auditions

In July 2007, The First Annual Hub City Theatre Festival (HCTF) will take place at Cite des Arts in downtown Lafayette. Theatre companies from all over the state will be invited to present performances, readings, and workshops over the four-day festival. HCTF’s mission is to present a diverse slate of theatrical offerings representing the best of Louisiana theatre.

PARTICIPATION: HCTF uses a juried application process to ensure the festival is a true cross-section of the diversity of Louisiana theatre. This does not mean, however, that because you are a new or inexperienced company that your chances of being accepted to HCTF are limited. An important part of the HCTF mission is to encourage and cultivate new and emerging voices as well as present the work of established companies. Passion, creativity, and inspiration are important to us – if you have a compelling idea for a festival project, don’t be afraid to submit it!

APPLICATIONS: Applications for submissions will be accepted from February 15 to May 1, 2007.

All applications must be postmarked on or before May 1, 2007 to be considered for the Festival.

*** PLEASE NOTE:

If your application is deemed incomplete, it will not be adjudicated, nor will it be returned. Please submit only complete applications. Additional support materials may not be added to your application after the deadline.

If you are submitting more than one show, each show must have its own application and support materials. A company may, however, submit all applications under one postmark.

We’re sorry, but none of your materials can be returned to you. DO NOT send originals / irreplaceable copies.

ACCEPTANCE: All adjudicated applicants will receive acceptance status notification (i.e. accepted, alternated, or declined). Notification of acceptance status will begin to be mailed on or about May 15, 2007. At this time, if you are accepted to the festival, you will receive a participant’s packet. This packet must be completed and returned to us by our deadline (which will be on or about June 1, 2007) and accompanied by the non-refundable participation fee. Participation fees range from $25 - $75, based on the length of your entered production and which space it has been selected to perform in. Detailed information will be found further in the application packet.

Your show may be accepted as an alternate. Alternates will begin being moved onto the participants list on or about June 15, 2007.

RESPONSIBILITIES: If your show is accepted to the festival, you are given a slot in which to produce your show. We are NOT producing your show, we are merely presenting it. You or your producing organization must hire your own cast and staff, secure your own rights to published material, and run your own rehearsals, ect.

SCHEDULING: At present, each accepted production will be scheduled for one performance in the festival (in order to accommodate as many interested organizations as possible in this inaugural year). In the event that multiple performances are possible, your organization will be notified. Companies accepted to the festival will be invited to participate in the drafting of the initial schedule, so applying early is beneficial.

As a general rule, companies will have 30 minutes to set up their show and 30 minutes to strike their show. Minimalism rules.

BOX OFFICE AND TICKETING: HCTF will handle all aspects of ticketing and box office. Individual tickets will be sold for each festival performance, as well as full-day passes and full-festival passes.

COMPENSATION TO COMPANIES: Participating companies will receive a portion of each individual admission sold to their show, as well as a portion of full-day and festival admissions used at their show. In this inaugural year, no one will get rich from the box office, but a well-attended show can make enough to defray the cost of mounting a simple one-act.

TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: You will need to keep the technical requirements of your show very simple. The venues will be equipped with a basic lighting plot and basic sound equipment. Venues will also come with a set furniture stock (which will be detailed in the participant package if you are selected for the festival.) Storage space (if any) in the venues is minimal; since the space is shared with several shows, you must take props, set pieces and costumes away with you after the performance. Each company will be given a chance to hold one cue to cue technical rehearsal in the venue prior to the festival.

PUBLICITY: HCTF will publicize the festival and coordinate overall press relations. You may be asked to submit publicity photographs and PR materials so that we can send complete press packages to print and broadcast media. HCTF will produce posters, brochures, and schedules for the overall festival (your participation fee goes directly to finance this important festival cost). Companies are invited and encouraged to publicize their individual production in their respective communities. The more you promote your show, the larger your audience will be.

OUT-OF-AREA PARTICIPANTS: Like locals, out-of-area participants are responsible for all aspects of the production of their show, as well as travel expenses. HCTF will do all it can to accommodate out-of-area participation in the festival.

FINAL NOTE: It is the goal of HCTF to present the most diverse, innovative, and vibrant selection of productions in the festival. We feel we better guarantee this through a selection process. Application does not guarantee acceptance. We are looking to present a wide variety of companies, ages, styles, viewpoints, and levels of experience. We hope to have established companies presenting their best work alongside experimental student work. Everyone is welcome at HCTF, and we will do our best to pull together an eclectic and exciting festival which fully represents the spirit and scope of Louisiana theatre.

SO WHAT IS HCTF LOOKING FOR?: We’re looking for whatever you can dream up theatrically. But if that’s too big a field for your imagination, here are some things we’re interested in presenting at the inaugural festival:

- Original, world premiere works by Louisiana authors.

- Fully produced one-act plays by prominent playwrights.

- Multimedia theatre works, experimental theatre pieces, performance art.

- original works of musical theatre that meet time guidelines.

- ten-minute plays to include in our “Four by Ten” Shorts Packages .

- solo works of all kinds (hour-long, ten-minute, ect.)

- performance poetry to include in our alternative events

- sketch comedy, improv comedy, or theatrical stand up for our late night events.

- works produced by young people, specifically high school-aged artists.

- works that give voice to segments of the population that aren’t often heard.

- works that spotlight local themes, characters, or writers.

Your big idea not on our list? Great! Share it with us. We’re looking for the most diverse slate of performances possible. Nothing is too unusual /wild /experimental /conventional /expected for our festival. We want everything from a Thornton Wilder one-act to an experimental musical about the war in Iraq to your solo show about modern feminism to a children’s piece based on an African folktale. WE WANT ANYTHING YOU CAN DREAM UP!

HCTF does not shy away from controversial material, and we will not censor your production in any way. However, be aware that shock theatre, nudity, gratuitously violent works, or projects with extreme sexual content will have a hard time finding an appropriate spot in our festival.

WHAT YOU DO NOW:

1. Choose your show or project. (What if you know you want to participate, but aren’t sure what show you want to do? Apply anyway. Give us as clear an idea that you can on what kind of piece your company will likely produce. Let us know you want to produce a Tennesse Williams one-act – the exact title can be added later. However, please note that the more specific your project can be, the more likely it is to be accepted. 2. COMPLETELY fill out the application packet.

3. Make two copies of your application form. Sign them both. Keep the original for your records.

4. Send in BOTH signed copies of the application form with ONE COPY of any supporting materials. Supporting materials are not required, but that can help you in the adjudication process. Supporting materials will give us a clearer picture of who you are as a company and what your work is like. Supporting materials include:

- script of an original, world premiere project

- a representative videotape of your company’s work

- reviews of recent productions, or your company’s production history

- bios or artists working on your proposed project

- audio tape or CD of music (if applicable)

- a cover letter explaining your project, if it’s experimental or improv

- any additional materials you feel are relevant to your project

Please label all supporting materials with either the title of your proposed project or your company name.

PLEASE SEND ALL COMPLETED APPLICATIONS AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS TO:

Hub City Theatre Festival 2007

Cite des Arts

P.O. Box 2821

Lafayette, LA 70502

APPLICATION FORM