Symposium: Law and Theater in the 21st Century

On March 31st, The Columbia Journal of Law & the Arts will present a day-long symposium at Columbia Law School entitled "How the Show Goes On: Law and Theater in the 21st Century." The symposium will focus on current legal and business issues affecting the theater and will feature some of the top lawyers, theater managers, artists and other professionals engaged in live theater production in New York City and beyond.

Panel discussions will address topics that most concern practitioners today, including the changing face of not-for-profit theater companies, the financial health of the industry, copyright issues and the growing influence of Hollywood. Panelists and moderators will include Columbia Law School graduates with experience in the practice of theater law. Featuring a keynote speech by Ben Cameron, the Executive Director of Theatre Communications Group, the symposium will be geared toward students and young professionals who plan to become the next generation of theatrical contributors. All interested students and practitioners are welcome.

To register or for more information, please contact Sidne Koenigsberg at [email protected].

Schedule and Speakers:

9:00-9:30 - Informal Breakfast. JGH 107

9:30-10:30 - Keynote Speech by Ben Cameron, Executive Director, Theatre Communications Group. JGH 107

11:00-12:00 - "Sweet Charity: Not-for-Profit Theater" w/Carrie Casselman (Davis Wright Tremaine), Deb Hartnett (Paul Weiss), Peter Swords (Former Executive Director, Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York) and Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell (Execuitve Director, Vineyard Theatre). JGH 107

12:00-1:30 - Lunch, sponsored by Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP, for panelists and selected attendees. Case Lounge

1:30-2:30 - "Money Makes the World Go 'Round: The Economics of Commercial Theater" w/Jason Cooper (Paul Weiss), Aaron Lustbader (General Manager, AWA Management) and Trish Santini (Executive Director, The Marketing Group). JGH 103

2:45-3:45 - "What Permission? A Practitioner's Guide to Copyright Licensing in Theater" w/Freddie Gershon (President, Music Theatre International), Richard Ticktin (Robinson Brog), S. Jean Ward (Frankfurt Kurnit), Ronald Shechtman (Pryor Cashman) and John Weidman (President, Dramatists' Guild). JGH 103

4:00-5:00 - "From Screen to Stage (and Back Again): Hollywood's Influence on Broadway" w/Michael Lynne (CEO, New Line Cinema), Elliot Brown (Franklin Weinrib), Steven Chaikelson (Chair, Columbia School of the Arts, Theatre Division), Mark Kaufman (Executive Vice-President, Production & Theater, New Line Cinema) and Jeanine Tesori (Composer, "Shrek" the Musical). JGH 103

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