UK Producers Comment on US LET IT BE vs. RAIN Lawsuit

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this week, The Fab Four hit Broadway this summer in Let It Be, but it might not be a smooth road to opening night. The creators of Rain, a Beatles tribute show that played on Broadway in 2011, have sued Let It Be producers for copyright infringement. As a part of the lawsuit, the Rain Corpration seeks fifty percent of the show's revenue becuse Let It Be uses many of the same songs and "the artwork used as background during the performance of many of those songs are similar or identical."

Now, BroadwayWorld has learned from an insider with the West End version of LET IT BE, that the London production is a separate entity and will not be affected by this lawsuit. They released the below statement:

LET IT BE is produced in the West End by Jamie Hendry Productions, Annerin Productions and others. JHP is unable to comment on the ongoing lawsuit between Rain Corp and Annerin Productions, which is taking place solely in the USA and regardless of the outcome will have no impact on the West End production, which was granted the Grand Theatrical Rights to the Beatles catalogue when it opened in the West End last year. Let It Be continues to play in the West End at the Savoy Theatre and will open on Broadway on 24th July.

Let It Be lawyer Peter S. Cane told NYT:"How do you monopolize the ability to present an impersonation of the Beatles?" Mr. Cane said. "How many different ways can you really do it? The Beatles acted a certain way, they played certain notes, they spoke a certain way." He continued, " 'Let It Be' is a tribute to the Beatles, not to the four guys who impersonate the Beatles."

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LET IT BE will begin previews tonight, July 16, 2013 at Broadway's St. James Theatre with opening night slated for Wednesday, July 24th. The show will play a limited engagement through December 29, 2013. American Express Cardmembers can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Wednesday, May 8 at 10am through Wednesday, May 22 at 11:59pm. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday, May 23rd and are available at LetItBeBroadway.com or by calling (212) 239-6200. LET IT BE kicked off in the fall of 2012 at London's Prince of Wales Theatre, where it recouped its initial investment after just 18 weeks. The show has since moved to The Savoy Theatre, where it continues an open-ended run.

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles is a Beatles tribute show that is acknowledged to be the first, longest running, and most successful Beatles tribute show in the world. It actually predates the popular Broadway show Beatlemania by several years. Rain ran on Broadway for 300 shows (and 8 preview performances) at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York City from October 2010 to July 2011.