School cuts Bible references from "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

[The Free Hornet]

It is usually against copyright law to change a show in any way.

Rocket Science.

Got a reference on that claim?

 

[cjm]

Got a reference on that claim?

from: http://lecatr.people.wm.edu/copy.htm

Directors who claim they have a "right" to change plays ignore the law. For one example, Samuel Beckett took legal actions to prohibit a theatre from producing his Waiting for Godot with an all female cast. "Had I wished those characters to be female, I would have said so," he said icily. The theatre was close to opening its production, but it was forced to cancel the production.

Beckett also objected to JoAnne Akalaitis's intent to stage his Endgame in a New York subway setting in 1984. That violated his stage directions and, thereby, violated copyright law.

Equally, Edward Albee took legal action to stop a production of his Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in drag. "That is not the way I wrote it." Again, although rehearsals were in process, the production never took place.

 

[phill4paul]

Mr. Cochran: “I wish that they had let the kids do the play.” Yeah, Mr. Cochran that would have been nice to allow the kids to have done the play. The entire play.

 

[Ronin Truth]

Very sadly, a whole lot of stuff has changed for the worse in the last 50 years.

When ya get done screwing up my country, may I then have it back ........ please?

 

[The Free Hornet]

from: http://lecatr.people.wm.edu/copy.htm

Again, thanks for the reference. Here is a different source from a company that will ACTUALLY LICENSE that dramatic shit:

Changing the Script
Can I make changes to the script for my production?
Can I combine two characters into one?
Can I change the locale of the play?
Can we edit out the “bad language”/references to smoking and drinking/any references to a deity?
Can we change the play title?
Can we change character names?
We are an all boys/girls school can we cast female parts with male actors?
Can we change the order of the scenes?
Can we add a dance/song number to the show?
Written permission must be obtained from Samuel French for all changes to the script. It is a violation of copyright law to make any changes in the play for the purposes of production without obtaining written permission. Otherwise, the play must be presented only as published in the Samuel French, Inc. acting edition, without any changes, additions, alterations or deletions to the text or title. These restrictions include, without limitation, altering, updating or amending the time, locales or settings of the play in any way. The gender of the characters shall also not be changed or altered in any way (for instance by way of costume or physical change).

How do I get permission to cut a play?
Please email your licensing representative with your proposed changes and we will process your request. Please be aware that not all titles are available for cuttings.

Do I have to follow the stage directions?
You are not bound to the stage directions but take care not to alter the author’s intent. There are exceptions to this and in the case where stage directions must be followed explicitly, you will be asked to sign an additional rider to your licensing agreement which explains the requirement.

http://www.samuelfrench.com/faq#script3

Regarding "Do I have to follow the stage directions?". Their answer contradicts a quote off your source:

Legally, according to copyright law, deleting stage directions is a copyright infringement.

http://lecatr.people.wm.edu/stagedirections.html

I'd be curious if there is case law that treats this as a COPYRIGHT violation (like cutting some lines in a play or having a boy/girl play a girl/boy) as opposed to a contract violation. I also suspect the link I have supporting Ender's perspective is bullshit (that they are claiming more than they ought too - especially since 90%+++ are only going to give a fuck about getting a license fee not cutting a song or changing a character's gender).

I.e., it's CYA/nonsense and an anti-liberty perspective based on fear and a false respect for their betters (not mine).

Generally, a license is used to do something not to not do something. Playing half a song or half a movie will not typically run afoul of *copyright* law. If you agree in another contractual venue to perform the whole thing exactly ... well maybe. Other wrinkles like the suggestion that boys/girls can't play girls/boys would likely be laughed out of court. It's not just historical precedent, but a simple fact that you may not alter that Charlie Brown is a balding white boy but that can be portrayed by a braided black girl. Note that the claim is that the "gender of the characters shall also not be changed" but the actual question is whether boys/girls can portray girls/boys.

Anyway, a pox on all of those paying too much homage to the force-based IP industry (as opposed to one based on consent).

 

[satchelmcqueen]

funny, I'm not and have never been a Christian church goer and it bothers me more that they would have a charlie brown Christmas play and edit out the bible quotes, rather than having the play with the quotes. instead of forcing religion on you, its forcing unhealthy levels of pc retardedness on you.

yes i understand, i suppose when i read stuff like this i always think of the people i know and how they would bitch and moan about it being deleted, because "theyre ashamed of god" bs. i also dont support pc bs, but i also dont want to hear people crying about it.

 

[Anti Federalist]

You forgot the snow monster that marches through the town threatening people with his broomstick and showing disdain for the police.

Isn't that the talking snowman?

