Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 15:26     Subject: Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:


They did Rent last year. The issue is also due to location and not being able to identify an actual theater to hold the musical. Walls does not have an auditorium (or gymnasium for that matter) and the relationship with GW in terms of facility usage is almost non-existent.


Why is it that way? Why can't the admin/DCPS improve their relationship with GW? I wish more was done. Same with the athletics.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 13:50     Subject: Walls school musical canceled


+1 Older shows are cheaper and the restrictions on exclusivity are significantly less strenuous. I have no idea what happened at Walls, but I know that the HS where I work had secured the rights to this year's show (fall and spring, neither one currently touring) before the school year even started. A show like Hadestown teen would have needed to be locked down probably even before that, including not just the script and marketing rights, but also the scores, and then sheet music if they use a live pit orchestra/band/stage band.

For those asking why Walls couldn't just plead with the company, you have to realize that these rights are held by enormous companies that operate worldwide. I just looked up Hadestown Teen and it is held by Concordia. You can look at "Now Playing" and see that, in our general region, only two schools in Maryland have rights, then thirteen schools in Virginia including a bunch of close-in high schools (McLean, Arlington). There look to be about 150 high schools with upcoming productions just in the US and that doesn't count those who did Hadestown Teen as their fall show, just upcoming spring ones.

My one surprise is that they could not pivot. If they thought they had enough money for Hadestown, they absolutely had enough for Grease or even something edgier like Rent Teen Edition.



They did Rent last year. The issue is also due to location and not being able to identify an actual theater to hold the musical. Walls does not have an auditorium (or gymnasium for that matter) and the relationship with GW in terms of facility usage is almost non-existent.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 11:40     Subject: Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Huh.

I wonder if this is why schools often put on plays that are kinda old? Maybe they are in the public domain?


I'm not sure they ever reach public domain status, but yes, the rights are easier/cheaper to get.



+1 Older shows are cheaper and the restrictions on exclusivity are significantly less strenuous. I have no idea what happened at Walls, but I know that the HS where I work had secured the rights to this year's show (fall and spring, neither one currently touring) before the school year even started. A show like Hadestown teen would have needed to be locked down probably even before that, including not just the script and marketing rights, but also the scores, and then sheet music if they use a live pit orchestra/band/stage band.

For those asking why Walls couldn't just plead with the company, you have to realize that these rights are held by enormous companies that operate worldwide. I just looked up Hadestown Teen and it is held by Concordia. You can look at "Now Playing" and see that, in our general region, only two schools in Maryland have rights, then thirteen schools in Virginia including a bunch of close-in high schools (McLean, Arlington). There look to be about 150 high schools with upcoming productions just in the US and that doesn't count those who did Hadestown Teen as their fall show, just upcoming spring ones.

My one surprise is that they could not pivot. If they thought they had enough money for Hadestown, they absolutely had enough for Grease or even something edgier like Rent Teen Edition.



Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 11:23     Subject: Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:Huh.

I wonder if this is why schools often put on plays that are kinda old? Maybe they are in the public domain?


I'm not sure they ever reach public domain status, but yes, the rights are easier/cheaper to get.

Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 11:20     Subject: Walls school musical canceled
Huh.

I wonder if this is why schools often put on plays that are kinda old? Maybe they are in the public domain?
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 11:17     Subject: Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Another huge debacle at SWW…at this point are they just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic?


Ah, the DCUM Walls hater strikes again. At what point does this topic turn to "bring back the entrance exam" and/or "BASIS is so much better"?

OK, but back on topic: I really think the school could have found *something* to perform, now that they've got a cast and everything. These kids have got to be super disappointed.

I think having the kids write their own show, which a PP mentioned, is a great idea!


There are TONS of shows available for which they could easily secure the rights. This is a huge cop-out.

That said, have they tried having the kids write a letter with a heart felt plea to the rights holder and/or whatever theatre company is blocking the rights? Ultimately it's a public school not even focused on the arts; this is not competition for a professional show (if anything, in my experience, it drums up more interest in a "real" version of the show among the school community). Have they really, really pushed to see if there's anything they could do/any kind of agreement they could reach (e.g., not advertising outside of their school community, not charging for tickets, whatever the company's concern is?)? I have been in a similar situation where we reached an agreement pretty easily.


Most of the schools applying for rights are also public schools. There are rules, a process, and everybody plays by them. We are talking about intellectual property rights. If these kids what to be in theater, they are going to want their own rights protected someday too. This is a good lesson, though also a complete bummer.


Actually I'd guess the majority of schools paying as much as Hadestown's Teen version costs are not public schools. They are private schools and youth theatres. Also, Hadestown teen is not available in some geographic areas because of professional production exclusivity issues, which may be the issue here. If the issue is a local production blocking access, they can waive their exclusivity. I've been in this world for awhile and I'm telling you that it is possible to come to a unique agreement a lot of the time. It's definitely worth a try.


Which is a part of following the rules and process.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2025 11:14     Subject: Re:Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There has to be more to this story. If you have $$ you can license a show.
Walls parents would absolutely contribute money to make it happen.


