How Fringe works

The whole point of Fringe is to support new and emerging theater. So we try to make it as easy as possible for performers to produce their shows and for audiences to see them. We take care of all of the organizational stuff that most performers hate to do (although we like it): lining up venues, generating publicity, organizing volunteers and bringing the audience.

We also pay for advertisements, posters and publicity to get audiences to the show (although we encourage you to promote your show too). We pay for the venues, techs, programs, telephone calls, stamps, paper, chair rental, light rental, opening party, closing party...lots of stuff.

We also organize the wonderful volunteers who make this whole crazy thing work.

Then you produce your show.

What types of shows do we accept?

Virtually any type of theater performance is welcome to apply.  Categories include: cabaret, comedy, dance, drama, improvisational, magic, multimedia, musical theater, performance art, puppetry, storytelling, variety, burlesque, sideshow, street theater, spoken word, and other creative madness.

All shows must be between 30 and 60 minutes.

How do you apply?

Complete an application form and send it to us by July 15, 2008. There is a $25 non-refundable application fee for each submission. Important: You don't have to have a completed show ready by July 15th; just give us an idea of what you want to do!

What are your costs and responsibilities?

You pay the $25 non-refundable application fee. If you are selected, then you cover all of your production and travel costs (props, costumes, perfomers' pay, gas, performance rights, salty snacks, etc.).

Remember: Fringe only presents your show; you produce it. That means that casting, rehearsals, performances and all related costs are your responsibility.

What about ticket sales?

Box office returns for your show are split 50/50 between you and Fringe (the exception is the Bring Your Own Venue option where you keep all returns).

Date Entries Open

Thursday April 10, 2008.

Date Entries Close

Application form and checks must be postmarked or hand-delivered by Tuesday July 15, 2008. Mail or drop off applications at New Orleans Fringe Inc., 732 France Street, New Orleans, LA 70117.

Selection Process

The selection process is a combination of jury and lottery. This is how it works: 15 juried spots are selected by the Fringe Festival selection committee. The committee will select these shows based on several criteria, the most important being quality of work. They will also try to ensure a cross-section of shows.

The remaining slots will be selected by lottery. In other words they will be pulled out of a hat -- or a big box -- at random.

The results will be posted on the Fringe Web site on August 15th. Whether a show was selected by jury or lottery will not be revealed.

Because there are likely to be more applicants than performance spots, we won't be able to provide a spot for every group that applies. But don't let that stop you. We still want you to be a part of Fringe. If you don't get a spot at one of our venues, consider lining up your own and getting on the Fringe program with the Bring Your Own Venue option.

What are the Fringe venues like?

The Festival will be running at least five venues, which gives us space for 32 performing groups. Each group will have three performances (all three performances will be in the same space).

Each venue will have basic lighting and sound.  There will be an experienced technician for each venue and you will have a 90 minute technical rehearsal time in the days before Fringe. You are expected to provide a production or stage manager and the crew necessary to set and strike (if necessary). Each company is allowed 15 minutes for set up, and 10 minutes for strike. The audience is seated during the five minutes prior to show time.

You’ll be sharing a venue, a light plot, and little (if any) storage space at your venue with other shows.  Each venue is unique in staging and seating capacity, ranging in size from 30 –100 seats. You will be provided with site specifications and other details at a later date.

Scheduling

We expect that all companies accepted into The Festival will be available for the entire duration of the event. If a company's availability is limited for whatever reason, please advise us well in advance. 

More questions!? Okay, keep reading...

When will I know if I get in?

You will receive confirmation by phone or e-mail regarding your status by August 15, 2008. Once the performance slots are filled, applicants will be placed on a waiting list. You will receive notification of your status. If you are put on our waiting list, you may withdraw at any time.

What happens if I get in?

If your show is accepted to the festival, you are given a slot in which to produce your show. This is important: We are not producing your show, we are presenting it. You must hire your own cast, crew, and staff, secure your own rights, and run your own rehearsals, etc.

What if I don't get in?

Consider the Bring Your Own Venue option, where you line up your own space but we put you in all of the publicity and the program. If you choose BYOV, we will apply your $25 application fee towards the BYOV fee.

(Now, if you are beyond Fringe, then skip all of this application stuff and do your art thing in the neutral ground on St. Claude during the Festival. And put out a hat. Seriously. We really do want everyone to be in Fringe.)

What is the performance schedule?

Every show gets a minimum of 3 performance times.   Shows run from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm on weekdays and 12 noon to 11pm on weekends.  Each show will be a maximum of one hour, with a half hour between shows. To be as fair as possible we will do our best to ensure that every performer gets at least one highly attended time slot.  The rest of the slots are by random selection.

Never produced a show before?

On request we will discuss one-on-one the components of producing and marketing your show.

Please contact dennis@nofringe.org  for an appointment by phone or in person.

Important Rules!

Applications are accepted only by mail, courier (such as FedEx) or hand-delivered in person – not by email or fax or sending a bottle down the Mississippi.

One application per producing company. The same company name may not appear on more than one application. The same primary contact may not appear on more than one application. 

Performers and crew may choose to be involved in more than one production. They will be responsible for ensuring that no scheduling conflicts prevent or interfere with any performances. The Fringe will not adjust any scheduling to accommodate performers appearing in more than one production. Double casting is discouraged.

Be sure to write the title of your show and your company name on the memo line of your check, cashiers check, or money order, and make it payable New Orleans Fringe Inc.

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

Please do not contact us to see if your application has been received and/or is complete. If you want confirmation of receipt, you should send your application via certified mail, return receipt requested, or some other method that you can track (i.e. Federal Express or UPS).

IMPORTANT: None of your materials can be returned to you. Please do not send original or irreplaceable materials.