Category: DONALD C. FARBER

ABOUT THE AGENCY

The Farber Literary Agency was founded in 1990 by Ann and Don Farber. The agency is run by agent Ann Farber; contracts and legal matters are handled by Donald C. Farber, of Farber & Turek, Attorneys at Law.

The agency represents authors of fiction and nonfiction works, authors of childrens books, and playwrights. Ann Farber, President of the agency, is in charge of the Book Department; Dr. Seth Farber heads up the Theatre Department.

Writers and playwrights who are seeking representation, should contact the agency at either the address, phone number, fax number or email address listed above.

The agency is also listed in professional industry resource materials, such as The Resource Directory published by The Dramatists Guild of America and The Literary Marketplace.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRM

JMF is a firm of dedicated professionals whose goal is to provide clients with the highest level of professional service and personal attention.

Founded in 1973, JMF attorneys have for many years represented clients throughout the United States and internationally in a wide range of complex matters, including product liability, corporate, commercial and real property disputes, construction, insurance coverage, employment law and entertainment. The firm’s extensive experience includes: litigation and resolution of disputes arising from the sale, acquisition and financing of businesses, shareholder agreements, franchise disputes, partnership matters, sales of goods, commercial contracts, equipment leases, trade secrets and intellectual property rights. The firm is recognized nationally and internationally for its expertise in tobacco matters.

In the area of environmental and toxic tort litigation the firm is one of the few in the country that maintain an in-house staff of scientific analysts, including several with Ph.D.’s, who work hand in hand with our attorneys analyzing technical data, developing litigation strategies and identifying and developing potential expert witnesses. The firm maintains an extensive scientific library and database. The firm’s Entertainment Practice Group represents theatrical productions, actors, directors, producers, authors, theatre owners, repertory companies, and persons in every aspect of theatre, film and the other creative arts in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere.

ENTERTAINMENT PRACTICE GROUP

The Entertainment Practice Group includes Donald C. Farber, counsel to the firm, partners Peter A. Cross and Barry S. Schaevitz, as well as several associates drawn from other practice areas within the firm. Mr. Farber is widely recognized as one of the foremost theatre lawyers in the United States. He is the General Editor (author of the Theatre Volume) of ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY CONTRACTS – Negotiating and Drafting Guide, 10 volumes published by the Matthew Binder Division of Lexis/Nexis. He is the author of seven books on theatre and film. His latest book, COMMON SENSE NEGOTIATION – The Art of Winning Gracefully, is described by Kurt Vonnegut as “a celebration of practical nice manners and tough minded decency.” Mr. Cross brings over twenty-five years of varied experience to the group. He is a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, the service organization for over 400 not-for-profit theatres in New York. He also serves as a volunteer mediator for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Schaevitz, also a member of the firm litigation group, has broad corporate and commercial experience. He has served as an Assistant Attorney General of the State of New York and as a legislative aid to Senator Chris Dodd.

The group represents theatrical productions, actors, actresses, directors, producers, authors, theatre owners, repertory companies and persons in every aspect of theatre, film and the other creative arts in the United States, Canada and elsewhere.

“FROM OPTION TO OPENING”

“PRODUCING ON BROADWAY”

“ACTOR’S GUIDE: What You Should Know About The Contracts You Sign”

“PRODUCING, FINANCING AND DISTRIBUTING FILM”

“PRODUCING THEATRE: A Comprehensive Legal And Business Guide”,

“THE FANTASTICKS, America’s Longest Running Play”

“COMMON SENSE NEGOTIATION, The Art of Winning Gracefully”

Each of these books has received enthusiastic, rave reviews from all sources including VARIETY, THE LIBRARY JOURNAL, DANCE WORLD, SHOW BUSINESS and others. In fact, THE LIBRARY JOURNAL described PRODUCING ON BROADWAY as “one of the most important theatre books of this decade.”

Mr. Farber’s latest book, COMMON SENSE NEGOTIATION, The Art Of Winning Gracefully, is described by Kurt Vonnegut as “a celebration of practical nice manners and tough minded decency”.

He is the General Editor (Author of the Theatre Volume) of ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY CONTRACTS: Negotiating And Drafting Guide, ten volumes commissioned by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. (published in 1986); which include forms and commentary on theatre, films, television, sports, art, music, multimedia, and book publishing. The theatre volume also includes background forms and commentary on the London, England theatre scene. The volumes are all now on CD.

Donald C.Farber was born, raised and educated in Nebraska. He graduated from the University of Nebraska, receiving his B.S.in Law in 1948 and Juris Doctor in 1950. In April of 1950, he was elected to the Order of Coif, Honorary Law Society, for high academic achievement in law school.

Mr.Farber has an active theatrical practice in New York City and in other parts of the United States and the world. He represents many theatrical productions, actors, actresses, directors, producers, authors, theatre owners, repertory companies, and persons in every aspect of theatre, film and the other creative arts. He is of counsel to the law firm of Jacob, Medinger & Finnegan, LLP, 1270 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10020.

Mr.Farber is the author of seven books dealing with various business and legal aspects of theatre. Click on the link to go to the BIBLIOGRAPHY page or to the BOOKS IN PRINT page.

Mr. Farber began his teaching career in 1970 at York University in Toronto, Canada when he conducted a three day seminar for Canada’s leading theatre people. He was thereafter invited as a visiting professor to teach a course at York University for Arts Administration students during 1972 and 1973 at which time he commuted weekly to Toronto during the school terms. He has been a guest lecturer at the Drama Department at Brooklyn College and New York University.

He was the Chairman of the Practicing Law Institute Seminar on Theatre Law in 1972 and taught entertainment law at the Hofstra School of Law during the 1974-1975 term. In 1975, he was one of the featured speakers at the Iowa Arts Council Seminar and also at the Hofstra Institute for the Arts. He has been on the faculty of the New School for Social Research since 1974.

In 1982 he conceived of, organized and presented a three-day seminar on commercial theatre producing in New York City, the proceeds of which were donated to FEDAPT (Foundation for the Extension and Development of the American Professional Theatre), a not-for-profit tax-exempt corporation organized for the purpose of furthering theatre. A similar seminar was presented in Los Angeles in December, 1982 and repeated in New York City in March of 1983 and annually thereafter.

He also conceived of and planned an intensive course in theatre production for twenty-five highly qualified students participating in a three-hour session once a week for ten weeks. These programs have proven highly successful.

Mr.Farber is married to the former Ann Eis, who was a professor of Mathematics at the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University. When she retired from teaching, she and Mr. Farber organized the FARBER LITERARY AGENCY, INC., of which she is the President. They have two grown children, Patricia and Seth, and two grandchildren, Justin and Miranda.