Samuel French Donates Over 11,500 Scripts From Sunset Boulevard Store To LA Theatres, Schools, and More!

Following the announcement that Samuel French would close its bookstore on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, CA, BroadwayWorld reported that the location had been the target of a serious act of vandalism and threats and would not reopen its doors.

Now Samuel French has announced it has donated 11,500 scripts to 30 theaters, educational institutions, & foundations in the LA area.

For the full list, check out their thread here.

The Sunset Boulevard bookstore had continuously experienced a significant decline in sales for over a decade as consumers move to online retailers-over 80% of Samuel French's retail sales are now made online. Before the rise of e-commerce, Samuel French had bookstores in NYC, London, Boston (Baker's Plays), Toronto, Hollywood and Studio City, CA. Samuel French opened its first California bookstore in downtown LA in 1929. They moved in 1947 to the Sunset Boulevard building where the Samuel French Film & Theatre Bookshop is currently located. The smaller Studio City bookshop located on Ventura Boulevard operated from 1986 to its closing in 2012.

Its extensive collection of iconic acting edition play scripts and musical libretti will continue to be available online through the Samuel French website. Samuel French's bookshop in London's Royal Court Theatre will remain open and celebrates its first anniversary in March.

"Although the community loves the store and its exceptional staff, most people are choosing to buy their books from e-retailers these days," said Samuel French President Nathan Collins. "It is an unfortunate situation, in which many other bookshops find themselves. However, the good news is that Samuel French continues to serve the world online with an unparalleled range of shows to license and scripts to purchase. This is supported by our expert staff in New York, London, and LA and their outstanding service to our customers. Additionally, we are excited to continue exploring new ways to support the playwriting community in the digital age."

To visit Samuel French's retail store on their website, visit Samuelfrench.com. To peruse, rent, or purchase digital scripts, download their reading app, Abbott, at abbottreader.com.