The following is in response to an e-mail letter from a student in Melbourne, Australia.
As there was no return address, I am taking the liberty of answering here.

May I Perform Your Plays for Free?
3 Oct. 2003
Dear Lenore:
    While I make some of my plays available on the internet, public performances are subject to royalty fees - whether or not you charge admission. Public performances are those where the public (that includes friends and family) are invited to view a showing. This even includes an in-school theatre group charging admission or requesting donations. The only exception would be an in-class performance that is part of the director's or another participant's class work, and here audience attendance is restricted to teachers and students.
    Forgive me for stepping on the soap box for a moment. You see, journalists get paid by the word or contract or salary, novelists by the book, as do short story writers and poets (in addition to public readings). So shouldn't the poor playwright receive compensation when someone wants to perform his plays? It's little enough for his sweat and ink, labouring in the bitterly cold garret by the dim light of his last candle with nothing much for sustenance but a crust of stale bread and potato soup... while dozens or even thousands of people watch his characters come to life!
    Of course, I am pleased when someone decides to perform or publish one of my plays. But I feel that any person's intellectual property must remain in his/her control. I post my plays - or excerpts of them - on the internet. You can print them out for reading, perusal and study purposes. That's it. That's all you are authorized to do. Anything beyond that, you need my written consent.
    You mentioned that you formed a theatre group and want to perform Cassie at your school. So it sounds as if this is not a class project. Can you tell me what audience this is for, and other details about the production? Otherwise, the royalty fees are as listed on the royalties page of this web site.
    If you decide to go ahead with rehearsals - no matter what the conditions we may agree on - I will next ask a few details about the who, what, where, and when, to be written into the mandatory performance contract which I can e-mail or fax to you. It spells out the conditions for your production of my play. You or a school administrator would counter sign and fax or mail it back to me. It's a quick and simple procedure, but more about that later. Meanwhile, all the best with you troupe. It's an exciting field of endeavour!
    Regards,
    Heldor Schäfer