# Is there a way to find a copy of any published play? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 4, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-find-a-copy-of-any-published-play/617769 "2012-04-04T02:21:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-find-a-copy-of-any-published-play/617769/1 "2012-04-04T02:21:30Z")
I really, really need to find a copy of a play that was published before 1983 (sorry, I can’t be any more specific than that.) The title was “Who Invited Them?”, and it was a comedy about a New York couple who went to the South, and… I don’t honestly remember what happened then, except that their daughter ended up staying there with the local sheriff and they went back home. Anyway, it’s really important that I find it. Looking at the library didn’t help, and I haven’t gotten anywhere with a general Google search. Is there some kind of index or reference for all published plays? All help GREATLY appreciated! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-find-a-copy-of-any-published-play/617769/2 "2012-04-04T02:38:48Z")
[http://www.Findaplay.com](http://www.Findaplay.com) is a search engine for scripts. My college theater got nearly all their scripts from Samuel French. They have the largest script catalog that I’m aware of. They have a search too. Be aware there’s usually a Royalty fee for performing a play. Cost depends on the type of theater, expected audience size etc. > **[Homepage | Concord Theatricals](https://www.concordtheatricals.com/)** > > Concord Theatricals is the world’s most significant theatrical company, comprising the catalogs of R&H Theatricals, Samuel French, Tams-Witmark and The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection. We are the only firm providing truly comprehensive services to... ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-find-a-copy-of-any-published-play/617769/3 "2012-04-04T02:45:15Z")
Some info > [@](#): > > Licensing Fees (Royalties): > The writing of plays is a means of livelihood. We support theatre by supporting the creator of theatre, the playwright. Licensing Fees (Royalties) are due two weeks prior to production and are applicable to each and every performance, whether or not admission is charged. Licensing Fees (Royalties) can be included as a line item on purchase orders. > > If you order more than one copy of the same script title, you will be billed and obligated to pay licensing (royalty) fees unless you inform us that your selections are for perusal only. > > Listed licensing fees on the Samuel French website are for live stage productions by Amateur groups with maximum seating capabilities below 300. Special arrangements must be made by professional groups, amateur groups with larger seating capacity, all audio/video broadcast and any other use not already stated. Amateur productions in a theatre or auditorium seating of 300 or more must contact our office for licensing fee (royalty) quotations. ---
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-find-a-copy-of-any-published-play/617769/4 "2012-04-04T03:22:16Z")
I can’t imagine why anyone would want to ever put that play on again. It wasn’t very good. No, I have other reasons… I’ll see if I can find it, and thanks for the links! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-find-a-copy-of-any-published-play/617769/5 "2012-04-04T03:26:28Z")
ETA: !!! Both search engines insist that it doesn’t exist. But I KNOW that it was performed in 1983. Is there anywhere else it could possibly be?? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-find-a-copy-of-any-published-play/617769/6 "2012-04-04T03:44:12Z")
IIRC some plays are still owned by their playwrights. They have to be contacted directly for permission to perform their works. I’m not sure how you’d find a list of those kinds of plays. Usually a theatre would find the contact information for a playwright and go from there. ibdb is the Internet Broadway Database Search. You could check there and see if they have any info on your play. It will show when it was performed, the cast, and what Theatre. They only have information on the major Broadway productions in NY. > **[Search For Broadway Shows | IBDB](https://www.ibdb.com/shows)** > > The official database for Broadway theatre information ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-find-a-copy-of-any-published-play/617769/7 "2012-04-04T04:11:40Z")
In 1999, “Stay out of the South : a three act comedy / by Tom Eagan” was registered in the copyright office. The card catalog entry indicates that it was previously registered as “Who Invited Them?” in 1977. I have no idea if this is the same play. The copyright office card catalog previous to 1978 is available on microfiche at some research libraries. A copy might be on deposit at the copyright office, if you are desperate enough to travel to Washington to look at it. (They won’t make a copy for you.) Tom Eagan of Louisville KY died in 2009. He has a couple of books available on [amazon.com](http://amazon.com). You might want to obtain a copy and check who the publisher is and see if they can help you. One of the books was co-written with Laura Spaulding. Unfortunately, there are millions of Laura Spauldings on google. If you can narrow it down to the right one (and she is still alive), maybe she might be able to help you. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-find-a-copy-of-any-published-play/617769/8 "2012-04-04T04:20:39Z")
Tom Eagan owned a publishing company called Aran Press in Louisville KY. ---
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-find-a-copy-of-any-published-play/617769/9 "2012-04-04T04:40:14Z")
FOUND IT through WorldCat!!! 🙂 Interlibrary loan was the key. There are exactly 3 libraries worldwide that have this play (under the original title), and one of them is sending it. I just KNOW this will lead to that big breakthrough…