Word is that the "more to this story" is that the Walls principal is completely unsupportive and her office dropped the ball here.


Unsupportive of this play, unsupportive of the theater program or unsupportive in general? We’re new, but so far, I’m not impressed with her.


She is unimpressive overall - we are happy enough with the school, but so SO underwhelmed with her


Why wasn’t there a search for a new principal when the old one was let go? Strange that she’s still the principal. Although I can see why DCPS would want her there.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2025 21:58     Subject: Re:Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There has to be more to this story. If you have $$ you can license a show.
Walls parents would absolutely contribute money to make it happen.


Word is that the "more to this story" is that the Walls principal is completely unsupportive and her office dropped the ball here.


Unsupportive of this play, unsupportive of the theater program or unsupportive in general? We’re new, but so far, I’m not impressed with her.


She is unimpressive overall - we are happy enough with the school, but so SO underwhelmed with her
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2025 14:59     Subject: Re:Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There has to be more to this story. If you have $$ you can license a show.
Walls parents would absolutely contribute money to make it happen.


Word is that the "more to this story" is that the Walls principal is completely unsupportive and her office dropped the ball here.


Unsupportive of this play, unsupportive of the theater program or unsupportive in general? We’re new, but so far, I’m not impressed with her.


Her job is to punish Walls parents for their impertinence. Previous admin stood up to Bowser, and now Bowser is going to make life hard.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2025 08:16     Subject: Re:Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There has to be more to this story. If you have $$ you can license a show.
Walls parents would absolutely contribute money to make it happen.


Word is that the "more to this story" is that the Walls principal is completely unsupportive and her office dropped the ball here.


Unsupportive of this play, unsupportive of the theater program or unsupportive in general? We’re new, but so far, I’m not impressed with her.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2025 20:03     Subject: Re:Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:There has to be more to this story. If you have $$ you can license a show.
Walls parents would absolutely contribute money to make it happen.


Word is that the "more to this story" is that the Walls principal is completely unsupportive and her office dropped the ball here.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2025 17:09     Subject: Re:Walls school musical canceled
There has to be more to this story. If you have $$ you can license a show.
Walls parents would absolutely contribute money to make it happen.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2025 13:57     Subject: Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The school musical was announced, and there were auditions and casting. And then it got canceled. They said that the school didn't get rights to the musical. How did this happen?


Walls is an academic focused school. It does not offer competitive sports teams or a large arts program. There are other DC schools that do. Get over it people.


Wow, thanks for your lack of empathy for 14-17 year-olds who are now really disappointed. I don't have skin in the game, but I feel for these kids. Even academic-focused schools need to offer kids a chance to exercise other parts of their brains, and they need to follow through on implicit promises made to these kids when they cast the musical.

Also, despite your assertion, and despite its lack of facilities, Walls actually does have competitive sports teams. (Which probably says more about sports in DCPS in general than it does about Walls, tbh.)
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2025 11:59     Subject: Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Another huge debacle at SWW…at this point are they just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic?


Ah, the DCUM Walls hater strikes again. At what point does this topic turn to "bring back the entrance exam" and/or "BASIS is so much better"?

OK, but back on topic: I really think the school could have found *something* to perform, now that they've got a cast and everything. These kids have got to be super disappointed.

I think having the kids write their own show, which a PP mentioned, is a great idea!


There are TONS of shows available for which they could easily secure the rights. This is a huge cop-out.

That said, have they tried having the kids write a letter with a heart felt plea to the rights holder and/or whatever theatre company is blocking the rights? Ultimately it's a public school not even focused on the arts; this is not competition for a professional show (if anything, in my experience, it drums up more interest in a "real" version of the show among the school community). Have they really, really pushed to see if there's anything they could do/any kind of agreement they could reach (e.g., not advertising outside of their school community, not charging for tickets, whatever the company's concern is?)? I have been in a similar situation where we reached an agreement pretty easily.


Most of the schools applying for rights are also public schools. There are rules, a process, and everybody plays by them. We are talking about intellectual property rights. If these kids what to be in theater, they are going to want their own rights protected someday too. This is a good lesson, though also a complete bummer.


Actually I'd guess the majority of schools paying as much as Hadestown's Teen version costs are not public schools. They are private schools and youth theatres. Also, Hadestown teen is not available in some geographic areas because of professional production exclusivity issues, which may be the issue here. If the issue is a local production blocking access, they can waive their exclusivity. I've been in this world for awhile and I'm telling you that it is possible to come to a unique agreement a lot of the time. It's definitely worth a try.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2025 11:51     Subject: Walls school musical canceled
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The school musical was announced, and there were auditions and casting. And then it got canceled. They said that the school didn't get rights to the musical. How did this happen?


Walls is an academic focused school. It does not offer competitive sports teams or a large arts program. There are other DC schools that do. Get over it people.


Somehow TJ manages to do both and spends less per pupil so, not sure why Walls doesn’t and can’t offer something besides total incompetence. They can’t even make the normal excuse for DC, which is that the student body is hopeless.


Walls doesn’t have the physical space for a show. It makes the logistics much more difficult. The only space they have to rehearse is the cafeteria.