Midtown Theatre Fest Welcomes Submisssions for 2007 | Playbill

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News Midtown Theatre Fest Welcomes Submisssions for 2007 The Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF), offering the chance for self-produced Off-Off-Broadway works to be presented near New York's commercial theatre district, is now seeking scripts for its eighth annual season (MITF8), to be held July 16-Aug. 5, 2007.

This year the MITF is casting a wide net for scripts. In addition to its usual contingent of non-musical plays (curated by co-artistic director Glory S. Bowen), the MITF is actively seeking international plays (curated by Michael Roderick) and musicals (curator soon to be announced). Solo plays will continue to be a large part of the MITF and will also be curated by Bowen.

"We're big enough to offer an array of styles and subject matter and small enough that a show won't get lost trying to find its audience," stated John Chatterton, MITF executive producer, whose fest averages 50 percent paid attendance, with industry folk and press also in attendance. "The additional artistic directors will be a boon to the selection process."

Chatterton sees the MITF as "the festival that cares" because its large, full-time staff can pay more attention to participants' needs than some bigger festivals.

The MITF presents more than 200 performances of 40-60 shows each summer in four theatres, all on the same block of 36th Street (between Eighth and Ninth avenues) over a three-week period.

According to the MITF website, participation in the Festival is not an opportunity to make money directly, but "an excellent opportunity to show off your product to the industry and to test it in front of an audience, as well as to garner press clippings that will help the show in future incarnations." The Festival pays the following expenses:

  • Rental of the theatres
  • Tech time in the theatres prior to performance
  • General-liability insurance (see "Equity showcases," below, for comments on workmen's comp insurance)
  • Box-office staff, production manager, Festival stage manager, technical director, and overall lighting design
  • Ticket agency setup fees and service charges
  • Festival press and PR
  • Brochures and postcards, and a Festival "shell" program
  • Website connection and maintenance The participants pay all other expenses associated with their productions, including the following:

  • Application fee ($30)
  • Participation fee ($150-$450, depending on placement in Studio Series or The Commercial Division)
  • Volunteer accident insurance for Equity showcases
  • Physical costs of producing the show
  • Fees and personal expenses, as they deem appropriate, for cast and staff
  • Transportation costs to and from the Festival
  • External storage costs outside the Festival
  • Rehearsal costs outside the Festival (we can get you discounts)
  • Costs of their own marketing efforts Last year's festival was at the WorkShop Theater and Chatterton's Where Eagles Dare theatres, though the MITF is seeking to expand to other spaces.

    All submissions for the Eighth Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival must be postmarked by Feb. 20, 2007. Those interested in applying must download an application form from the Festival's website (www.midtownfestival.org) and send the completed form, as well as all accompanying materials (scripts, samples of music, etc.), along with a non-refundable applicable fee of $30 to: Midtown International Theatre Festival, 347 West 36th Street, New York, New York 10018.

    Additional details about the MITF process can be found on the Festival's website. Applicants are strongly urged to peruse the site in detail before sending in an application. Any additional questions can be emailed to [email protected].

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