Playwright files suit over 'Idora Forever'
The playwright is asking unspecified damages.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Gainesville, Fla., playwright sued the Youngstown Playhouse in federal court in Akron on Friday, accusing the playhouse and its officials of willfully infringing on her copyright for the musical play "Idora" when it performed "Idora Forever" in the summers of 2002 and 2003.
The playwright, Angela Woodhull, said in the suit that the playhouse performed "Idora Forever" based almost entirely on her play, which tells her story of growing up as a daughter of concessionaires at Youngstown's former Idora amusement park.
Named as defendants in the suit are the playhouse; Robert Vargo of Youngstown, its former managing director; Michael Moritz Jr., address unknown, its former musical director; and 12 John Does, whom the suit says were playhouse directors, officers, employees or agents during 2002 and 2003.
Says no deal was reached
The suit, filed by Atty. Bruce H. Wilson of Akron, says the playhouse performed the show despite the inability of Vargo and Moritz, who had been negotiating with Woodhull, to reach an agreement with her as to how she would be compensated for permission to use her work. The suit says Vargo predicted in July 2002 that the show would gross $30,000 and become an annual playhouse fund-raiser.
The suit, which seeks a jury trial, asks the court to permanently prohibit the playhouse from performing live theater based on Woodhull's copyrighted works and asks for payment of an unspecified amount of damages and legal fees.
Neither Vargo, nor Moritz, nor John Maluso, who has resigned as president of the playhouse board of directors effective today, could be reached to comment Friday evening. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Peter Economus in Youngstown.