Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How Do We Produce the Show? What do we do?
A: First, you need to read the script. You may order the Perusal
(reading) Script on our Order Page. Then you need to apply for a
Performance License (don't worry, you'll be accepted-- it's a legal
formality) and pay for the Performance Packet. We'll then send you
the CD that has the scripts (you're given permission to print all the
copies you need for your production) and all the notes to help you
present the show in the best possible way. The low fee you pay for
the Packet also includes the Performance Royalty for one performance.
If you present the show more than once, you'll need to pay the $25
royalty for each additional performance.
Our Ordering system is still being developed, but you may always just contact KMR Scripts by way of our Contact Page.
Q: How did the show come about?
A: Our church had always done a Maundy Thursday drama of some sort. I was speaking with the person in charge of the event,
and she mentioned she was running out of ideas. I told her I would be happy to write a new Last Supper drama for her.
Well, I really didn't expect her to remember that conversation-- let alone hold me to it! Well, bless her heart-- she did.
Now, my problem was to come up with a script. I knew I couldn't write yet another Last Supper play with 13 guys sitting around the table
quoting the Bible. (not that there's anything wrong with that-- but by now most Christians have all that memorized...)
So I started brainstorming. In that process (or should I say "chaos?") I kept coming back to memories of my childhood where my Mom,
my sister, all my Aunts and any other female that was in the house, were all gathered in the Kitchen preparing whatever meal we
were gathered for that day.
I wanted to tell the story in a way that would make the audience sit and really listen-- because I believed (as was my case) that it has probably been a long time since they've had to do that with this story. As I said, most Christians have it all memorized by now-- but by "mixing it up" a little, changing the faces, the location, the perspective, I could perhaps help bring some new life, some renewed pertinence back to the story for them.
Q: Where did you get the idea for
your version of the story?
A: I'm an adaptor. Most of the children's shows
I've written are adaptations of traditional children's literature (Fairy
Tales). When I write an adaptation of a fairy tale, I have to find
a "hook" -- a reason why I am going to add yet another version of
the story to the countless number of other variations of the story.
When I wrote Little Red Riding Hood, the hook was that the Wolf was
silly and bumbling, and he was more interested in the goodies Little Red
was carrying than he was in Little Red. Likewise, when I agreed to
write this show for my home church, the last thing I wanted to write was
yet another version of 13 guys sitting around eating bread and wine.
It's been done. Many times. A few times too many. I'm
not taking away anything from Jesus' story-- my salvation is based upon
it-- it's just that ... been there, done that. During the
research phase of my writing routine, I was at a family get-together.
I come from a rather large family. My mom had 17 brothers and
sisters and my dad had 7-- so I always had a lot of aunts around.
I remember all the various family reunions, Thanksgiving dinners,
Christmas parties, etc., with all my aunts in the kitchen doling out
advice and observations about cooking, men, kids, life. I thought
it would be interesting to explore Jesus' Last Supper story from the
perspective of the women.
I've long wondered why it was that men were declared the the guardian of the Law, the spiritual leader of the family, the head of the household-- and we were told this in the Bible, which was 95% written by men. I'm not casting dispersions on the authority of the Bible. It's what we have of God's Word and my Faith is based upon what's written inside it. I'm just saying that it seems strange to me that God would deny mankind 50% of it's humanity (the woman's perspective) by having so much of the Bible being "inspired" to men. Men and Women look at things so differently-- the Bible would have been a much different thing had more women been "in the loop."
Q: I found a copy of the script. I can
just photocopy it and produce the show, right?
A: Oh, no. Beneath the Upper Room is copyrighted and fully
protected by US and international copyright laws. This is not a
public domain skit that is up for grabs by anyone who chooses to do it.
I make my livelihood from the sales of my scripts and payment of
performance royalty for them. Photocopying scripts (except as
authorized under our Performance License) and unauthorized (unlicensed)
public performances are expressly forbidden, both of which are
considered theft by US courts. Ignorance of copyright laws is
inexcusable.
Q: Why are there different fee structures?
A: I would not feel comfortable accepting money from churches who want
to present this show to their congregations. As long as a Church
is presenting this for its congregation and not trying to make a profit
from it-- I want to make it as inexpensive and easy as possible for
them. I have made arrangements with my church to donate all the
money (minus postage and printing costs) received. However, if a
church is using my script as a money-making project, or if a theatre or
other non-church group is presenting the show and charging admission, I
think they should pay the standard royalty fee used for any of my other
shows. That money will also be donated to my church.
Q: Why not just make it free for churches?
A: Beneath the Upper Room is a copyrighted script. Giving it away
for free would open up a can of worms that makes a big mess, legally
speaking. $30.00 (plus $25.00 deposit) is a small amount of money
for such a production. The deposit is there to help people
remember that they cannot present it without permission and help us
control who has access to the scripts. If we just sent the scripts
out and everything was free, it would be too easy for people to assume
that it was "public domain" and we would lose control over the content
of the show and how it could be used.
KMR Scripts is a play publishing company. If we charged the same fees we use for our other scripts, churches would pay $150.00 just to get the rehearsal materials, then pay an additional $30.00 per performance for royalty. So, if they were going to do the show five times, it would cost them a total of $250.00 (not counting the deposit). If a church can't afford to spend the $30.00, then they probably can't afford to present chancel drama.
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