produce.

Free online script samples are available for practically all of our plays and musicals.  Each sample provides approximately a third of the script as well as the cast list and complete production notes.  While you can choose to produce a show based on this sample alone, we strongly recommend that you read the entire script before making a final decision.  Use these free samples to help you narrow down which scripts you wish to preview in their entirety.  These script samples are also printable, and you are welcome to make any number of copies at no charge to help you select a play or conduct auditions.

You can purchase any entire script to preview either electronically or in a paper format.  Electronic preview scripts are called E-views and offer the advantage of immediate access.  They are not printable.  Click here to learn more and see pricing.  The more credits you purchase at one time, the cheaper your price becomes per script and unused credits never expire. 

All preview scripts, whether paper or electronic, are complete scripts and are yours to keep unless previewed through the Musical Perusal Program.  The Musical Perusal Program allows you to borrow a script and a piano score or a script and a CD Sampler for up to three different shows for 30 days while you choose which musical will be best for your group.  See the FAQ below for more details.

Most of our customers find that developing a personal library of playbooks, whether paper or electronic, is quite advantageous.  Material that doesn’t work for you one year may be ideal another year with a different group of actors.

You can borrow a script and a piano score or a script and a CD Sampler for up to three different musicals for a $20 rental fee that covers postage and handling.  It also provides you with a pre-paid FedEx return label as long as you provide us a street address in the continental United States.  You may borrow the material for 30 days.

Once you’ve decided which show you’re going to do and place a production order within 90 days of your perusal order, we will bill you for the material you are keeping and waive the $20 perusal fee if it is still unpaid or credit it toward your production order if you already paid it.

This truly is a no lose program.  If you don’t do one of the shows you perused, return it all and pay just $20 to borrow up to $95 worth of material!  You don’t even pay for return shipping from street addresses within the continental United States.  Of course, we will bill you at the regular price for any material you keep.

Almost every single one of our musicals has pre-recorded music available.  You may hear a small portion of every song from the show on our website simply by clicking on a song title from the musical’s page.  To hear a longer selection of each and every song, you may get a CD Sampler of that musical.  You can rent a CD Sampler through our perusal program or purchase it for just $4.00.  Another option is to download an E-view for any musical.  It automatically comes with the CD Sampler track at no additional cost! 

Flexible refers to the gender of the actors, not the number of actors.  Thus a “Flexible cast of 15” has 15 speaking roles with several of them that can be played by a male or a female.  Typically, in Pioneer plays and musicals, roles such as teachers, principals, judges and reporters can be played by either an actor or an actress.

Because our customers typically have more females than males in their casts, we often write flexible roles as female.  However, you are welcome to change the gender of any character in a Pioneer Drama play or musical as long as it doesn’t impact the plot of the play.

Flexible does not mean you can reduce the number of speaking roles or scripts required to produce a show.

“Doubling possible” suggests that there are a few instances where the same actor can play two small parts.  Generally, this can reduce the cast of a show by three to four people and is something to look at if you have a small ensemble.  Doubling does not mean that you can cut the cast size or script requirement in half.

This tells you how many speaking roles are in the play or musical:  M stands for male, F for female.  If a role can be played by a male or female, we designate it as “flexible.”  Because our customers typically have more females than males in their casts, we often write flexible roles as female.  However, you are welcome to change the gender of any character in a Pioneer Drama play or musical as long as it doesn’t impact the plot of the play.

Every group presents their show at a different pace, and every audience responds differently.  Thus, these time estimates are just that — rough estimates.  If your group is middle school age or younger, you would be wise to assume that their pacing will not be quite as fast and thus your performance will take longer than the time estimate.  Audiences full of friends and family who warmly applaud at the end of every scene also extend the running time of a show.

A preview order is for getting just a single copy of script to read it and see if you like it.  Most of our customers start their process with us by picking three or four shows from our wide selection and ordering a preview copy of each.  Some people require two preview copies if there is more than one person involved in selecting the play or musical.

Preview copies are to be used only to decide on a show for production.  They cannot be copied or reproduced in any way.

