Selecting a script for your next theatre season can feel like standing in front of an overflowing buffet. So many choices, so many flavors. But a successful season isn’t just about finding a good play. It is about finding the right play for your audience, your cast, and your budget.
Here is a practical guide to help you cut through the clutter and make a confident choice.
1. Know Your Audience.
Who fills your seats? Are they looking for laugh-out-loud comedies or thought-provoking dramas? Do they prefer family friendly musicals or gritty, realistic plays? Understanding your audience’s preferences is the first step to building a loyal following and selling tickets. Don’t program for yourself, program for them.
2. Assess Your Talent Pool.
Be honest about the actors who typically audition. If you consistently have a strong ensemble of women, consider Female-Forward Plays. If your pool is often smaller, focused, and agile, exploring Small Cast Plays can lead to incredibly powerful productions without the stress of finding 20 actors. Conversely, if you have a vibrant youth program or a deep bench of experienced performers, a Large Cast Production might be perfect.
3. Crunch the Numbers.
Beyond royalties, consider the full production budget. A complex musical will demand more for sets, costumes, and musicians than a simple play. Remember that low cost play scripts can free up funds for other production elements, enhancing the overall audience experience. Our transparent theatre royalties (4% for plays, 6% for musicals) make it easy to budget from day one.
4. Consider Your Venue and Resources.
Does your stage support elaborate sets, or are you working in a more intimate black box space? Do you have access to a full band, or would a show with simpler musical accompaniment be a better fit? The right script works with your resources, not against them.
5. Read, Read, Read.
There is no substitute for reading the script itself. Do not just skim the synopsis. Dive into the dialogue, visualize the staging, and imagine it with your actors. If a script genuinely excites you, that passion will translate to your cast and ultimately to your audience.
Your Next Season Starts Here.
At TLC Scripts, we believe the perfect script is out there waiting for you. By considering these factors, you are not just choosing a play you are building a successful, sustainable future for your community theatre.
The TLC Formula: Why Transparent Royalties are Better for Community Theatre.
Most play licensing houses treat their royalty rates like a state secret. You find a script you love, but then you have to fill out a long form, submit your ticket prices, and wait days or even weeks just to get a quote. By the time you know if you can afford the show, you have already lost valuable rehearsal time.
At TLC Scripts, we think that is a relic of the past. We don’t hide our math.
The Simple Math of Success.
We use a flat, transparent royalty structure that lets you plan your season with confidence:
It is that simple. You do not need to send us your tax returns or wait for an approval letter. If you can do the math, you can license the show.
Why This Structure Works for You.
Budget Certainty. You know exactly what your costs are before you even hold auditions.
Fairness for All Sizes. Whether you are a 50 seat black box or a 500 seat auditorium, the rate scales with your actual ticket sales.
Revenue Preservation. You keep more of your hard-earned revenue to put back into your sets, costumes, and your next production.
Part of a Bigger Picture.
Transparent royalties are just one half of the TLC Way. When you combine these rates with our “Keep Your Scripts” policy, you are removing the two biggest headaches in community theatre: hidden fees and the “eraser brigade.”
We aren’t here to blow smoke. We are here to make it easier for you to get stories onto your stage without the administrative nightmare.
Calculate Your Royalties Instantly
Don’t wait days for a quote. Use our Licensing Calculator to see exactly what your royalties will be for your next production. Whether it is a 4% play or a 6% musical, the math is always transparent.
Why Small-Cast Plays are the Modern Producer’s Secret Weapon.
In the world of community theatre, “big” isn’t always “better.” While the massive 30 person musical has its place, the savvy producer knows that the real magic and the real profit often happens with a cast of four to eight actors.
Why Small Casts Win.
Intimate Engagement. Smaller casts allow for deeper character development and a closer connection with the audience. In a 4 person play, every actor is a lead.
Production Agility. Scheduling rehearsals for five people is a dream compared to thirty. You can work in smaller spaces, move faster, and pivot when “life happens” to a cast member.
Budget Freedom. Fewer costumes, fewer props, and lower material costs. Combined with our 4% royalty rate, a small-cast show becomes a high-margin win for your theatre’s season.
Not Just “Small,” but “Scaled.”
At TLC Scripts, we specialize in this “sweet spot” of theatre. We aren’t blowing smoke when we say these shows are built for impact. Whether it is a tight 4 person comedy or a sweeping 8 person drama, these scripts are designed to fill your stage without draining your resources.
The TLC Advantage.
Keep Your Scripts. No matter the cast size, every actor keeps their script. No returns, ever.
Direct Support. Small-cast shows often require specific staging tweaks. Our playwrights, Judie and Gary, are available to help you make it work for your specific venue.
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.
On May 18-22, 2016, the Gypsy Stage Company, under the direction of Internationally acclaimed director, Ruth K. Brown, took Sapperstein & Murway’s work, Women are from Venus, Men are from Uranus, to the Liverpool International Theatre Festival in Liverpool Nova Scotia Canada. They represented the United States against an amazing lineup of talented directors, actors and theatrical works from all over the world.
Well, it was a very talented group of directors and actors, with some amazingly written theatrical works, all performed at one of the most stunning events involving the entire community of Liverpool Nova Scotia in a way that was positively second to none! It was such an honor to be a part of this, to be among such talented peers and with a devoted and giving community such as this.
We were fortunate to come home with a lasting memory and an even bigger honor … The Gypsy Stage Company brought home an award for our work. It was such a thrill to represent our country in this way and we wish to express our profound gratitude to the Gypsy Stage Company and Ruth K. Brown for their love of our work and belief in its ability to “bring home the gold.”
Here’s the full list of competitors:
ARGENTINA:
Name of Group: Arco Voltaico
Name of Play: La celula – Acto incompleto y orquestado
COLUMBIA:
Name of Group: EFAC Black Box Theatret Lab Sibate Colombia
Name of Play: BACK…BAK
EGYPT:
Name of Group: EAST VOICE GROUP FOR ARTS
Name of Play: The Seven Days
GEORGIA:
Name of Group: Signagi Theatre
Name of Play: A Strolling Group of Actors
INDIA:
Name of Group: BHARATI KAPADIA THEATREA
Name of Play: Untold Stories
MEXICO:
Name of Group: Compania Teatral “Tercera Llamada”
Name of Play: Curva Peligrosa (Dangerous Curve)
MOROCCO:
Name of Group: Dramatic Association for Artistic Creation
Name of Play: Black and White
NEPAL:
Name of Group: Creative Academy/Lok Drishti Theatre
Name of Play: Abhagini Aama – 2
PERU:
Name of Group: Cuerpos y Alma
Name of Play: De la Cocha al Mar
PORTUGAL:
Name of Group: Associacao Manipulartes companhia de teatro de marionetas
Name of Play: Manipulartes Apresenta / The Lover Fish
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Name of Group: Gypsy Stage Company
Name of Play: Women are from Venus, Men are from Uranus
VENEZUELA:
Name of Group: VTP Veneteatro Producciones
Name of Play: St. John of the Disabilities
ZIMBABWE:
Name of Group: Chipawo – New Horizon Theatre Company
Name of Play: The Most Wonderful Thing of All (A Doll’s House)
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