COVID-19 Resources

Guild Statements and Resources

In-Person Events

News and Updates

1. Be persistent. In the time of COVID-19, persistence will be necessary when applying for unemployment insurance. Each state government administers its own unemployment insurance fund and policies. The temporary broadening of unemployment insurance to cover independent contractors, freelancers and other 1099 holders provides an unprecedented opportunity for Dramatists Guild member to receive unemployment insurance for writing income lost. Please expect long unemployment insurance telephone wait times and website crashes as millions of other unemployment insurance seekers are applying at this time. 
   
   If an unemployment insurance claim is denied this week, it is in the applicant's best interest to reapply every week because unemployment insurance policies are continually changing in response to COVID-19.  As long as all information submitted is truthful, applicants will not be penalized for filing numerous claims even if they are denied. Lastly, in the event an unemployment insurance clam is denied, the applicant should file an appeal with their state unemployment insurance office. 

2. Pick a state. Maximum weekly unemployment insurance rate differs by state. If an applicant's income was generated through work, projects, freelance assignments or other independent endeavors in several states, it is in the applicant's best interest to apply for unemployment insurance in the state which disburses the largest weekly figure.

Theater companies that wish to livestream their productions need to find an accommodation with the various theatrical unions involved and adhere to all CDC protocols and local guidelines for the safety of their companies.

With regard to our members, authors have the right to approve livestreaming and/or recording of their shows. The Guild encourages you to exercise those approvals only after due consideration of such safety concerns, as well as other factors, like appropriate remuneration and the protection of your work against piracy.

While we believe this difficult time offers a unique opportunity for dramatists to embrace new technology and bring theatre to an even larger audience, you need to be properly advised before you permit your work to be livestreamed or recorded. This applies not only to new productions that have been cancelled or postponed, but also to the licensed productions of your work in theatres and schools, both professional and non-professional, across the country.

If you are a writer or a composer, it is important to contact your agent and your publisher to explore how they are handling livestream requests and how your income might be affected.

Things to think about:

• What is the publisher's cancellation policy for licensees? 
• What happens when a licensed play or musical is postponed rather than canceled?
• Are you willing to pre-approve the addition of temporary live-streaming rights to your performance rights license?
• How is the work being live-streamed? Will it be recorded? Will it have proper protections against piracy?
• If a livestream request is made, how will the publisher notify you?
• What process is in place to ensure that you are paid for each livestream of your work?
• In terms of the impact on the future of your work, what are the distinctions between livestreaming a production and recording a production forsubsequent viewing?

Please use the BA Help Desk if you have any further questions or would like to log a complaint.

Articles about Livestreaming:

• NEW YORK TIMES

Links to Publishers:

• DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE
• CONCORD THEATRICALS
• MTI
• THEATRICAL RIGHTS WORLDWIDE
• STAGE RIGHTS
• DRAMATIC PUBLISHING
• BROADWAY PLAY PUBLISHING
• PIONEER DRAMA SERVICE
• STEELE SPRINGS STAGE RIGHTS
• PLAYSCRIPTS
• MIRACLEOR2
• BROADWAY LICENSING
• STAGE PARTNERS

Our BA Help Desk is open and ready for your questions, and/or contract reviews, during this time. 

• BA HELP DESK
• DG BUSINESS RESOURCES

Starting Thursday, March 19, the Guild will be providing certain members-only resources to the entire community for free. Artists will be able to use our new online Resource Directory, and Resource Calendar, and have access to past issues of The Dramatist.

Access to Model Contracts, reviewing of unsigned contracts, and business affairs advice via the BA Help Desk will remain available for Guild members only.

If you are in need of assistance, and wish to join the Guild, but do not have the financial resources to do so, please contact us at questions@dramatistsguild.com. We will find a way to help you.

• RESOURCE DIRECTORY
• RESOURCE CALENDAR
• THE DRAMATIST ISSUE ARCHIVE

Members of the Dramatists Guild can use the services of the Actors Fund. The Fund provides a robust set of services, including emergency financial assistance, health services, and social services, to assist those in the theatre industry. 

• THE ACTORS FUND

The Dramatists Guild of America is assisting in the facilitation of online events for writing and theatrical communities across the globe whenever possible. Some online events have included virtual DG Footlights, writing workshops, and general check-ins/resource sharing sessions. We have a limited bandwidth for how many online meetings we are able to provide, but would like to extend this resource to DG members to organize and propose online events during this time. If you have an idea for an online event, please fill out our Regional Communications Form, and we’ll get back to you with any questions we might have.

Please note: at this time we are not able to facilitate individual readings of any members’ work. If you would like to facilitate readings, check out more about our DG Footlights program and see how you might be able to host a virtual version in your area. Email jstovall@dramatistsguild.com with questions about hosting a virtual Footlights.

REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS FORM 

NATIONAL EVENTS

We are working consistently with our event organizers and venues to determine, on a case by case basis, whether to postpone, cancel, or switch programming to an online format amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic. If you are registered for an event, any and all updates will be emailed to attendees via Eventbrite and added to the event description. We will also be updating our Resource Calendar to reflect all updates as we receive them.

END OF PLAY

End of Play is a self-guided program built by the Dramatists Guild to inspire participants around the world to write the first draft of a new play over the span of a month. To that end, all participants are encouraged to continue along with their writing goals, receive daily inspirational emails, interact with one another in online communities, and share their progress using our page tracker.

In light of the current health crisis, participants may also opt to use Zoom, the DG’s online conferencing software, to have check-ins with one another or host other related events. You can also host online timed writing sessions. In-person events have been suspended until further notice.

Please check our Resource Calendar to see if an upcoming End of Play Celebration or event has been moved to online or postponed, and/or be in touch with your local organizer for more information.

At this time, due to growing concern regarding the COVID-19 virus, we are not taking new bookings. Please check back for updates and email any questions or concerns to our office manager, Lily Dwoskin at ldwoskin@dramatistsguild.com.

New member applications and renewing of Guild dues via our website will continue as usual. New member applications and member dues paid via check may experience a delay in processing. If you are a current member and unable to pay your dues as a result of the pandemic, please email us at questions@dramatistsguild.com.

• PAY DUES
• JOIN THE GUILD

We can't do this alone. Feel free to email us at questions@dramatistsguild.com to add resources for dramatists.