Seeking Student Submissions and Committee Members for New Works Festival
New Works Festival Information
WhAT IS THE PROPOSED TIMELINE/SCHEDULE?
early-October - Finalize Executive Committee members / first meeting
late-October/early-November - Send out call for proposals and application process
early/mid-November - Announcement of selections
mid/late-November - Full festival meeting
January > March - Auditions / Rehearsals
early-March - Public announcement of Festival schedule
April 9-15 - Festival Tech
April 16-18 - Festival Performances
WHAT COUNTS AS NEW WORK?
New student work: theater (both scripted on not), dance, music, new-media and all the spaces in between. Live performance prioritized but we are open to film, performance art, installations, and other mediums as well.
WHO CAN APPLY TO PRESENT WORK?
This opportunity would be open to students who are affiliated with the school of Drama, but would look to support and build connections across the arts as well, so proposals would be accepted from students regardless of their major/minor designation, or the type of degree they are pursuing (BA, MFA, PhD, etc).
WHAT ARE THE CONSTRAINTS?
For time-based work, 50 minutes would be the maximum time. Shorter works (less than 25 mins) may be more likely to be supported as they can be presented alongside other shorter works. Additionally, most pieces will be produced with low to no tech and with minimal technical support that will largely come from student technicians. We imagine each piece being presented would be limited to one or two performances.
WHERE WILL THE FESTIVAL TAKE PLACE?
The intention is for the festival to take place in Hutchinson Hall studio spaces and classrooms, presented over the course of 3 evenings. Possibly the Penthouse Theater. We might consider proposals for alternative spaces (ie--site-specific).
WHY DO WE THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT?
The intention of this festival—in keeping with the School of Drama’s values—is to increase opportunities to support and present work with and for ALL of our students, undergraduate and graduate students alike. In addition to training students for a theatre industry where producing institutions (e.g. Seattle Rep, ACT Theatre) hire free-lance artists to play a role in a theatrical production, we believe it is important to train students for an evolving landscape where artists (e.g. writers, performers, directors, designers) create and generate their own original works, either individually or collectively.
Be Part of the Student Executive Committee
What is the student executive committee?
This is the group of students tasked with both the content and the form of the festival. The scope of the work would include:
Determining the application / selection criteria and process for new works
Determining the composition of the selected works/artists in the context of the festival
Designing and organizing the festival experience
Coordinating / organizing the festival schedule, spaces and technical requirements (in coordination with the Production Office)
Outlining and executing on outreach and marketing for the festival (in coordination with the Engagement Office)
WHAT IS THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE?
This opportunity is open to any student enrolled in the 25-26 academic year. The same will be true for submissions to the festival. We hope to have representatives from across the Drama program spectrum—graduates from various disciplines and undergraduates—and to include students from other units in the Arts Division such as Dance, Music, DXArts, etc.
WHO ELSE WILL BE INVOLVED?
Sebastián Bravo Montenegro, a 2nd year Directing MFA student, has signed on to take a lead role with the committee, and in helping to produce the festival. School of Drama, Associate Producing Director, Geoff Korf, and I have been spearheading this effort and will continue to work closely with the student executive committee. Further, we intend to have a number of faculty and staff available as consultants, as well as students and some professional staff who will serve as technicians, house managers and in other support roles.
Interested? Email Jeff Larson.