Technology


Vol. 26 No. 1

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Unlike writers for film, television and streaming, theatre writers own the work they create

 

Playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists are independent contractors. Independent contractors are not allowed to unionize, as we are considered property owners who license our work for others to use. In order to protect a dramatist's unique vision, which has always been the strength of the theatre, you need to understand a single fundamental truth: you own and control your work

The Dramatists Guild is committed to shepherding playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists through every stage of their careers by providing community, advocacy, contract reviews and professional development to aspiring and professional dramatists working in the United States.  

When a group of playwrights including George S. KaufmanMoss Hart, and Eugene O’Neill gathered to form the Dramatists Guild over 100 years ago—the nation’s first and only trade association for American theatre writers—they held one ideal paramount: maintaining control over one's intellectual property

They believed that every author should maintain the legal rights to their own work. The intent was clear; in maintaining their own copyrights, authors could control the creative life of their material. They could choose their own producers, their own directors, and their own casts, and no changes could be lawfully made in production without their explicit consent.

To ensure ownership and control, the Guild recommends that any production involving a dramatist incorporate a written agreement in which both the producer and the writer acknowledge certain key industry standards, known as The Dramatist's Bill of Rights

Have an unsigned contract you have questions about? Send it to us, and we’ll review it as part of your membership. It's important you know your rights before you sign any contract in order to protect your labor and your copyright.

You are not alone. You have over 100 years of community, advocacy, and best practices behind you.

 

EXPLORE BUSINESS AFFAIRS  

Cover DG Model Contract

Access live stream, Broadway, industry contracts, and best practices.

 

Negotiate with an understanding of what the standards are. Because the Guild tracks national and worldwide trends, we are able to provide model contracts that reflect up-to-date industry standards. We encourage playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists to use these models to educate themselves and use as a guide when entering into productions or collaborations.

In addition, to help theatre writers navigate new uses of their work, we offer a new model Livestream Addendum agreement to revise prior agreements to include such “digital rights.”

 

EXPLORE INDUSTRY CONTRACTS

Advocacy Resources
Mar 17, 2024

San Francisco: Join Us for an Advocacy Night for Theatre Writers on March 30

Glad logo in white against a black background
Mar 13, 2024

March 20: Crafting Trans and Nonbinary Characters in Theatre with GLAAD

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Mar 13, 2024

March 25: Entrepreneur Day for Theatre Writers

Christopher Durang
Mar 01, 2024

2024 DG Awards Update: Christopher Durang Will Receive the Lifetime Achievement Award

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Feb 22, 2024

Classes Start March 11 - Registration for Spring Professional Classes Now Open!

Stay informed with Member News

L-R Erika Dickerson Despenza, Sharon Washington, Dave Harris
Mar 08, 2024

MacDowell Announces Spring and Summer 2024 Artists

Great Plains Theatre Commons New Play Conference 2024 Playwrights
Mar 04, 2024

Great Plains Theatre Commons Announces 2024 New Play Conference Playwrights

Christopher Durang
Mar 01, 2024

Christopher Durang Will Receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Dramatists Guild Awards

Lortel Awards Recipient
Feb 23, 2024

Announcing 39th Annual Lucille Lortel Award Recipients

Mona Mansour and Martyna Majok (left to right)
Dec 05, 2023

Announcing 2023 Steinberg Playwright Awards

Stay informed with The Dramatist
Resource Directory

Find the right submission opportunity to support your work in our Resource Directory.

 

Submitting your play or musical is as necessary as finishing it. But the process of finding the right submission opportunity is work. This is why, for more than 20 years, the Dramatists Guild has compiled a submissions and opportunities database, and published an online directory of theatres, agents, festivals, contests, workshops, retreats, and other submission opportunities to help make the life of the dramatist a little easier. Let the Dramatists Guild simplify and expedite your submission strategy with our database of deadlines and resources.
 

Clauder Competition for New England Playwrights

March 31

BAU Institute Arts Residency

March 31

Pan Asian Repertory NuWorks Festival

March 31

Playwrights for Change

April 01

Democracy Cycle

April 01

Austin Film Festival Playwriting Competition

April 19

NEA Challenge America

April 25

Synecdoche Works

April 30

Baltimore Playwrights Festival

April 30

Black List x TRW

May 01

 

Get the latest submissions deadlines.

Write. Edit. Format. All are equally important.

Formatting your script correctly can mean the difference between making it to the next round of a writing competition or having your work disregarded. While playwriting is more liberal with form, there are industry standards that every dramatist needs to know. The DG provides members with a database of the most commonly used script formats, completely free.
 

DOWNLOAD FORMATS

A full suite of career services to enrich, inspire, and empower writers.

 

Being a part of the DG community is more than just access to legal help. From perks like free theatre to money-saving deals on necessities like writing software, members of the DG gain access to a long and ever-growing list of benefits. Additionally, your Guild membership allows you to receive benefits from other industry organizations like The Actors Fund.
 

EXPLORE SERVICES & BENEFITS

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The Actors Fund

Founded in 1882, The Actors Fund is a national human services organization here to meet the needs of our entertainment community with a unique understanding of the challenges involved in a life in the arts.

Services include emergency financial assistance, affordable housing, health care and insurance counseling, senior care, secondary career development and more. As a member of the Dramatists Guild, you have access to their services.

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Playwrights Welcome

For dramatists, seeing shows is more than just entertainment; it’s a necessity. Writers gain inspiration and inimitable knowledge by attending live performances. However, the price of theatre can be expensive.

Through Playwrights Welcome, the DG seeks to remove financial barriers that may prohibit dramatists from seeing shows When theatres participate in Playwrights Welcome, they commit to offering otherwise unsold tickets to professional playwrights free of charge.

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Devised Theatre

The Dramatists Guild is thrilled to extend our services and community to Devised Theatre professionals through the launch of our new Devised Theatre resources page.

We now offer four contract models explicitly designed for Devised Theatre, and a Devised Theatre Resource Manual, which includes an explanation of legal principles, discussions about craft, a glossary of terms, and much more. Our Business Affairs Help Desk is open for members who may have questions about our Devised Theatre resources.

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We advance together. Explore and engage with a community of writers.

 

At its core, the Dramatists Guild is about building a community of playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists who support each other at all levels of their professional careers. DG Community Resources are available for members to build bridges and create partnerships. Our website features ways to contact your regional rep, find a collaborator, and much much more.
 

SEARCH THE MEMBER DIRECTORY