CMTF 2015 Producer Information Packet

Thanks for submitting for consideration to the 2015 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival! This

packet includes basic information that youll need to submit your show, as well as how to

move forward if youve been selected. For additional questions, reach out to info@cmtf.org

and well get back to you right away.

This years CMTF will take place at The Den Theatre, located at 1333 N. Milwaukee Avenue,

in the heart of Chicagos Wicker Park neighborhood. Performances will be Tuesday-Sunday,

from June 30th to July 19th, 2015.

During the festival, twelve shows will perform in continuous repertory production, with each show performing four

times. There will be nine one-act (40-60 minute) productions, and three full-length (75-100 minute) productions

selected from those who submit. Performance times start in the early evening on weekdays (6pm-10pm), and

afternoons/evenings on weekends (12pm-10pm). ALL SUBMITTING SHOWS MUST BE AVAILABLE TO PERFORM AT ANY

TIME DURING THIS SPAN. NO EXCEPTIONS. Each production, at performance time, receives 10 minutes to set up their

show in the space, and 10 minutes to strike their show afterwards. Limited storage is available on-site.

Well seek input from all accepted groups regarding ticket price, but right now theyre slated at $15 for one-act

productions and $20 for full-length.

There are two types of submissions accepted for the festival: independent and mentored. For the purpose of the

descriptions below, WE are CMTF, and YOU are the INDEPENDENT COMPANY.

Independent Productions are produced by the INDEPENDENT COMPANY.

o All casting, rehearsal, costuming and design are arranged, funded, and executed by the INDEPENDENT

COMPANY.

o CMTF provides independent productions with:

the performance venue, which includes a basic set

the use of up to six wireless headset microphones

access to basic sound equipment

a basic light plot

festival-wide promotion/inclusion in the festival program and advertising

box office/ushers

light and sound technicians for all tech and performances.

o This category is meant for those who have produced before. Independent productions can be one-act

OR full-length.

o Money: the INDEPENDENT COMPANY receives 50% of all ticket sales

Mentored Productions are produced by CMTF.

o Once accepted, mentored shows are fully handed off to be produced by CMTF. All casting, rehearsal,

costuming and design are arranged, funded and executed by CMTF. In short, we take your show and

bring it to life.

o Writers and Composers remain a part of the process in an advisory capacity, with the ability to attend

rehearsals, give notes to the production manager for consideration, and make edits as required by

CMTF. Producing a new musical is an active, dynamic process, and youre right in the heart of it.

o Money: 50% of all ticket sales is distributed equally to all actors, designers, writers, composers and

other members of the mentored productions production team.

Independent Production Timeline

BY FEBRUARY 15th 21st ALL SUBMISSION MATERIALS DUE Any additional materials not included in your form may be sent to info@cmtf.org for consideration. If you think it may help, send it along! Note: in lieu of large attachments, please consider providing links to Google Drive, DropBox, etc.

BY FEBRUARY 18th 24th- SELECTED PRODUCTIONS ARE NOTIFIED AND SENT CONTRACTS If youre selected, congratulations! Read your contract thoroughly, sign it, and return to CMTF via the enclosed instructions. Also due at this time is the production fee, which is $300 for one-act submissions and $500 for full-length submissions. This fee is non-refundable, and is used to help defray festival costs like venue, programs, and operating personnel. No financial aid is available through the festival, but many past producers have found success seeking sponsorship for their productions. To aid in this, each independent production will receive limited free space for sponsored advertising in the festival program, as well as on the festival website. Any ad revenue you generate is yours to keep. Not all submissions will be accepted, but some may be wait-listed. If youre added to the waitlist, dont fret! You may still be accepted.

BY FEB 25th 28th ALL CONTRACTS AND PRODUCTION FEES ARE DUE Late contracts and fees will not be accepted, and wait-listed productions will be let in in your place.

~MARCH 1st LINEUP IS PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED At this point, youre now free to start publicly posting for designers, cast, etc. and to start your process

MARCH 1st to JUNE 15th Do your thing! Cast your show, start rehearsing, edit/re-edit/rewrite, design and build any set pieces you want to add to the space during your performances, sing your heart out, and keep us updated! Well be blogging and posting like crazy on social media to promote you!

