Deadline: Friday, January 17, 2025
Fearless Comedy Productions is now accepting applications for Fearless Presents, a showcase of daring new works for the stage, to take place May 2-4, 2025.
WHO IS FEARLESS?
Fearless Comedy Productions (Fearless) is a Twin Cities theater company dedicated to supporting local artists in developing daring works for the stage that entertain, engage, and enlighten audiences about the world around them.
WHAT IS FEARLESS PRESENTS?
Fearless Presents is a juried, three-day festival that features bold new works by Twin Cities theatrical artists. It is an opportunity for local artists to try new ideas, push the boundaries of their art, and present their work to new audiences. The festival is also a fundraiser for Fearless, during which donations will be solicited to support more opportunities like these where local artists can perform new works for the stage.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
Any Twin Cities-based artist who wants to perform a fully-realized show or present a work in progress may apply to the festival. There is no limit on genre or performance art, so long as it is a theatrical art form suitable for the stage. It could be a full-length show, a collection of shorter works, a reading of a new show, or snippets of something you’re still developing. You may submit multiple ideas for consideration; however, no company or individual will be selected to produce more than one show in the festival. There is no fee to apply. The link to the application form is below. Applicants must read the information below before applying.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?
- Applying artists must be based in the Twin Cities Metro Area.
- Submitted shows must be something that has never been produced or presented to the public before.
- Submitted shows should be daring, meaning they push the boundaries of an art form, they tell a story in a fresh or unique way, and/or they present bold social commentary.
- Each production must be a duration of at least 45 minutes and no more than 60 minutes.
- Selected productions must pay an entry fee of $25 to participate in the festival. The entry fee helps cover the upfront costs of the festival, including the performance space, technical production, administration, and marketing.
- One producer from each show must attend the virtual producers meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2025.
- All participating artists must sign and abide by the Fearless Code of Conduct and comply with all festival rules and deadlines.
HOW DOES THE MONEY WORK?
Fearless understands that it can be costly to produce a show, and we always strive to ensure artists are compensated fairly for their talent and efforts. While Fearless Presents is a fundraiser for Fearless, we will pay producing artists 50% of the box office receipts for their show (total sales from full-price and discounted tickets minus any ticket processing fees). Please keep in mind that payouts are dependent on audience attendance and can vary.
HOW WILL PERFORMANCES WORK?
Similar to how Minnesota Fringe Festival operates, each time slot is one hour long, and artists will need to set up their show and strike immediately before and after, as follows:
- 20 minutes before showtime (or whenever the previous performers have exited), the performing artists will be allowed to enter the theater and backstage area. They will have ten minutes to set the stage for their performance.
- The doors will open ten minutes before showtime, at which time the artists must be done setting their stage.
- Artists will be given notice two minutes before showtime and 30 seconds before showtime for places.
- At showtime, there will be a brief announcement about the festival, then the one-hour limit begins. (Note: late attendees will be seated up to five minutes after showtime.)
- At the end of the performance, or at the one-hour limit, the lights will go up in the house and the performers will strike their show. They will have ten minutes to clear the stage and the backstage area and exit the theater.
Please note: Given the schedule, performers will have limited time to set up for their performance and to strike after their show. Applying artists should consider these limitations in the design and planning for their show.
WHAT DO YOU GET?
- A 60-minute slot to perform in our festival.
- 50% of your box office receipts (total sales of full-price and discounted tickets to your show minus any ticket processing fees).
- A professional-grade, well-equipped accessible venue.
- Ticket sales (advanced and at the door), box office staff, and front-of-house services.
- A technician to run the booth for your show, including both lighting and sound.
- A Technical Director to advise you on the design of your show.
- Support from Fearless’s artistic team to answer any questions or concerns.
- Listing of your show on the festival website.
- Promotion of the festival through social media, our partners, and publicity to local press.
- Artist passes for you and your fellow artists to see other festival shows for free.
WHAT ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR?
- Creating and developing your script, including acquiring any necessary rights or permissions for the use of existing works or music.
- Arranging or hiring a director, actors, and any production staff. If you have over 20 technical cues, we strongly recommend you to hire a stage manager to call your show.
- Organizing rehearsals and procuring and paying for any required rehearsal space.
- Costumes, props, sound cues, and set pieces. Please be mindful that you will need to load all set pieces, props, and costumes in the ten-minute timeframe before your performance and you will need to remove them within ten minutes following your performance.
- Providing marketing information and images to help promote your show on our website.
- Actively marketing your own show. Please keep in mind that payouts are dependent on audience attendance and can vary.
- Ensuring all artists participating in your production sign the Fearless Code of Conduct and a liability waiver.
- Abiding by the festival rules and deadlines.
- Attendance at the mandatory producers’ meeting.
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
Please note that unforeseen circumstances may change these timelines.
- Applications are due by Friday, January 17, 2025.
- Applications will be reviewed by Fearless’s leadership. Submitted shows will be judged based on whether they meet the requirements above and their fit within the festival.
- Fifteen artists will be contacted by Monday, January 27, 2025 and invited to produce their show in the festival.
- Selected artists will have until Friday, January 31, 2025 to accept and pay the entry fee. If a selected artist declines, fails to respond, or does not pay the entry fee by the deadline, we will invite another artist to take their slot in the festival.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU KNOW?
- There will be an optional technical rehearsal the day before the festival. If you wish to see the performance space, and for anyone who has sound or lighting cues, you will have the opportunity to sign up for a slot to meet with our Technical Director at the theater. Unfortunately, we cannot offer enough time for a full run of any show, so we strongly suggest you plan accordingly and minimize the technical requirements for your show. Our artistic team and Technical Director will be available to answer any questions you may have in advance of the festival.
- We are hosting this festival to create more opportunities for local artists to try new things and share their ideas with audiences. If you have an idea but aren’t sure how to bring it to life, please let us know and we will see what we can do to help.
You can apply for Fearless Presents here: https://forms.gle/MTbiRQjvoczqNMpy5
If you have any questions, concerns, or issues applying, please email Dave Rand-McKay at tyle0031@gmail.com.