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It’s Contest Season!
We get many of the same questions over and over again, so we thought we’d create a new type of blog called Tips & Tidbits. Pioneer Drama is already the easiest play publisher to work with, and with these tips, we’ll make it even easier! Today’s Tips & Tidbits are about using Pioneer plays in competitions, festivals, and contests.
Request a performance license
Pioneer Drama likes to keep things simple, which means less paperwork for you! That’s why we don’t automatically issue performance licenses for our shows. Still, we’re happy to send one to you if your competition or festival requires one!
If you need a performance license, get in touch with us via phone, email, or chat, and we will be email one to you within one business day. Please make sure your royalties are already paid since we cannot issue you a performance license until you’ve paid for those performances. It kind of makes sense, doesn’t it?
I need a performance license before my district can cut a check for my performances
This does leave you in a pickle, doesn’t it? The best we can offer here is for you to pay your invoice with a credit card, which we will refund (less 5% to cover our processing fees) as soon as we receive your district’s check. We know this stinks, but at least it’s a solution that will get you a performance license in time.
You know that the staff at Pioneer Drama is helpful and honest, so you can rest assured when we give you our word that we will act with the utmost integrity and refund your card as soon as we receive an alternative payment. (The 5% fee is simply because we pay 2.5% of the amount to process the payment, and another 2.5% to process the credit back to your card. We don’t even charge you for our time!)
Can I make cuts to a play or create a cutting for competition?
Short and sweet, the answer to this is yes. And this applies to any of our plays.
Unlike other companies that restrict cuts or creating a cutting, we are more flexible as long as you are maintaining the playwright’s original intent. We also allow changing the gender of a character, including to non-binary, as long as the character does not have a romantic interest. All other changes require approval first, but you don’t have to wait long. We will give you an answer within one day.
You’ll be happy to know that our performance license puts in writing that you have permission to make these changes so that you’ll have no problem using the modified script in competition.
Shout out!
Congratulations to Worland High School in Worland, WY for winning state with Bus Stop by Kendra Thomas. (This play also won one of AATE’s coveted Distinguished Play Awards last year!)
Congratulations to Lennox School District in Lennox, SD for taking Kendra Thomas’s Whispers to state, where they had three individuals receive Superior rankings as well as their tech!
Are you using a Pioneer play in competition? We’d love to hear about your success so we can give you a shout out and share what play worked well for your school. Drop us a quick email here.
The Waiting Room
This thought‑provoking short play offers several powerful, dramatic roles for actors. Earl, an elderly man, arrives early for an appointment, and meets people from all walks of life, each also summoned to the ominous waiting room.
The Struggles
This award‑winning, poignant drama centers around Megan, a young girl coping with the learning challenges associated with dyslexia and ADD.
The Empty Chair
The setting is a counseling center for teenagers recovering from substance abuse. A member of the group has just died. Accident or suicide? This work has an emotionally strong anti‑drug message.
Gossip
This simple to stage one act by award‑winning playwright Brian Hampton packs a powerful punch as it brings Gossip to life and gives its infectious spread a visible presence onstage.
