Can my high school perform Wicked?

Question

Is it legal for us to perform it at this time?

Answer 1

No, there are copyright laws.

~From musicalschwartz.com:~

WICKED LICENSING/COPYRIGHT

"We are in the process of negotiating the deal for stock-and-amateur licensing rights to WICKED. Needless to say, I don't expect them to become available for some time, since they are generally not made available until after the Broadway production has closed. If all continues to go well with the Broadway production, that is probably several years away. Sincerely, Stephen Schwartz"

~From the FAQ on musicalschwartz.com:~

CONCERT OF WICKED

The producers of the show have asked Stephen Schwartz to permit no more than THREE (3) songs from WICKED to be performed in any single event, therefore, a concert version of all the music from WICKED cannot be allowed at this time.

In order to obtain the rights for to perform a musical you have to contact the company that holds them (whether it's DramaSource, Music Theatre Internation, Theatrical Rights Worldwide or whatever) and pay a royalty fee.

~From an interview with Gregory Maguire:~

According to Maguire, there are plans to bring out a film version of “Wicked” in the year 2014. “That’s the 10-year anniversary of its Broadway debut,” he said, “which is exactly what happened when the play ‘Chicago’ came out as a film a few years ago. Since ‘Wicked’ is breaking attendance records all over the world, there’s no need to rush a film out now.”

~From another interview with Gregory Maguire:~

Q: What was your reaction when they first talked to you about your novel Wicked[:The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West] being made into a musical? Has anyone ever asked you about it being made into a film?

GM:Within 10 days of the book's publication in the US, I started to get film offers. I had three and a half years' worth of film scripts, each one of which was worse than the one before!

When that interest began to erode (Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings hadn't come out yet) and the notion of a Broadway play came up instead, really in my heart of hearts I just thought [*singing and leaping from his chair*] 'Broadway!'. What was not to love about it?

There will eventually be a film of Wicked: the musical but probably not for four or five years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time they start making the movie, the rights will be out for nonproffesional productions and theatre groups, schools, etc, will be able to perform Wicked.

Answer 2

its possible but usually its very hard to get the rights to a show thats currently on Broadway.

Answer 3

yeah my high school did and it was really good but all they did was take out the innapropriate parts and put in a something else but it was still very very fun to do and the show turned out great

Answer 4

No, the rights are not available. In fact, it's not even legal to sing more than 3 (I believe) songs from the show in a cabaret/talent shows/etc in one night.Sorry, you'll have to wait.

Answer 5

Not yet. Sorry, I'd love to do it too.

Others have done it illegally and have not gotten caught, if you do it you should be fine/