Ordering Help

  • close How do I order scripts? How do I order performance rights or a video license?
    Online. The fast and easiest method is to order online. You do not need a credit card to place an online order -- we accept purchase orders and other payment options. To begin your order, click one of the ordering buttons at the top of any play's profile page.

    Phone. To order over the phone, visit our Contact page for our toll-free number and hours of operation.
  • close How many scripts do I need to buy?
    If you are purchasing a performance license, you will be required to purchase a minimum number of scripts. This includes all scripts for your cast and crew. If you already own scripts from a previous production within the last 12 months, please email us so we can verify your purchase and provide you with steps to place your new order. Photocopying is strictly prohibited by copyright law. If you are ordering eScript Printable Editions, there will be a minimum number you need to order based on average cast size.
  • close Why hasn't my order arrived yet?
    It could be for any number of reasons. One reason may be that we may not have received your payment or purchase order. Until we receive one of these two items, we cannot begin processing your order. You may check the status of your order in your Account Dashboard. Alternatively; you may contact us to confirm that we have received your payment or purchase order.

    If we have notified you that your order has been shipped, then the problem may lie with the third-party shipping company (e.g. FedEx or the U.S. Postal Service). Note that the U.S. Postal Service can take over two weeks to deliver a package. FedEx shipments, on the other hand, are guaranteed to arrive in the time specified during the order process. You may track the progress of your package using the tracking information in your shipping confirmation email. If your shipment is late, please contact us and we will do our best to remedy the problem as quickly as possible.
  • close If I order online, do I need to use a credit card?
    No. We accept purchase orders, institutional checks and money orders. For more information about payment options click "What are my payment options?"
  • close Do I have to use the website to place an order?
    No. You are welcome to order by phone. Ordering online, however, is your fast and easiest option. You do not need a credit card to place an order online.
  • close What's the fastest way to get the books to me?
    The quickest and easiest way is to order online and choose the fast shipping option (e.g. FedEx Next Day). At the end of the order process, be sure to use one of the two fast payment methods: either fax/email a purchase order, or pay online with a credit card.
  • close Do I have to pay the full royalty fee?
    The royalty fee is required in almost all performance situations, regardless of whether or not admission is charged. The royalty fee is relatively nominal, yet it is crucial to ensure that writers continue to create new and vital dramatic work.

    Also note that the vast majority of our customers do not make a profit from their productions. If we waived or reduced the royalty fee for such groups, the writers would make little to no money at all.

    Click here for more information about rights and royalties.
  • close How long does shipping take? How much does shipping cost?
    The shipping time can vary a great deal and will depend on several factors, including the weight of the package, the customer's location, etc. We also have a variety of shipping options, all of which will be presented during the order process.

    The easiest way to determine your shipping options/cost is to begin an online order. During the order process, the website will calculate your shipping options, along with each option's transit time and price.
  • close How do I order books online without performances?
    When you've reached a play's profile page, click on the yellow "BOOKS" button and continue your order by entering your desired number of books and/or eScripts (if available).

    Note that photocopying our books is strictly prohibited by law.
  • close Do I need to set up an account with you to begin an order?
    Yes, you can click the "NEW CUSTOMER" link at the top of every page or click here.
  • close How much do books cost? How much do performance rights cost?
    For plays: Book prices and performance royalty fees are displayed in the yellow box of each play's profile page. Also, these prices are automatically calculated for you when you order online.

    For musicals: Prices for perusal materials are displayed in the yellow box of each play's profile page. Production packages and performance royalties costs are automatically calculated when you add them to your cart.
  • close What are my payment options?
    You may use any of these payment options:

    Purchase order - U.S. and Canadian organizations only (Note: we cannot accept purchase orders for eScripts).
    Credit card - MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express
    Money order- U.S. dollars only.
    Institutional check -U.S. dollars only. Playscripts cannot accept personal checks.

    After you place an order and use one of the above payment options, we will ship your order. For fast service, pay by credit card or fax/email a purchase order. All payment details will be further outlined after you begin your order.
  • close Can I use just a purchase order number?
    If you are using a purchase order, we will need to receive the actual document by fax, email, or mail. 
  • close How do I order more than one title?
    Once you begin your order, you can add as many books and performances as you wish to your shopping cart.
  • close Is this play available in an anthology, or only as a single title?
    If the play is available in an anthology, there will be a note on the play's profile page.
  • close Are all of your plays in stock?
    Yes. Every single title in our catalog is always in stock.
  • close Where do I send payment?
    Before you send payment, you will first need to place an order. You will receive detailed payment instructions at the end of this process. You can also find our mailing address on the About Us page.
  • close What do these prices mean?
    The answer often depends on who you are and what you're buying. The prices for standard edition books, stage manager editions, librettos, CDs, and production packages are the prices for you to buy and keep the items.

