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:

Need more help? The shows below have become available to license most recently. Check back regularly for updates on new releases.

How to Dance in Ohio

Based on a true story, this feel-good show follows a group of autistic young adults and their families navigating change and preparing for a spring formal dance—a rite of passage that breaks open their daily routines in Columbus, Ohio.  LEARN MORE

1660 Vine

1660 Vine is an ensemble tale that follows a group of influencers as they take up residence in a famed Hollywood apartment building to pursue their dreams of social media stardom. With an original script and score written by a diverse group of young songwriters bringing their own authentic life experiences into the show, the various characters of 1660 Vine confront questions of fame, influence, identity, and mental health. While the residents update their followers through vlogs, gaming streams, makeup tutorials, TikTok dances, songs and pranks, they navigate their search for identity, discovering the difference between what is authentic and what is curated.  LEARN MORE

The Prince Of Egypt

The Prince of Egypt is a sweeping epic of a musical with music and lyrics by Grammy and Oscar winner Stephen Schwartz, a book by Philip LaZebnik, and 10 new songs written by Schwartz, together with five of his songs from the DreamWorks Animation film. The show also features Schwartz’s Academy Award-winning song, “When You Believe.” LEARN MORE

Darling Grenadine

Darling Grenadine is a seriocomic musical about Harry, a fanciful jingle composer, and his precarious relationships with his girlfriend Louise, his brother Paul, and his Labrador Retriever (…also named Paul). Told with a rich contemporary score and a wink to the classic MGM musical, Darling Grenadine explores the magical blush of new love and the consequences when the fantasy begins to dissolve. LEARN MORE

Chrsitmas In Connecticut

aspiring writer, Elizabeth Sanders, moves to New York City wanting to change the world but needs to make rent.  Out of desperation, she takes a job as a columnist, doling out tips, tricks, and advice about domestic life in the country (something she knows nothing about).  Under the pseudonym Liz Lane, she sky-rockets to fame, writing weekly about cooking, marital bliss, and life in her bucolic farmhouse in Connecticut… all the while living alone in her city apartment.  When a beloved war hero who is Liz's biggest fan is invited by her publisher to her non-existent farm, Liz is forced to find a house and husband in Connecticut to keep up the façade.  Throw in her co-conspirators and some madcap locals, holiday hijinks ensue as they try to pull off the hoax. LEARN MORE

Left On Tenth

When she least expects it, Delia, beloved novelist and screenwriter of You’ve Got Mail, reconnects with a man from her past and falls into her own romantic comedy. What starts with an unlikely spark, blossoms into a love story that seems to defy all odds in the face of life’s challenges. Left on Tenth tells the messy, beautiful true story of a woman navigating the miraculous life stream of the Beshert and discovering how to embrace the unpredictable and open her heart again. LEARN MORE

Water For Elephants (High Schools only)

Based on the 2006 bestselling novel by Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants was also adapted into a movie in 2011, starring Reese Witherspoon. The Broadway musical, which debuted in February 2024, features captivating characters, a sweeping love story, riveting songs, and boundless opportunities for rich ensemble performances. The show takes audiences on a charming and emotional adventure through the unforgettable world of a traveling circus during the Great Depression. LEARN MORE

The Rink

This innovative musical is set in a sort of Coney Island of the mind, on the ragged fringe of the New York show-biz world. Anna Antonelli's roller rink is about to be demolished, and with it Anna's sour memories of her Lothario of a husband and her painfully shy daughter Angel. The rink becomes an arena in which mother and daughter examine their past, present and future. LEARN MORE

Now Comes the Fun Part

Now Comes the Fun Part humorously explores the unexpected challenges and surprises of aging, from the first colonoscopy to early retirement, empty nesting, and reentering the dating scene. This musical celebrates life's later stages with laughter and relatability, promising audiences: "You'll laugh... You'll cry... You'll throw out your back laughing and crying!" LEARN MORE

The Shark Is Broken

The first summer blockbuster movie is being filmed—but no one working on the film would know it. Dive deep into the tumultuous, murky waters of the making of a major motion picture with testy, feuding costars, unpredictable weather, and a shark prop whose constant breakdowns are looking like an omen for the future of the movie. In this comedy co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, the short tempers of Jaws stars Robert Shaw (father of co-writer Ian), Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider take center stage as they bond, argue, drink, gamble, and pray for an end to the shoot, not knowing it will change their lives forever. LEARN MORE

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Coming soon:

Just For Us
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Oh, Mary
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& Juliet
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All Together Now!
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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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