Important Notice about The Monologue Database

[Kellie Powell]

Attention Monologue Database Fans:

I have received a strange message in my e-mail that says that the
Dramatist Guild may be preparing to take some kind of legal action
against me, and/or the Monologue Database.

Until this is resolved, only the following monologues will be available here:

* Original monologues from works by Kellie Powell (me).
* Monologues from playwrights who have given their express written
permission to have their work appear on the database.
* Monologues that are in the public domain.

My understanding has always been that using an excerpt of dramatic
literature for an audition, a class, or a no-fee performance is a fair
use. I have always given full credit to the playwright in question. I
have provided links so that anyone interested can purchase a copy of
the full work, thus encouraging more sales for the playwright. I have
always invited playwrights, agents, or publishers, to contact me if
they didn't want their work listed on the database. In eight years,
that has never happened. This is the first time anyone has expressed
any problem with the database.

While I have made money from selling the electronic copies of my own
plays, I have not made any money from the work of others. I created
this database to help actors and theatre professionals discover great
works of dramatic literature, and I never intended to exploit other
writers or infringe on their copywrights.

My next step will be to attempt to contact each of the playwrights
whose work has appeared here, apologize for not asking their
permission sooner, and ask for permission to feature the monologue(s)
in question on the database. If I am able to obtain permission from
playwrights or agents, those monologues will return. If I am not, then
they will not return to the database. I will also be adding more
original work and more monologues from the public domain. If you would
like to submit a monologue for the database, or have any information
or comments about the current situation, please e-mail me.

Thank you for your understanding.