Greg:  Very possible.  In order to find out, you need to contact the three main rental agencies--MTI, Tams-Widmark, and the Rodgers & Hammerstein Library, and ask, with a list of your songs and the shows they're from.

 

That's the bad news.  The good news is that I've heard that those agencies might have Cabaret-type shows available complete with orchestrations.

 

True story:  Our choral guy, back in the early '80s, contacted Irving Berlin Music, simply to ask about the availability of choral arrangements, and explained that he wanted to do "An Evening of Irving Berlin."  The person on the phone went away for a minute, then came back and said "Mr. Berlin does not approve."  At the time, Mr. Berlin had been dead for several years!

 

But I would think that if you can do your Cabaret with legitimately published and purchased piano-vocal books, you would not be tripping the Grand Rights wire--which is what your question is actually asking.

 

All the best,

John

John is partially right.  If you are writing your own show, you need to make certain that your BMI/ASCAP fees are paid...same as with a concert...I would only approach the good folks at MTI, RnH or TAMS if you wish to do one of their revues. ..ANE make certain that you are not breaking copyright laws!

 

Have fun,

Jay A. Kawarsky

I sort of agree with Jay on this one, but it depends on just what you're planning.  By cabaret-type, do you mean simply a concert?  Standing and singing, with no staging or costumes?  If so, I'd say it's just a concert, and you're fine.  As soon as you start depicting the show's characters and plot, though, with dialogue, costumes, etc., you're in a Grand Rights situation, and have to license it through the rental agencies, as John's described.