Once you’ve decided which show you want to do, you place a production order to get all the material you need for your entire cast and crew.  At this time, you also arrange for royalties to be paid, either with the materials or closer to your production dates.

This bundle contains two complete sets of tracks.  The first has the vocals along with all the music you need for the show, fully orchestrated and studio produced.  The second set is just the music without the vocals; basically they’re like karaoke backing tracks.  Purchasing the Music Tracks and paying your royalties gives you the right to use either set in any performance.

If you order the Vocal/Performance Music Tracks to be delivered physically, you will receive two CDs, one for each set.  We recognize that these CDs are costly and a significant investment for you.  That’s why all our CDs are unconditionally guaranteed for your entire production.  If your CD gets damaged in any way or will no longer play, just let us know and we will immediately replace it at no cost to you.

The Director’s Book is an enlarged 8½” x 11” spiral bound copy of the script with several additional forms and other pages to assist you.  It is essentially a workbook intended to help directors and stage managers keep all of their notes and information for the production organized in one place.

On the reverse of every script page, there is a notes page to keep track of all of the staging and cues.  In the back of the Director’s Book, there are several reproducible, show-specific forms, including: 

• Character/Scene Breakdown
• Audition Application
• Audition Notes
• Cast List
• Contact Information

Finally, the back of the book also provides reproducible forms for a rehearsal schedule, props list, and sound and lighting cues.

For more guided information about the director’s books and how to use them, click here to access our newsletter article on Director’s Books.

Lyric Learner™ is the easiest way to practice and learn the words to a show’s songs as a group!  These PowerPoint slideshows include all the lyrics to every musical number in the show and can be used with a Smartboard or projector so your entire cast can see the words.  Simply open the slideshow and let it run — the slides and transitions have all been timed to the music for you.  No clicks required!

Pioneer’s Lyric Learner™ provides slideshows timed for both the vocal and the instrumental music tracks and is fully editable in case you want to make simple modifications, such as changing who sings a line or skipping a verse.

Access to the Lyric Learner™ for a particular musical requires a production order including the Vocal/Performance Music Tracks.  The slideshow is mailed to you on a CD and can either be ordered at the same time you place your production order or as an additional order any time afterwards.

For those customers without PowerPoint, Lyric Learner™ files can be viewed in Google Docs, in Dropbox, or in a free account for Microsoft OneDrive.  Click here to download a sample Lyric Learner™ to see how they work.

Your organization automatically has credit with Pioneer Drama Service when you provide us with the business name and a legitimate business address.  All others, including businesses operating out of a residence, must prepay for both their materials and their royalties.  For your convenience, we accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.

To pay your bill online using a credit card, click on “My Cart” found in the upper right of any page.  Even though your cart is blank, click on “Checkout” and proceed to fill out your billing information.  In the comment box, make sure to include your invoice number and the amount you’re paying.  Continue to checkout and you will be able to enter your card information on the next page.  We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.  As soon as we process your payment, we will email you your credit card receipt.

We also accept payment via PayPal.  Please use the email Payments@PioneerDrama.com and make sure you provide your organization name and the invoice number you’re paying.

Pioneer Drama Service will only accept returns of materials previewed through the Musical Perusal Program.  WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE RETURN OF ANY OTHER MATERIAL.  No other books, scripts, or music parts are sent on approval.  Any returns received may be refused or subjected to a restocking fee up to 20% in addition to original shipping charges.  Please do not place a production order for any play or musical until you have read the entire script.  We strongly encourage you to purchase a single preview copy or view the entire script through our E-View program before placing your production order.

There are no returns, exchanges, or refunds of emailed scripts, distribution rights, or any other product delivered electronically. 

Royalties will be refunded upon notification of any cancelled performance.  Please allow three weeks for processing.

Your confidentiality is guaranteed.  We NEVER sell or rent our list of customer names.

We use your email address to send you your credit card receipt if that is your method of payment.  We also will email you shipping and tracking information when we send out your order.

Credit card account information is always encrypted and is regularly purged from our website unless you ask us to store it for you for future purchases.