 

[satchelmcqueen]

Well, I can't ever recall hearing of any pageants or events at public schools where they read quotes from the Torah or Quran, so it would be tough to censor them if they don't exist. Maybe we should start having such events; but then you'd have some Christians switching sides and arguing for the side of censorship...

yep, the point of my post. id like to have a satan rules 666 concert, just to see the backlash from the religious side. if they can have theirs, then i should be able to as well. (i also am not a satanist lol)

 

[Anti Federalist]

yep, the point of my post. id like to have a satan rules 666 concert, just to see the backlash from the religious side. if they can have theirs, then i should be able to as well. (i also am not a satanist lol)

Meh, I doubt anybody would bat an eye, to tell you the truth.

 

[Sola_Fide]

Meh, I doubt anybody would bat an eye, to tell you the truth.

In the bathroom of the gas station across the street from my work, someone put "infowars.com" on the wall right in front of the toilet.

 

[Ender]

Again, thanks for the reference. Here is a different source from a company that will ACTUALLY LICENSE that dramatic shit:



Regarding "Do I have to follow the stage directions?". Their answer contradicts a quote off your source:



I'd be curious if there is case law that treats this as a COPYRIGHT violation (like cutting some lines in a play or having a boy/girl play a girl/boy) as opposed to a contract violation. I also suspect the link I have supporting Ender's perspective is bullshit (that they are claiming more than they ought too - especially since 90%+++ are only going to give a fuck about getting a license fee not cutting a song or changing a character's gender).

I.e., it's CYA/nonsense and an anti-liberty perspective based on fear and a false respect for their betters (not mine).

Generally, a license is used to do something not to not do something. Playing half a song or half a movie will not typically run afoul of *copyright* law. If you agree in another contractual venue to perform the whole thing exactly ... well maybe. Other wrinkles like the suggestion that boys/girls can't play girls/boys would likely be laughed out of court. It's not just historical precedent, but a simple fact that you may not alter that Charlie Brown is a balding white boy but that can be portrayed by a braided black girl. Note that the claim is that the "gender of the characters shall also not be changed" but the actual question is whether boys/girls can portray girls/boys.

Anyway, a pox on all of those paying too much homage to the force-based IP industry (as opposed to one based on consent).

Not paying homage- just stating the way it is. When you deal with licensed theatrical productions, you must follow their rules.

For instance, if you want to do West Side Story you must sign a contract saying that you will NOT switch the musical numbers, "Cool" & "Officer Krupke" or let men be in "America", like it is in the film.

When I was in Godspell an few years ago, the director got in touch with composer Stephen Schwartz and asked if we could use a number from the film that was NOT in the theatre production. He gave permission and we did it.

If this school didn't want to do the Linus lines, which is the whole climax of the show, they should have chosen a different production piece.

 

[cjm]

Not paying homage- just stating the way it is.

Ditto. I'm anti-IP. I've had offers to join teams for patent applications and have declined. I've been using copyleft software since the 1990s.

 

[Edward777]

If everyone would follow the lead of the audience that defied the school authorities and recited the verses we could see a whole wave of positive defiance! And think of the valuable lessons taught by the parents to their children!

 

[nobody's_hero]

Yeah, they weren't deleted per se, but they were censored out of the discussion.

Don't worry, as this thread shows, Christians are very used to be censored out of the discussion in this country. That is why God is going to destroy this country and make its people slaves. And I promise you, He will.

We're already slaves and the people seem to relish it. God is not trying hard enough, and I'm not trying to be funny or snarky by saying that.

 

[Sola_Fide]

We're already slaves and the people seem to relish it. God is not trying hard enough, and I'm not trying to be funny or snarky by saying that.

That's right, we are. Slavery is a judgement for the sin of the people.

 

[LibertyEagle]

Well, I can't ever recall hearing of any pageants or events at public schools where they read quotes from the Torah or Quran, so it would be tough to censor them if they don't exist. Maybe we should start having such events; but then you'd have some Christians switching sides and arguing for the side of censorship...

lol. Probably. Which is probably why our ancestors were choosy as to which countries people could immigrate from to the U.S. But, that all changed in '65 with Ted Kennedy.

Makes me think about the Tower of Babel and why God did what he did.

 

[tod evans]

Audience members at a Kentucky elementary school production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” recited the monologue spoken by “Peanuts” character Linus after the biblical passage was censored from the play.

Kudos to the "audience members" for not cow-towing to political correctness.

 

[nobody's_hero]

That's right, we are. Slavery is a judgement for the sin of the people.

My point is that God had better come up with something better than slavery if he wants to get the American people's attention. Most Americans are happy being slaves, so that's kind of a pathetic punishment.

Maybe one day all smart phones just quit working and no more will ever be made again. Now, that would be painful, and I bet you'd have people trying to claw down the doors of the churches to beg forgiveness.