Many stage productions have been adapted from other works, such as novels, short stories, or films. In all these cases, the writers took material created by someone else and transformed it into a new form, a new work. Unless the author of the adaptation is also the creator of the original work, the adaptor is using material owned by another person or owner of the original material. These are called the underlying rights. In most cases, this is not a simple process. In fact, it is fraught with legal peril. Always acquire the underlying rights before you commit a word to paper. While forms are provided here, this is for reference, so that you are aware of the issues; you should always obtain the services of an experienced entertainment attorney. [MS Word format]