Performing licenced shows with other performed lyrics

[Theatrefanboy1]

I was recently in a deep discussion with a director friend and he is doing a show but using some lyric changes that have been previously performed incarnations of the show but not in the libretto that they had received from the licensing agency. The show has had many revisions each time with small word changes in the lyrics. Yes they are paying for a licence and everything on that legal end.

Now I was just wondering what protocol and typical rule (or unwritten rule ) for this. Ive seen many professional shows where some have improvised lines briefly or used an extra verse from the broadway show or modified a few words or lines in the show that has been done in a previous approved version.

[GavestonPS]

In theory, the show you license is the only show you are allowed to perform.

But in practice, there are a lot of other factors. How big are the variations? Will your friend get caught while the show is still running? Will the creators (or the licensing agency) care enough to make a fuss about it?

Nobody can really answer your question with specificity without knowing the show, the changes and whether anybody has tried making those changes in the past.

[dramamama611]

Gaveston is right, 100%.

Id be surprused if this infraction would be one they'd ever concern themselves with.

[CATSNYrevival]

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem if they're going to use lyrics that have previously been approved for use in a revival or what have you, but GavestonPS is correct in the legal sense.

[darquegk]

Especially Jesus Christ Superstar: I’ve never seen any production other than the 2000 film that didn’t use ANY alternate lyrics (though which are and are not canon shifts more than most shows).

[Boq101]

A lot of times it's as simple as asking the rights holder, usually it's fine if the changes are changes that have been done in the past. I know sometimes when we did School Editions of shows we would ask if it was fine to perform in show keys instead of their "kid-friendly" keys for some songs since we just felt they fit the actors we cast better and they generally were fine with that. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

darquegk said: "Especially Jesus Christ Superstar: I’ve never seen any production other than the 2000 film that didn’t use ANY alternate lyrics (though which are and are not canon shifts more than most shows)."

There is an official set in the licensed version, a handful of new ones but otherwise basically the same show since 1970. A lot less "new" lyrics than there used to be, let me tell ya...