Talk:Folger Shakespeare Library

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I have been told that the Folger Shakespeare Library somehow holds performance rights to the plays of William Shakespeare, and you are required to get their written permission if performing a Shakespeare play that is in any way altered or changed from the original. Is this true? -Toptomcat 14:50, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

Someone's pulling your leg. He's been dead over 400 years, that so falls in the copyright-free range. Molière plays are copyright-free, and he died more than 50 years after Shakespeare. If it were true, than the library's owed like a bajillion dollars. But unless there's been some radical shift in copyright law that I've not heard about, you can perform straight off or altered versions of da Bard's plays to your heart's content. --Ebyabe 16:07, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

I knew all that and said it to 'em, but they were very insistant, and had been working in theater longer than I have.

[80s cartoon show]Wikipedia: combating cluelessness one person at a time. Thanks, Ebyabe! [/80s cartoon show] -Toptomcat 13:51, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

You're quite welcome. Back in the day, some friends and I were going to start a community theater. I figured the best way to start would be the royalty-free route (Shakespeare, Molière, etc.) until we could afford to pay copyrights. Also did enough mangled versions of the Bard, as knowing others who've done them. Like a kiddie musical version of Midsummer Night's Dream, or a Western version of one of the Henry plays (I get them confused, but think it was IV) with Falstaff and Pistol in a bar. Get it? Pistol? :) I actually think I got quite good at Bardic text condensation. Good luck with your troupe, and break a leg. And twist an arm or two if you have to, but nicely. :) --Ebyabe 14:36, 28 March 2007 (UTC)