by tracyrenee | Feb 9, 2026 | Producer Tips, Theatre Management
The Ghost in the Budget.
Every producer knows the big numbers. You know the venue rent. You know the insurance. You know the royalty percentage. But there is a ghost in your budget that most people do not see until it is too late. It is the cost of the “Traditional” script model.
When you license from the big houses, the royalty is just the starting line. Then come the “hidden” fees. You pay for script rentals. You pay for shipping and handling. You pay for the “privilege” of returning those scripts by a certain date. If a cast member loses a book or highlights a line they should not have, you pay a damage fee.
The Digital Double Dip.
Even when these companies offer “Digital Materials,” they often charge you a “convenience fee” just to download the files. Think about that. You are paying them for the right to use your own ink and your own paper.
On top of that, you often run into “Technical Support” fees or per-user access fees if you want to share those files with your cast through their proprietary apps. By the time you actually get a script into an actor’s hand, you have paid for the license, the download “convenience,” the paper, and the toner.
At TLC Scripts, we think that is a dinosaur way of doing business.
Digital First is a Budget Lifeline.
We built our model to kill the hidden fees. When you license from us, you get a digital master. There is no shipping. There is no “digital access fee” just to get the files you already paid for. There is no waiting for a box to arrive in the mail. There are no return deadlines.
This does more than just save a few dollars on postage. It gives you back your time. Your actors can have their scripts on their tablets or phones the second the show is cast. You can print only what you need.
Transparency as a Standard.
The theater world is expensive enough. Producers should not have to guess what their final bill will look like. By removing the physical rental model and the “pay-to-download” nonsense, we have removed the friction between finding a great play and actually getting it into the hands of your actors.
If you are planning your next season, look at the fine print of your licensing agreements. If you see “return shipping” or “digital delivery fees,” you are paying for an outdated system. It is time to put that money back onto your stage where it belongs.
by tracyrenee | Jan 26, 2026 | Producer Tips, Theatre Management
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Keep Your Scripts. No matter the cast size, every actor keeps their script. No returns, ever.
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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.
Ready to see our full list of small-cast shows? [Click here to browse our 4-person and 5-person script catalog.]
by tracyrenee | Jan 24, 2026 | News, Producer Tips
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.
