Media & Entertainment Law

Jeremy Piven?s fish-story gets him off-the-hook.

Posted on August 27, 2009
THR Esq. reports today that Jeremy Piven’s mercury poisoning excuse for leaving the Broadway production of “Speed The Plow” last season is sufficient, and he’ll not be liable to the producers for breach of contract, or other claims...

Jeremy Piven's fish-story gets him off-the-hook.

Posted on August 27, 2009
THR Esq. reports today that Jeremy Piven’s mercury poisoning excuse for leaving the Broadway production of “Speed The Plow” last season is sufficient, and he’ll not be liable to the producers for breach of contract, or other claims...

The role(s) of producers in modern theatre

Posted on August 21, 2009
Ken Davenport is a Broadway producer who generously blogs his thoughts about the theatre business.  Recently, he posted a terrific explanation of the roles of producer and ‘lead’ producer.  It’s worth a read. “What’s the difference between a lead Producer and a Producer?”.

Entertainment Law Update Podcast ? Episode 4: The Pope & The Little Mermaid turn it up to 11

Posted on August 13, 2009
Episode 4 of my Entertainment Law Update podcast is now available. Visit the site to subscribe using iTunes or your favorite RSS Reader. Attorneys can get California MCLE (Continuing Legal Eduction) credit, too! Download Episode (right click) Approximate Running Time: 1:14 .

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Livent?s Drabinsky and Gottlieb sentenced to Prison

Posted on August 11, 2009
In the 1990’s Garth Drabinsky’s LIVENT was the hottest commercial producing company on Broadway.  With hits like Ragtime! Show Boat, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Fosse!, the company and its founders were on top of the world. It all came crashing down late in the decade, when it came to light that the company had [...

Hello world!

Posted on August 11, 2009
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Livent's Drabinsky and Gottlieb sentenced to Prison

Posted on August 11, 2009
In the 1990’s Garth Drabinsky’s LIVENT was the hottest commercial producing company on Broadway.  With hits like Ragtime! Show Boat, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Fosse!, the company and its founders were on top of the world. It all came crashing down late in the decade, when it came to light that the company had [...

Entertainment Law Update ? Episode 3 ? Bloggers, Journalism & Defamation

Posted on July 14, 2009
Episode 3 of the  Entertainment Law Update podcast is now available at http://entertainmentlawupdate.com Download Episode (right click) Approximate Running Time: 1:06 SHOW NOTES can be found at http://entertainmentlawupdate.com In this episode: MCLE Approval – California Approved Episode 1, pending on 2 and 3...

Producers beware! Theatregoer sues over canned music and wins!

Posted on July 10, 2009
We’re definitely not in Kansas anymore! A british theatregoer has prevailed in his lawsuit against a theatre that used recorded music in staging its production of “The Wizard of Oz”. In a time of increasingly tight budgets, many theatre groups are opting for recorded musical accompaniment, in lieu of paying for an orchestra, conductor, and the additional [...

Financing (small) commercial theater

Posted on July 07, 2009
INTRODUCTION Raising the financing for any theatrical production is a challenge, even in the best of times. With the current economic climate (which I suspect will remaim the norm for some time), it’s even more difficult to convince investors to fund production of a stage production...

Critic / Play-doctor John Lahr sues Elaine Stritch

Posted on July 01, 2009
Elaine Stritch John Lahr When Elaine Stritch opened her Tony award winning “Elaine Stritch At Liberty” in 2000, she did so with help from theatre critic and author John Lahr, best known for his essays, reviews and reportage at The New Yorker magazine...

Congratulations, Tony Award nominees and winners!

Posted on June 08, 2009
Congratulations to the Broadway League, The American Theatre Wing, and to all of our friends, clients and colleagues who were nominated and/or took home Tony Awards last night! What a show. Host Neil Patrick Harris was terrific, and the musical numbers were just right.

Entertainment Law Update Podcast - Episode 2

Posted on June 03, 2009
Entertainment Law Update Podcast Episode 2 of the Entertainment Law Update Podcast, hosted by yours truly, along with Tamera Bennett is now online . In this episode, Tamera and I round up the latest entertainment law news, including: Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Entertainment Lawyer of the Year Pres...

Texas licensing bill for lighting designers defeated in state House

Posted on June 03, 2009
As predicted by commenters to my post last week, the Texas House of Reps has defeated  parts of a  a Senate bill that would have required that lighting designers be licensed.

Theatrical Lighting Designers may soon be required to be licensed in Texas

Posted on May 27, 2009
Stage Directions magazine reports that  The Texas Senate has passed legislation that will prohibit anyone from practicing lighting design except for registered architects, landscape architects, engineers, interior designers, and commercial electricians...

