The document provides information about adapting a book into a play, including considerations around copyright and gaining rights. It outlines Abbie Hall's plan to adapt the book "Dying to Meet You" into a play for a class project. The document discusses copyright law, contacting the author for permission, and tips for successful adaptation, such as staying true to characters and plot lines from the original book. Future plans include expanding the script and gaining experience in playwriting.

1. Rights and Play
Writing
By Abbie Hall

2. General Study
o Adapt a play from a book (Dying to Meet You)
o Learn about copyright
o Learn about producing plays
o Contact Kate Klise

3. What is Copyright?
• Protection provided by the government over intellectual
property.
• Intellectual property: Literary, Dramatic, Artistic and Musical work
• Patent is for inventions and discoveries

4. Avoiding Infringment
An excerpt if Section 107 of the U.S. Code:
1. The purpose and character of the use, including
whether such use is of commercial nature or is for
nonprofit educational purposes
2. The nature of the copyrighted work
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used
in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market
for, or value of, the copyrighted work

5. Gaining Rights to a Book
To gain rights to a book, you must get permission
from the person/company/organization who holds
the rights. There are four common options for
gaining the rights:
1. Contact the authors agent
2. Contact the author
3. Do extensive research to find who holds the rights
4. Rights are under Public Domain

6. Adaption
Writing
When writing a play based on a
book, you have to be sure to
stay true to the book as much
as you can. In doing this, you
can develop the characters
more, add and cut parts of the
story, and change setting and
such, however the main plot
lines need to be the same and
keeping in fan-loved details is
beneficial.
Producing
You need to keep and open mind,
letting the director have too much
leeway can greatly disturb the image
of the show. If you aren't directing
your own show, you need to make
sure to sit in on many rehearsals an
meetings. You need to guide the play
and make sure it's going where you
want it to be. When the director
makes cuts you think are
inappropriate or makes huge
changes, you need to be in on those
decisions and fight for your position if it
isn't what you think is right.

7. Outline
The first step to writing or adapting any play is to create an outline
of the play you want to have with a key, character description,
set discription, and scene-by-scene breakdown.
Summary: An acclaimed old writer is trying
to write another book to his widely famous
series, but he comes across a case of
severe writers block. To escape that
predicament, he rents a house in e very
quiet town so he can be in solitary
confinement, but soon finds that he
inherited a young boy, his cat, and a lady
ghost who doesn't enjoy his company.
Although they try to chase him out, he
stubbornly sticks around until they become
a little family when the old man and old
ghost fall in love.
Key:
Ignatius B Grumply= IG
Anita Sales= AS
Olive C Spence= OS
Seymour= S
Shadow Cat= C
Anita Check= AC
E. Gadds= EG
Paige Turner= PT
Frank N. Beans= FB
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy

9. Using letters from the key
Vague, but makes sense off the
book
Small lighting and stage
directions
Character suggestions

10. Outside Contact (Kate Klise)
Kate Klise:
The email-
Dear Ms.Klise,
When I was in the 4th grade, you came to my school (Wilson Elementary, Coppell, Texas) to
talk about your book Dying to Meet You and tell us about writing. Ever since I read your
fantastic novel, I have been a huge fan you you and your sister (her drawings are wonderful!).
I was so inspired by your book that, 4 years later, I decided to adapt it as a script for a project
I'm doing in my Language Arts class. I just wanted you to know how much you inspired kids
with your clever writing and unforgettable characters, whose names are pure genius! Your
books awesome formatting and sweet message really speaks to me and other kids in my class
who remember your visit and your books and are almost as enthusiastic as I am about this
project! I hope you know that you and your sister are very talented and I feel blessed just for
having read your work!
Gratefully,
Abbie Hall

11. Outside Contact (Kate Klise)
Kate Klise:
Her reply-
Oh, that is so nice. I'm flattered beyond words. Best of luck to you!
Keep in touch.

12. Outside Contact (Publishers)
• My email-
Dear ,
My name is Abbie Hall and I am a student in the eighth grade inquiring
about any information or tips you could give me about adapting a play
from a book. For a project, I am taking a children's novel and adapting it
for the stage, so I was wondering if there is any insight you could give me
on what you look for in plays that apply for publication or things you think
are crucial in writing/adapting a play for the stage. If there is any other
information you could share with me about publishing plays or
playwriting/editing it would be wonderful!
Gratefully yours,
Abbie Hall

14. Outside Contact (Publishers)

15. Outside Contact (Publishers)

16. Future Plans
• Expand, perhaps finish, the script
• Take the skills into another form of writing
• Write more plays in the future

17. Bibliography
Bond, Juliet C. "How to Adapt a Children's Book for the Stage, Or: "How Hard Could It Be?"" The Prairie Wind
RSS. Newsletter of the Illinois Chapter of the SCBWI, 2011. Web. 27 Jan. 2014.
Wright, Lenore. "Securing Film Rights to Published Material." Securing Film Rights to Published Material.
Writing World, 2004. Web. 03 Feb. 2014. <http://www.writing-world.com/screen/filmrights.shtml>.
"U.S. Copyright Office - Copyright in General (FAQ)." U.S. Copyright Office - Copyright in General (FAQ).
N.p., 12 July 2006. Web. 03 Feb. 2014. <http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html>.
"Dying to Meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road." Book Review. Common Sense, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
Klise, Kate. Dying to Meet You. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. Book.

18. Bibliography
"U.S. Copyright Office - Fair Use." U.S. Copyright Office - Fair Use. U.S. Copyright Office, June 2012. Web. 07
Mar. 2014.
"The Free Automatic Bibliography and Citation Generator." EasyBib. Imagine Easy, n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.
"Dramatists Play Service, Inc." Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Dramatists Play Service, Inc., n.d. Web. 18 Mar.
2014.
"Samuel French – Licensing Plays and Musicals to the Theatrical Community." Samuel French – Licensing
Plays and Musicals to the Theatrical Community. Samuel French, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
"Brooklyn Publishers - School Plays, Theatre Scripts, Search for a Play." Brooklyn Publishers - School Plays,
Theatre Scripts, Search for a Play. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.

19. Bibliography
"Explore 1,920 Plays by 1,120 Authors!" Discover Plays. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
"Heuer Publishing - Play Scripts for School, Community Theatre and More." Heuer Publishing.
N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
"In The Spotlight." Eldridge Plays & Musicals. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
"Customer Service Contacts for Dramatic Publishing." Customer Service Contacts for Dramatic
Publishing. Dramatic Publishing, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
"Contact - Kate and Sarah Klise." Kate and Sarah Klise. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.kateandsarahklise.com/contact.html>.

20. The End