Can You Record a Licensed Musical or Play?
Yes—if your production has the appropriate permission to do so.
Professional video is a great way to preserve a production, but theatrical performance rights and video recording rights aren’t always the same thing.
If your school, youth theatre, community theatre, or performing arts organization is considering having a production professionally recorded, this guide will help you understand what to check before the cameras start rolling.
Performance Rights and Video Rights Are Different
When a school or theatre company licenses a musical or play, that license generally gives the organization permission to perform the work under specific conditions. It does not necessarily include permission to record, reproduce, distribute, sell, livestream, or publicly post a video of the production.
Depending on the show and licensing company, video permission may be available through an additional license, rider, or other authorization. Some titles may have more restrictive recording policies than others.
Always check the terms for your specific production before scheduling a recording.
What Is an Archival Recording?
An archival recording is generally a recording made to preserve a production rather than for unrestricted public distribution.
However, “archival” does not necessarily mean that only one copy can exist. Depending on the specific video license, additional copies may be permitted for members of the production and their families.
Some theatrical video licenses allow authorized recordings to be distributed or sold to cast, crew, members of the creative team, and their families for private, personal use.
For example, MTI’s Video License Rider for eligible productions allows authorized recordings to be sold to participants in the production or their families for personal, at-home use. Other licensing companies and individual titles may have different terms.
The exact permissions depend on the license issued for your production.
Can We Sell Videos to Cast Members and Families?
Sometimes, yes.
Some theatrical video licenses specifically allow copies of an authorized recording to be sold or distributed to participants in the production and their families for personal, non-commercial use.
That does not necessarily mean the recording can be sold or distributed to the general public.
If your license permits participant copies, DB Productions can work with your organization to determine the best way to deliver the finished recording to your cast and families.
Can We Put Our Performance on YouTube or Social Media?
Permission to record a production does not necessarily include permission to publicly distribute that recording.
A license that permits an archival recording or private copies for participants may still restrict uploading the complete production to YouTube, Facebook, a public website, or another streaming platform.
Livestreaming may also require different permissions from simply recording a performance.
DB Productions provides both recorded and livestreamed multi-camera productions, but the producing organization is responsible for confirming that its theatrical license permits the intended use.
Who Is Responsible for Obtaining Recording Rights?
The school, theatre company, or organization producing the show is responsible for obtaining and confirming the appropriate theatrical and video permissions.
DB Productions does not obtain theatrical licenses on behalf of our clients or determine whether a particular production may legally be recorded. We provide the professional video production services once the producing organization has confirmed that the recording is permitted.
Where Do I Check My Recording Rights?
Start with the company that licenses your production. Major theatrical licensing organizations include:
MTI licenses many Broadway and musical theatre titles to schools, community theatres, youth theatres, and other performing organizations. Video licensing is available for certain productions and must be arranged separately when required.
Concord Theatricals represents one of the world’s largest catalogs of plays and musicals through collections and imprints including Rodgers & Hammerstein Theatricals, Samuel French, Tams-Witmark, Broadway Licensing, Dramatists Play Service, Playscripts, and Stage Rights. Recording and streaming permissions vary by title and production.
Theatrical Rights Worldwide licenses Broadway and West End musicals to professional, community, school, and youth theatre organizations. Video permissions depend on the production and applicable licensing terms.
Because rights and title availability can change, always contact your licensing company or representative for the current terms that apply to your production.
What Should I Ask My Licensing Company?
If you are unsure whether your production can be recorded, contact your licensing representative and ask:
We would like to hire a professional videographer to record one performance of our production. Does our license permit this, and may copies of the finished recording be provided or sold to cast, crew, members of the creative team, and their families for personal use?
If you are considering livestreaming the performance or making the finished video publicly available online, ask about those uses separately.
Once you know what your license permits, let us know what you would like to accomplish and we can design the recording and delivery around those requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No. The organization producing the show is responsible for obtaining and confirming its theatrical and video permissions. DB Productions handles the video production once you have confirmed that recording is permitted.
Yes. We can professionally record and edit your production once you’ve confirmed that your license permits an archival recording.
Possibly. Some licenses allow recordings to be sold or distributed to production participants and their families. Your specific video license determines who may receive a copy and under what conditions.
Only if your rights permit it. Permission to create an archival recording does not automatically grant permission to make the complete production publicly available online.
Yes, DB Productions provides livestream production services. Whether a particular theatrical production may be livestreamed depends on the rights granted for that show, so the producing organization will need to confirm that permission with its licensing company.
Absolutely. Recording a single performance from a multi-performance run is common. We can work with you to select the performance that works best for your production and schedule.
Ready to Record Your Production?
Once the rights are taken care of, we’ll take care of the production.
DB Productions provides multi-camera performance videography for schools, youth theatres, community theatres, universities, dance companies, choirs, orchestras, and performing arts organizations throughout Utah.
Our performance recordings can include multiple camera angles, audio integration, professional editing, titles and credits, digital delivery, and livestreaming when appropriate.
Learn More About Performance Videography
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