[call for applications] Theatre Lab at The Banff Centre - Sundance Institute / deadline: 8.10.2010. / Canada

Sundance Institute

Theatre Lab at The Banff Centre

March - April, 2011

 

Creative environment for playwrights, directors, composers, ensembles, performance artists or choreographers.

 

The Sundance Institute Theatre Lab is a three-week play development retreat and in 2011 will be held at The Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada. In The Banff Centre's powerful mountain setting in the heart of Banff National Park, exceptional artists and leaders from around the world create and perform new works of art; share skills and knowledge in an interdisciplinary environment; and explore ideas and develop solutions in the arts and leadership.

The Sundance Institute Theatre Lab provides a private creative environment for playwrights, directors, composers and librettists to develop new work with the support of dramaturgs and full casts. Operated under the umbrella of the Sundance Institute, founded by Robert Redford, the Theatre Lab offers an independent-minded community for artists to engage with their work, ask questions, build text and take risks.

 

 

The Theatre Lab welcomes applications for projects at any stage of development. Submitted work cannot have been previously produced, but may have received prior workshops or readings. In addition, projects scheduled to receive a production before July 17, 2011 are not eligible due to our agreement with Actors' Equity Association. Commissioned work is eligible for submission, however playwrights must obtain written permission from their commissioning organization prior to applying.

 

Playwrights, directors, composers, ensembles, performance artists or choreographers may submit applications. Playwright/director teams are permitted and encouraged to apply together; however, if you do not have a director attached to your project, please note that the Sundance Institute will help to match you up with a director if your play is selected for inclusion in the Theatre Lab. Many emerging playwrights do not have access to a director and Sundance Institute is positioned to match these artists with an experienced director.

 

Sundance Institute is interested in both established and emerging theatre artists, as well as artists making a transition from areas outside of theatre. We welcome solo performers and projects for young audiences. Participants must be available for the entire length of the Theatre Lab (March 27-April 17, 2011). Artists may only submit one application. Previous applicants may re-apply, but not with previously submitted material.

 

 

Through open submissions, we consider an estimated 700+ projects. Sundance Institute looks for original, compelling, human stories that reflect the independent vision of the theatre artist. We are interested in supporting a diverse and daring group of theatre artists who tell unique stories, present material in a new form, or conceptualize existing material with an innovative vision. We look for writers and collaborators who are interested in genuinely exploring their material. The Theatre Lab is more than a place to "rehearse"; it is an environment that encourages and supports risk-taking, experimentation, and rigorous re-writing and re-imagining. In order for Sundance Institute to fully evaluate your submission, we require a 500-word page artistic statement from both the playwright and the director as part of the application.

 

 

The Sundance Institute Theatre Program provides professional actors, dramaturgs, rehearsal space and stage management for the collaborative team working on each project as well as round-trip airfare, accommodations and meals. At the end of the Theatre Lab, projects will culminate in an informal presentation for the Lab community only, followed by a feedback session with Sundance Institute artistic staff and guest Creative Advisors.

 

Each full-time Fellow (playwright, director, collaborators) receives a $500 honorarium and company of actors (if applicable), selected by Sundance Institute in collaboration with the Fellows, to support their project. Actors are selected for their professionalism, versatility and suitability for the development process. Actors operate on a Special Agreement with Actors' Equity Association during the Theatre Lab. If you are an AEA actor and would like to be considered for the acting company during the Theatre Lab, you are invited to send your headshot and résumé to the address or e-mail below. We will review all submissions with the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab casting director. The Theatre Program holds Equity Principal Auditions once a year. Please refer to the Actors' Equity website for scheduling information. NOTE: All participants for the 2011 Theatre Lab at the Banff Centre must possess a valid and current passport.

 

Sundance Institute dramaturgs, a team of highly skilled professionals made up of affiliated senior dramaturgs and guest dramaturgs with wide experience in the realm of new play development, are uniquely qualified to provide engaged, considered and empowering guidance to the projects during the Theatre Labs, to offer fresh perspectives on the work at hand, and to ensure the primacy of the participating artist's independent vision. Each Lab sees itself as a complement to, not a replacement of, any pre-existing developmental relationships participating artists may have on a given project, and is sensitive to the process of "passing the baton" at the conclusion of the Labs. We strongly encourage that each rehearsal room is open to members of the Lab community for quiet observation. If you do not feel comfortable allowing colleagues to observe your rehearsal process, the Sundance Institute Theatre Program may not be the most appropriate place for you.

 

 

 

Complete the online application form and upload the your materials electronically. After submitting your materials online, you will receive an email that contains your Log Number. Please use this number in all communications with the Theatre Program. Materials to include:

 

Script Draft of your play or musical (unprotected Word or PDF document)

 

Artistic Statement (If applying as a playwright/director team, Sundance

 

Institute requires a statement from both the playwright and director) 

Describe the status of the project, including prior readings and workshops, and what you hope to accomplish at the Lab. Include comments on the content, style of the piece and the team's objectives for the workshop.

 

Resumes/Bios for each collaborator

 

Letter of acknowledgement from a commissioning organization (if applicable)

 

$35 non-refundable application processing fee payable by credit card on the online application or send a check payable to SUNDANCE INSTITUTE (referencing your log number) with your application materials.

 

 

If applying with a musical, dance project or visual-based piece, FIRST GET YOUR LOG NUMBER (see above), then send copies of your supplemental material (recorded music, sketches or renderings) via snail mail to the address below.