How Not to use the internet to raise financing

Posted on May 13, 2009
On my other website, I’ve just posted an article about financing film and theatre projects, and how producers often shoot themselves in the foot by seeking investors on the internet. Here’s the link

R&H Music Publishing Catalog valued at $200 Million (estimated)

Posted on April 24, 2009
My friend and podcast co-host Tamera Bennett has posted an article at her blog  about the valuation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein music publishing catalog.  Apparently, the catalog was worth around $200 Million when it was recently purchased by a Dutch pension fund...

Entertainment Law Update Podcast - Episode 1

Posted on April 21, 2009
Entertainment Law Update Podcast I’ve been talking about this quite a bit lately, and it’s finally here… My new podcasting venture is a reality. Episode 1 of the Entertainment Law Update Podcast, hosted by yours truly, along with Tamera Bennett is now online ...

On Domain Names, squatters and new show titles.

Posted on April 14, 2009
One of my favorite blogs is Ken Davenport’s PRODUCER?S PERSPECTIVE. Ken has posted an insightful piece about cyber-squatters and the need to register your show’s domain name(s) early. The article is titled: Got an idea for a show? Here’s the first thing you should do...

Introducing Entertainment Law Update Podcast

Posted on April 13, 2009
Launching April 20th, Entertainment Law Update is an audio podcast featuring Entertainment attorneys Gordon P. Firemark and Tamera Bennett. Every month, our hosts and guests will survey the legal landscape of the entertainment industry, discussing the top cases and news stories of interest to lawyers and entertainment business professionals...

Happy World Theatre Day!

Posted on March 27, 2009
I’ve just learned that Today is World Theatre Day. Since 1961, the International Theatre Institute has celebrated on March 27 with the reading of a World Theatre Day Message and various national and international theatre events to mark this occasion...

Jeremy Piven ? Speed the Plow producers to arbitrate in June

Posted on March 26, 2009
Jeremy Piven’s departure from the Broadway revival of ‘Speed-the-Plow’ is the subject of an Arbitration Hearing that has been set for June 8 and 9. Arbitrator George Nicolau will hear the matter, which concerns Piven’s sudden withdrawal from the show, claiming he had high levels of mercury in his body, and was quitting on [...

Jeremy Piven - Speed the Plow producers to arbitrate in June

Posted on March 25, 2009
Jeremy Piven’s departure from the Broadway revival of ‘Speed-the-Plow’ is the subject of an Arbitration Hearing that has been set for June 8 and 9. Arbitrator George Nicolau will hear the matter, which concerns Piven’s sudden withdrawal from the show, claiming he had high levels of mercury in his body, and was quitting on [...

New York City theatre ticket tax proposal off the table

Posted on March 11, 2009
New York  state lawmakers have apparently decided NOT to move forward with a proposal to add a 4% tax to theatre tickets.  The proposal was among many in a $1.3 Billion tax plan legislators have shelved, according to Daily Variety.

Blogging to promote your show? Who?s in control of the message?

Posted on March 10, 2009
As more and more producers are looking at innovative ways to promote and market their shows, legal question start to arise. Yesterday, I read a report about Jane Fonda’s backstage blogging during performances of “33 Vacations” on Broadway...

A Broadway Producer?s take on how to be a producer?

Posted on February 17, 2009
Broadway Producer Ken Davenport has written a short, but important post for anybody who aspires to producing theatre… PRODUCER?S PERSPECTIVE: 2 Things To Do If You Want To Be A Broadway Producer. The esssence of Ken’s tips:  Produce stuff… lots of stuff, no matter how small… you’ll learn from the experience, and meet lots of people… network, [...

Financing independent films and theatre projects is more difficult in the current economic climate. Myth or Reality?

Posted on January 30, 2009
In recent weeks, I?ve had a number of clients express their view that the current down economy means that they won?t be able to find investors to finance their films and/or shows.   As a consequence, they?re sitting back, waiting things out.. not trying to make it happen...

Financing independent films and theatre projects is more difficult in the current economic climate. Myth or Reality?

Posted on January 30, 2009
In recent weeks, I?ve had a number of clients express their view that the current down economy means that they won?t be able to find investors to finance their films and/or shows.   As a consequence, they?re sitting back, waiting things out.. not trying to make it happen...

Posted on November 28, 2008

Academy for New Musical Theatre launches online holiday auction fundraiser

Posted on November 25, 2008
The Academy for New Musical Theatre is an organization that’s close to my heart. I serve on their Board of Directors, and believe very strongly in their mission to foster the development of new Musicals. November 28 through December 7, 2008, ANMT will be auctioning off some fun and unique items that [...

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