| I don't know about the SNL issue but when you obtain the license to perform a show, you are licensed to perform the show, not videotape it. And you are definitely not given permission to put it online. MTI and Samuel French have attorneys investigating illegal productions as well as infringements all the time. The issue is the same whether you are profiting from it or not. Same with a production, you still need the license to perform a show, regardless of whether or not you are charging admission.
Maybe you're right and some schools do this for 'promotional purposes' but most schools do not. Schools shouldn't have to do this for promotional purposes. It's difficult to imagine that Michigan feels that this is necessary to promote their excellent program. Are people truly choosing where to apply to college based on youtube videos? Although the videos can be fun to watch, I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the importance of them in the college admissions process. Firstly, the quality of the videos usually leaves a LOT to be desired and, like all bootleg videos, should not be considered an accurate representation of a performance. I don't disagree that seeing shows at the colleges you're interested in can be a valuable experience, but, in my opinion, it's one small piece in the puzzle of researching programs. And, frankly, the type of shows that are done would be a more important part of the research for most theatre kids. |