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| Innovative Play Publisher Celebrates 100th Play, by Tony Award-Winner David Henry Hwang |
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| New York-based publisher Playscripts, Inc. unveiled its new catalog of 100 plays this month, including Rich Relations by David Henry Hwang, author of the Tony© Award-winning Broadway hit M. Butterfly. "I am very excited that my play, Rich Relations, will mark the 100th play to be published by Playscripts," said Mr. Hwang, whose writing is currently represented on Broadway by Aida and Flower Drum Song, and in movie theaters by Possession. "[Founders] Douglas and Jonathan Rand have hit upon an innovative new approach to play distribution and licensing, which I believe represents a very viable model for the future." Since its inception in March 2000, Playscripts has provided a powerful alternative to the conventional system of performance licensing and play publication, delivering a new combination of traditional and online services to playwrights and theaters worldwide. Playscripts has licensed over 700 productions and sold books in 26 countries. Brothers Douglas and Jonathan Rand first got the idea for Playscripts in 1998, when Jonathan began promoting his one-act play Hard Candy on his home page at the University of Pennsylvania. While the play had received no response when Jonathan shopped it to traditional publishers, his website generated well over 100 productions around the world within just a year. The Rands concluded that the internet possessed extraordinary promotional potential for both emerging and established playwrights -- and that this potential had been neglected by the traditional play publishers, which tend to restrict their acquisitions to comfortably commercial New York hits. By selecting plays based on their quality, without relying solely on author credentials, Playscripts has opened the door to a diverse and exciting body of new work. Visitors to the Playscripts website (www.playscripts.com) can run a search for plays that fit their specific criteria, and then read lengthy script samples for free online. This allows theaters to choose plays based on the playwrights' own words, instead of just a tiny catalog synopsis. Meanwhile, the online script samples are encrypted against printing, in order to safeguard the playwrights' intellectual property. "In the great tradition of American invention, Doug and Jon Rand have invented a better mousetrap," said legendary producer and director Harold Prince. "I think Playscripts is a wonderful idea and another good way to get plays to producers and theatre companies." Playscripts' associated authors also enjoy unprecedented access to sales information, through a unique private website. "I am particularly interested in the fact that I will be able to go online at any time to find out how many 'hits' my playsite has gotten, how many copies have been sold, and any future productions in the works," said Mr. Hwang. "It's nice to see the digital future partnering with the theatre, since both promise to be around for a long time to come." More news... |
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