    Prices for performance royalties (if you are performing the play)

    For short plays: Non-professional groups are only required to pay the flat per-performance royalty fee listed in the yellow box of any play profile page.

    For short musicals: Non-professional groups are only required to pay the flat per-performance royalty fee that is automatically calculated during the order process.

    For full-length plays:

    K-12 schools are only required to pay the flat per-performance royalty fee listed in the yello box on the play's profile page.

    All other organizations are required to pay at least the flat per-performance royalty fee listed in the yellow box on the play's profile page, and at most a percentage of actual box office revenue (usually 8-12%) after the production.

    For full-length musicals:

    K-12 schools are required to pay the flat per-performance royalty fee that is automatically calculated during the order process. For select titles, this up-front fee may be against a percentage of actual box office revenue (usually 8-12%).

    All other organizations are required to pay at least the flat per-performance royalty fee that is automatically calculated during the order process, and at most a percentage of actual box office revenue (usually 8-12%) after the production.

    All of the above is automatically calculated and laid out in detail during the order process.
  • close What is your refund policy?
    All book and eScript sales are final. No returns or exchanges are accepted. 
     
    We recommend purchasing and reading a single perusal book before ordering performance rights and a full cast quantity of books or production package. In addition, you can preview free samples of any script or score. These online script samples should enable you to make an informed decision before spending any money.
     
    Playscripts may refund amateur performance royalties and archival video licenses in the event of cancelled performances. You must request such a refund before the date of the last performance specified in your order.
     
    Playscripts may refund a professional performance royalty only in the event of cancelled performances. You must request such a refund at least 7 days prior to the first day of the run.
  • close What is a purchase order?
    A purchase order is an official document from your institution that guarantees the eventual payment of money owed. In other words, a purchase order is a promise that the money's on the way. Different institutions have wildly different rules governing purchase orders -- for details, check with your bookkeeper!
  • close What is in a musical production package?
    The materials found in production packages vary from musical to musical; however, they always contain the materials necessary to stage the show. For a list of materials contained in any musical's production package, see the lower left-hand corner of any musical's profile page.
  • close What if I'm not affiliated with an organization? Can I still order online?
    Yes. In the "Organization" field, you may input "N/A." If you are affiliated with any organization at all, however, we ask that you include the organization name. (For example, if you are a student at Thistlethorpe Academy, include Thistlethorpe Academy as your organization.)
  • close Am I an amateur or professional group?
    The short answer: If you pay your actors (Equity or non-Equity), you're a professional group. If you don't pay your actors, you're an amateur group.
     
    The long answer:
     
    Amateur Performances include performances as staged by little theaters, community theaters and/or drama associations; colleges, universities, high school and other school groups; churches and other religious institutions; and/or puppetry theaters, clubs, and other amateur organizations or groups, (a) irrespective of the size or nature of the audience; (b) regardless of whether or not an admission fee is charged; and (c) regardless of whether the performance is given by paid or unpaid actors and production staff. Amateur Performances does not, however, include performances given by any theater or group using a cast which consists entirely, or of a majority, of paid actors and production staff and/or that has normally been known to handle stock pursuant to one of the Actors Equity Association agreements governing employment of actors.
     
    Professional Performances include performances given in any theater or by any group using a producing cast which consists entirely, or of a majority, of paid actors and production staff, and/or has normally been known and handled as stock, including puppetry theaters, Council of Off Loop Theaters (COLT), Council of Stock Theaters (COST), League of Resident Theaters (LORT), regional theaters, dinner theaters, repertory productions, etc.
  • close Are your plays sold in bookstores?
    Many of our plays can be found in theater bookstores. When you order directly from Playscripts, however, you can be sure that every title will be in stock.
  • close Is my credit card information secure?
    Yes. We use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, which encrypts your credit card number before passing it to the credit card processor. To ensure even stronger security, we do not store your credit card numbers anywhere in our database.
  • close Are these prices in U.S. dollars?
    Yes. To determine the rough equivalent for a different currency, we recommend using XE.com. You may also wish to contact your bank to see how they would handle the exchange rate for a particular transaction.