The End of the Script Rental

Why We’re Letting You Keep the Scripts

We’ve all been there. The show closes, the cast is exhausted, and instead of celebrating, the stage manager is chasing people down to collect scripts. You spend hours erasing pencil marks, franticly searching for that one lost copy, and then paying a small fortune to ship a box of heavy books back to a warehouse.

At TLC Scripts, we decided that the “old way” of doing things just didn’t make sense for modern theatre.

Why Rentals Are a Relic

For decades, the “Big Three” licensing houses have used the rental model to control their inventory. But in an era where we can print on demand and deliver files digitally, the rental model is just a series of hidden fees disguised as tradition.

• Security Deposits: Why should your budget be held hostage?
• Late Fees: Because life happens, but you shouldn’t be penalized for it.
• Restocking Fees: You’re paying them to put a book back on a shelf.

The TLC Way: You Bought It, You Keep It

We are theatre people making theatre stuff for theatre people. That means we know that an actor’s script is their Bible. It should be highlighted, dog-eared, and covered in blocking notes.

• Mark Them Up: We want your actors to own their process and have a memento when it’s all over.
• No Post-Show Stress: When the curtain falls, you’re done. No erasing. No shipping. No invoices for “damaged” books.
• Future Reference: Your theatre keeps the scripts for your archives or for actors to keep as a memento of the production.

The Math of Fairness

This “Keep Your Scripts” policy is part of our larger commitment to transparency. Whether it’s our flat 4% royalty for plays or our zero-fee digital delivery, we are here to be your partner in the wings, not a bill collector at the door.