2024 SCRANTON
FRINGE FESTIVAL:
Those interested in applying to the 2024 Scranton Fringe Festival (September 26th – October 6th) are encouraged to read through the following FAQ.
APPLICATIONS ARE LIVE NOW VIA EVENTOTRON: CLICK HERE TO APPLY AFTER YOU’VE READ ALL THE INFO BELOW!
Photo: Graphics Prints (2023 Scranton Fringe Festival, photo by Jason Riedmiller).
WHAT IS THE SCRANTON FRINGE FESTIVAL?
Scranton Fringe is an award-winning arts organization producing innovative work since 2015, dedicated to creating a bold, engaging platform for thought-provoking art while striving to promote Northeast Pennsylvania as a viable creative environment.
After 10 years our organization has grown into a year-round incubator of creative work centered around the performing arts and community engagement.
We love discovery and experimentation within the arts, fantastic successes, and brilliant failures on (and off) stage.
We believe the arts are a catalyst for change in nearly every facet of community growth and deserve a seat at the table.
We trust in the power of what a few creative-people can do to help a region truly thrive (and we also love a good party).
We invite you to apply for our 10th annual celebration of the arts, our flagship event – the Scranton Fringe Festival (September 26th – October 6th)!
Photo: Mr. Burns, a post electric play (presented by Scranton Fringe, 2022, photo by Brent Pennington).
WHY IS IT CALLED A FRINGE FESTIVAL?
The “fringe” concept first developed in 1948 in Edinburgh, Scotland, when groups of local actors, performers, and musicians—in reaction to the more conventional lineup of the Edinburgh Theatre Festival—launched an alternative program to run concurrently with the main event. Now, over 75 years later, there are hundreds of Fringe Festivals across the world and each serves as a critical launch pad for independent artists.
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is now the largest annual event in the world. In 2023 it sold over 2.5 million tickets and brought together artists, arts industry, media and audiences from nearly 170 countries.
Scranton Fringe is a proud member of the United States Association of Fringe Festivals (USAFF) and the World Fringe Network (WFN).
HOW DO I APPLY TO THE 2024 SCRANTON FRINGE FESTIVAL?
The 2024 Scranton Fringe Festival is Thursday, September 26th – Sunday, October 6th in venues throughout Scranton.
2024 applications are open now and will close on April 12th.
There is no cost to apply and the online application will ask for such information about your proposed work, including but not limited to:
● Synopsis
● Ideal scheduling
● Venue/tech needs for the proposed work
● Past work samples/press clips for artists or producing company
● Photos/video clips, etc.
PLEASE REMEMBER – you apply with your own show/creative work that you will create/produce.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We want bold work for brave audiences – any creative works should apply for consideration. Theater, music, comedy, dance, performance art, film**, and much more is welcome at the Scranton Fringe Festival!
We are looking for: creative projects that engage a wide range of communities, new takes on old works; newly created theater pieces; quirky, unusual, vibrant, and creative theater; online/virtual works of the performing arts, cabaret; dance; comedy: puppetry; magic;
musicals; immersive theater; circus; solo shows, children’s programming, Site-Specific performances, public art installations, creative workshops, and any other type of public creative programming!
** Our film series within the Fringe Festival is “Taking Up Space”, which is dedicated to lifting the voices of historically excluded racial and ethnic narratives. For more information / on how to submit that please visit https://filmfreeway.com/TakingUpSpaceFilmFestival
Our festival is programmed by a small volunteer team focused on providing a platform for as many applicants as possible based on our available time/space/resources.
WHAT ARE THE PRODUCTION FEES AND WHAT DO THEY COVER?
Scranton Fringe charges each standard production a set production fee and then returns 70% of ticket sales (tickets are set at $15 per show) to the production. Fringe subsidizes a great deal of the costs associated with presenting the festival so artists can produce their work affordably.
Production fees for 2024 are as follows:
● $90 per performance (small/medium venues)
● $120 per performance (large venues)
Fringe reserves the right to alterations to the fee structure depending on show requirements. Every accepted production will review its final total fee with festival staff before locking into a contract.
Productions accepted into the 2024 Scranton Fringe Festival will pay a standard production fee in exchange for the following venue, marketing, and technical support provided by the Festival:
● ADA-accessible venue and 3-5 performances with Fringe venue manager / box office staff.
● Limited technical support (lights, sound, projection, etc) and at least one (1) guaranteed tech rehearsal within your venue.
● Box Office + Ticketing Management (online and in-person).
● Dedicated show page on the Scranton Fringe Festival website.
● Listing in the Scranton Fringe Festival Guide (thousands of copies distributed locally and via digital download). Click here to view the 2023 Scranton Fringe Guide!
● Other Festival marketing and publicity (PR, social media, special outreach events leading up to the Festival, etc) as well as access to free marketing workshops.
● Artist passes for the Festival, and more!
Photo: RETROSPECTIVE, presented by New Vintage Ensemble featuring the Scranton High School Step Team (2016 Scranton Fringe Festival, photo by Brent Pennington).
CAN YOU PROVIDE HOUSING OR TRAVEL SUPPORT?
Scranton Fringe cannot guarantee free housing for out-of-area artists. If your company requires housing, please indicate your needs in the application. Artists are responsible for arranging all necessary travel visas or work permits.
If any artists (local or touring) require a letter of intent to apply for funding to any agencies for travel/housing support or other production needs, we are happy to write one.
CAN I HOST A FREE EVENT IN THE FESTIVAL?
Every year we partner with numerous artists and other nonprofits to host special events, many of which are free or donation-based, as part of the Festival alongside the standard ticketed productions. These types of special event partnerships are handled on a case-by-case basis- including our level of direct support, allocation of tech and staffing, etc. We love creative ideas, community partnerships, and a chat over a cup of coffee (or tea)!
Contact us via email (info@scrantonfringe.org) and we will be in touch.
WHAT IS THE COVID-19 SAFETY PLAN?
Per our safety policy, all artists, crew, and volunteers who wish to present any work indoors during the 2024 Scranton Fringe Festival will be asked to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 before contracts are finalized. We launched “masked matinees” last year, ensuring at least 1 performance for most Festival productions required masks to provide an inclusive space for high-risk audience members.
As a result of great feedback and positive support, we intend to continue this initiative in 2024.
WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR MORE INFO?
The best way to reach our hard-working (but small) team is to drop a line to info@scrantonfringe.org.
APPLICATIONS OPEN MARCH 4TH.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO
LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOU &
YOUR CREATIVE WORK!
Photo: Cast/crew of THEN SHE RAN from the 2022 Scranton Fringe Festival launch party
