Curtains Up on Copyright: Navigating Legal Issues Arising in Live Stage Productions
On and Off Broadway
Join Doug Nevin, Partner and Head of Theater and Live Events at Klaris Law in New York, and one of Broadway's top lawyers, as we explore some of the unique legal issues that arise in live theatre and Broadway productions.Between scripts, musical scores, stage direction, choreography, costumes, set design, and more, stage plays and musicals present a host of copyright issues that Broadway producers and their attorneys must navigate. Among other things, attendees will learn how the various rights of theatrical stakeholders intersect and interact, the key types of agreements and important terms to consider, and what legal risks to watch out for.
This session will also touch on how producers assemble and manage the many creative rights that make up a theatrical production, including the challenges of coordinating multiple contributors and protected works within a single live performance. Participants will gain practical insight into how theatrical projects are structured from a legal perspective and how attorneys help productions move from concept to stage while minimizing risk.
Presented by:
Doug Nevins
Partner I Klaris
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Online via Zoom
Doug Nevin is a partner and the head of theater/live events at Klaris. He is a leading practitioner and thought leader in theater and live arts, known for his passionate advocacy of his clients and projects and for the creative prowess and deep industry knowledge he brings to his clients’ work.
His clients list includes many of today’s most prominent producers and producing organizations, internationally renowned creative artists, as well as some of the industry’s most-valued service providers. His production counsel credits include EVERY BRILLIANT THING, SCHMIGADOON, OEDIPUS, PRINCE F*GGOT, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, BURNOUT PARADISE, YOU GOT OLDER, KENREX, THE UNKNOWN, TRU, GYPSY, STEREOPHONIC, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, ROMEO + JULIET, ALL IN, ALL OUT, PURPOSE, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN, SWEPT AWAY, APPROPRIATE, PATRIOTS, AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, LEMPICKA, GUTENBERG!, KIMBERLY AKIMBO, PARADE, Alex Edelman’s JUST FOR US, THE SIGN IN SYDNEY BRUSTEIN’S WINDOW, GREY HOUSE, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, LIFE OF PI, THE PIANO LESSON, POTUS, IS THIS A ROOM/DANA H., PASS OVER, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, SLAVE PLAY, WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME, HOLD ON TO ME
DARLING, TEETH, DANNY & THE DEEP BLUE SEA, ONE WOMAN SHOW, and the pie shop SWEENEY TODD. His client list also includes award-winning composers, lyricists, playwrights, performers, authors, directors, choreographers, designers, casting directors, music staff, and some of the world’s preeminent cultural institutions.
Doug was honored as a Distinguished Leader at the 2025 New York Legal Awards presented by the New York Law Journal and was recently recognized in Variety’s Legal Impact Report. He is a five-time New York Super Lawyer and an eight-time New York Super Lawyer Rising Star. Doug is a two-time Tony Award nominee, a Lucille Lortel Award winner, and the co-founder of Pride Plays.
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