APRIL 15th Imagery/Bios due for festival program and website. Program ads due for prod.s with sponsors.

MAY 1st Performance times announced, tech times sent to producers, tickets go on-sale at cmtf.org

JUNE 1st FINAL scripts due, with light cues (up, down, special cues, etc.)

Various dates in June CMTF will host preview nights at various bars and theatres in Chicago, which youre invited to perform in to promote your show

JUNE 24th-29th TECH Each one-act will receive one 3-hour period in this span to tech your production, which allows you to practice setting-up and tearing-down your set, perform 1-2 times in the space, work scenes/songs as-needed and programming light cues. Each full-length production will receive one 5-hour period to do the same.

JUNE 30th-JULY 19th FESTIVAL! Perform, schmooze/promote your show at festival events, and have fun! Each show is guaranteed four performances, at least two of which will be in prime (Fri/Sat eve, Sat/Sun mat) slots.

AUGUST 2nd Checks for 50% of all ticket revenue for your production will be mailed/made available for pickup for independent producers. The remaining 50% goes towards producing the festival, as well as producing the mentored productions.

Mentored Production Timeline

BY FEBRUARY 15th 21st ALL SUBMISSION MATERIALS DUE Any additional materials not included in your form may be sent to info@cmtf.org for consideration. If you think it may help, send it along! Note: in lieu of large attachments, please consider providing links to Google Drive, DropBox, etc.

BY FEBRUARY 18th 24th- SELECTED PRODUCTIONS ARE NOTIFIED AND SENT CONTRACTS If youre selected, congratulations! Read your contract thoroughly, sign it, and return to CMTF via the enclosed instructions. Also due at this time is the production fee, which is $300 for one-act submissions and $500 for full-length submissions. This fee is non-refundable, and is used to help defray festival costs like venue, programs, and operating personnel. No financial aid is available through the festival, but many past producers have found success seeking sponsorship for their productions. To aid in this, each mentored production will receive limited free space for sponsored advertising in the festival program, as well as on the festival website. Any ad revenue you generate is yours to keep. Not all submissions will be accepted, but some may be wait-listed. If youre added to the waitlist, dont fret! You may still be accepted.

BY FEB 25th 28th ALL CONTRACTS AND PRODUCTION FEES ARE DUE Late contracts and fees will not be accepted, and wait-listed productions will be let in in your place.

~MARCH 1st LINEUP IS PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED At this point, CMTF assigns your production a director, music director, stage manager, and starts casting.

MARCH 1st to JUNE 15th Auditions! Rehearsals! Design meetings! Youre invited to all of them, though not required to attend, and we value your input. During the rehearsal process, as rewrites/edits become necessary (as determined by the producer), well work with you to help make your show performance-ready. Since CMTF is the producer, all production changes are ultimately at the discretion of CMTFs artistic leadership. That said, youre with us every step of the way.

APRIL 15th Imagery/Bios due for festival program and website. Program ads due for prod.s with sponsors.

MAY 1st Performance times announced, tech times sent to producers, tickets go on-sale at cmtf.org

JUNE 1st FINAL scripts due, with light cues (up, down, special cues, etc.)

Various dates in June CMTF will host preview nights at various bars and theatres in Chicago, which mentored productions will perform in to promote your show!

JUNE 24th-29th TECH Each one-act will receive one 3-hour period in this span to tech your production, which allows you to practice setting-up and tearing-down your set, perform 1-2 times in the space, work scenes/songs as-needed and programming light cues. Each full-length production will receive one 5-hour period to do the same.

JUNE 30th-JULY 19th FESTIVAL! Perform, schmooze/promote your show at festival events, and have fun! Each show is guaranteed four performances, at least two of which will be in prime (Fri/Sat eve, Sat/Sun mat) slots.

AUGUST 2nd 50% of your shows revenue will be divided equally between all cast members, musicians, designers, directors, etc., and mailed via check. This includes you, as a writer or composer! The remaining 50% goes to support the festival, as well as the cost of producing your show.