Who typically handles licensing to obtain performance rights?

• A. The theatre's own staff.
• B. Licensing agencies or publishers.
• C. The audience.
• D. The stage crew.

Answer: (B)

Licensing agencies or publishers handle performance rights. When a theatre wants to stage a script or musical, they must obtain permission to perform it, and licensing bodies with the rights to the work negotiate terms, fees, and duration. They issue the license, provide the approved script and any music rights, and specify how many performances and where the show can run. The theatre’s own staff may manage the paperwork and payments, but the actual rights come from the licensing agency or publisher. The audience and the stage crew aren’t involved in granting or negotiating rights, they’re focused on attending and producing the show, respectively.