Final answer:
A playwright begins to receive royalties for their play when a theatre company purchases the rights to perform the work, thereby paying for each performance. This indicates that the playwright's work has moved into production, and it is at this stage that they are compensated for their creative efforts. The correct option is a. When a theatre company buys the rights to the show, in which case, the playwright is paid for each performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Playwrights begin to receive royalties for their plays when a theatre company buys the rights to perform the work. This means that option (a) is the correct answer. Unlike novelists, who write for the page, or screenwriters, who write for film or television, playwrights write with the stage in mind. The transition of a play from the page to performance is a collaborative process involving directors, actors, and designers. This journey to the stage culminates in a unique live experience that can vary with each performance. Stage productions may go through previews, allowing for audience feedback and necessary adjustments. Once a play is in production, the playwright is provided royalties for each performance under the terms of their copyright agreements, ensuring that their artistic work is compensated.
Not all playwrights can support themselves solely through their work for the theatre, as noted by Tony Kushner's reflections on his career. Many playwrights may require another source of income, often branching into screenwriting or other fields. Furthermore, it's important to recognize the historical context of theatre economics, such as how the producer in Ancient Greece or the theatre companies in the Renaissance managed financial aspects related to productions. For aspiring playwrights, the process of creating a play is long and often solitary, but the ultimate satisfaction comes when the play is performed live. This satisfaction, for the playwright, often translates into royalty payments once a theatre company schedules productions of their work. However, publications or readings, such as those that take place at a festival or during the development process, do not typically result in royalty payments.