Scranton Fringe Festival Premiere: October 1–10, 2026
Scranton Fringe is launching the Scranton Fringe Theater Lab – Ensemble Development to help create and support new theatre and performing arts ensembles, groups, and collectives in Northeast Pennsylvania. Selected groups, selected via an open call live through February 15th, 2026, will receive a $1,200 creative stipend / micro-grant to help fund their first project together, which will premiere at the 2026 Scranton Fringe Festival (Oct 1–10, 2026).
In addition to the stipend, selected groups will also receive free venue access, tech support, front-of-house staffing, marketing support/training, and all needed consultation leading up to—and following—their premiere at the 2026 Scranton Fringe Festival.
This program is designed to fund and empower multiple artists working together—artists who will continue to create as a unit, challenge each other, and strengthen the region’s independent performing arts ecosystem. We are not expecting groups to form formal organizations; informal structures are welcome. Fringe will guide structure and planning based on what the ensemble wants to do over the next 1–3 years.
All performing arts genres are welcome (theatre, dance, music, puppetry, spoken word, interdisciplinary work, performance art, and more).
Applications are now open and close February 15th, 2026.
Please note this open call is separate from the main 2026 Festival applications (which will be open via the Fringe website February 9th – March 31st).
What Selected Groups Receive
Each selected ensemble/collective receives:
Funding
- $1,200 creative stipend / micro-grant to support the development and production of the project. The groups will also receive a percentage of their ticket sales from their premiere work at the 2026 Scranton Fringe Festival.
In-Kind Support
- A Fringe festival slot + free venue access for the premiere during the 2026 Scranton Fringe Festival (Oct 1–10, 2026). The festival will assign them a venue based on the scope of their project / technical requirements.
- Front-of-house staffing
- Marketing support and training (support building a simple but effective website/social media profiles, lessons in how to promote, press basics, outreach strategy, asset creation guidance)
- Creative consultation throughout the development timeline of 2026 (March – September) and following the premiere at the 2026 Scranton Fringe Festival (October 1 – 10).
- Tech support appropriate to the assigned venue
Rehearsal + Virtual Work Support
- Free access to a rehearsal space within Scranton, PA, will be provided as part of this program.
- Fringe can also help provide access to a paid Zoom account to facilitate virtual meetings/work sessions as needed.
Eligibility
Applicants may apply as either:
- A new configuration of artists who haven’t previously operated as a producing unit, OR
- Solo applications are permitted only if the applicant can clearly articulate a plan to cultivate and assemble a team of other artists (primarily based in NEPA) as part of the program period and in preparation for the 2026 premiere.
What “Northeast PA” Means
To be considered NEPA-based, the applicant and/or ensemble must have a real, ongoing relationship to Northeast PA—through which members live, where the work is made, and/or where it’s shared. This includes the greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area and its surrounding communities.
Out-of-area collaborators
Collaborators may be based elsewhere (NYC, Philadelphia, etc.) as long as the applicant/ensemble can demonstrate meaningful participation in NEPA now and/or a concrete commitment to ongoing NEPA involvement going forward.
Solo Lead Applicants must be primarily based in NEPA. Out-of-area collaborators may join later as part of the team, but the cultivation plan should prioritize NEPA-based artists.
The application is now open. Please click here to begin the application process, or email [email protected] with any questions at your convenience. You will find a comprehensive list of FAQ below.
About Scranton Fringe
Scranton Fringe is a year-round performing arts organization based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, best known for producing the annual Scranton Fringe Festival—a multi-venue celebration of independent performance. Fringe supports artists and audiences through festivals, pop-ups, partnerships, and community-centered programming, with a focus on bold work, access, and strengthening the creative ecosystem in Northeast PA.
