From the "Now I've Seen Everything" Department. 

A high school theater is selling advertising space -- not in their programs -- in the actual play itself.

The ads are voiced by the cast members, sponsored by local businesses, and part of the show.

http://www.startribune.com/142/story/791938.html

Discuss.

While I can ALMOST see it in this case, I can see something like this getting out of hand real fast. Overall I think it sets a bad precedence. If this gets enough publicity you will have groups all over the place trying it, and of course that will lead to a lot of copywrite infringement.

I wonder how Dramatic Publishing Co. feels about this, and I wonder if this was cleared by them.

Susan  

A good topic Topper!
While commercialism is far from being new to theatre, this is innovative, especially if  permission has been granted.
I?m thinking about plays where the local radio is used in the background or as an integral part of the play, such as something like Steel Magnolias & there must be others.
Even where it states the character has to smoke a cigarette. Think of the revenue from brand product placement on stage, similar to what these companies pay out to the film industry.
I have experienced this done in Panto, where the show has paid placement of local ads. But think of how much this could generate for even the script writers & the residuals they could possibly pick up.
I know years ago when doing Gang Show, each separate item, sketch or production number of the show & in the programme, was sponsored by a company. But this was relatively easy to do, with this type of variety show.
Even to the point of local adverts adorning the good old Slide drops & olio curtains.
But this has opened the door to subtle advert & product placement more so on the set or with props.
Something to contemplate when choosing a play or musical.
Imagine what could be done on the set of ?Our Town? or even ?Sing in the rain? & ?Guys & dolls?, with a neon Marlboro or Lucky strike signage. Or for that matter "Brigadoon? bar scene with adverts of local beer, grog or fags.
There has to be a lot of innovative marketing  possibilities with shakespeare & even G&S or other productions that are in the public domain. This could bring in a load of dollars for a group, without upsetting the integrally of the show.
Mind you I have done a number of productions that were heavenly sponsored by that famous soft drink company & even government agencies, which have almost driven me further around the twist, with their insistence of being promoted more or seeking aggressive & inappropriate marketing or promotional ploys.
Although a few have I?m sure must have put extra bums on seats by offering product give a ways to the punters.
But the possibilities are endless in turning a coin or two!

If  changing a scene break or act break is a copyright violation as is being claimed elsewhere on this forum then adding words, advertisements no less, to a scene change must surely be an even worse violation.

It states in the article that the director decided to make the ads real.   This says to me that most likely it replaced what was written.   Unless there's an option stated in the script or permission was obtained, that's clearly a violation of copyright and the performance license.  

But advertising in plays during scene changes??!!  We get it on TV, we get it in movie theatres before the show starts, we even get it on-line.   Is there nowhere one can be entertained and not have someone try to sell me something?   Believe me I'm as capitalist and free speech as they come but that just seems.....wrong.