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Valentino musical pulled after copyright challenge

Published Tuesday 6 January 2009 at 15:00 by Matthew Hemley

A cast and crew of more than 20 theatre professionals have been left out of work and without pay after producers of a major touring musical cancelled the show’s run following a legal dispute over rights to the production.

Producers of Valentino: Only a Man, a show about silent movie actor Rudolph Valentino, which was set to open in the West End in February on the back of a regional tour, cancelled rehearsals for the show and its run after US-based Hollywoodland Productions claimed it infringed copyright.

The move means the cast of 17, as well as musicians and a production team, have all been left out of work and with no payment.

Some of the cast are now understood to have approached Equity about the show’s cancellation, asking about their rights in light of losing work at short notice.

One, who did not want to be named, said: “We have all lost work. Some of the cast did not do panto so they could be free to do this. I personally have lost work because people know you are not available so you are not put up for stuff. It’s not a nice feeling.”

Rehearsals for the show were due to begin on the first Saturday after Christmas, but cast and crew were notified by email on Christmas Day that Hollywoodland Productions, which staged a New York show about Valentino in 2003, had threatened legal action if it went ahead.

The email to cast and crew, from co-writer of the new musical, David Kane, said: “Late last night we received an email from solicitors acting on behalf on an American company who in 2003 staged an Off-Off Broadway musical based on the life of Rudolph Valentino. The production company are claiming to own copyright of the Valentino story, and as such the letter acted as a cease and desist notice to Valentino: Only a Man. This notice was also served to all theatres prepared to stage the show.”

Kane said the company was “contesting this claim to copyright” and seeking legal advice.

“Due to the conditions contained within the notice, we have had to take the regrettable and extremely difficult decision to postpone rehearsals. There will therefore be no rehearsal this coming Saturday or any other dates until further notice,” he added.

Keith Powell, who is one of the show’ producers, said the timing of the emails meant he had been unable to contact his own lawyers because of the Christmas break, meaning he had no choice but to pull the rehearsals and the run. It had been due to play at the Camberley Theatre, the Connaught Theatre in Worthing, the Beck Theatre in Hayes and the Leatherhead Theatre, before running at the Criterion Theatre in the West End on Sundays in March.

Powell said the email had “scared” producers, and also admitted that it was unlikely cast and crew would be paid.

“At the moment, until we have spoken to lawyers, it is difficult to say what is going to happen. It’s just a mess,” he said.

Powell, who is adamant no copyright has been infringed, said he was hoping to meet with his lawyers this week.

A spokesman for Equity said any members who approached the union would be given support “to get what they are entitled to”.

Hollywoodland Productions was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

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