Stage Door News
Toronto: Applications opens for three contests at the 2020 Toronto Fringe Festival
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Calling all playwrights! Here are three opportunities to have your work showcased at the 2020 Toronto Fringe Festival.
Feel like increasing your Fringe odds this year? The best way to guarantee yourself a slot in the 2020 Fringe is to win one of the following prizes - all of which (NEW THIS YEAR) come with a free, 7-performance slot at 2020 Fringe.
- The Adams Prize for Musical Theatre
- The 24 Hour Playwriting Contest
- The New Play Contest
THE ADAMS PRIZE FOR MUSICAL THEATRE
Want your new musical to be the next Life After? This prize is a great way to have your work showcased to a wider audience.
What it is: Sponsored by the Pat and Tony Adams Freedom Fund for the Arts, this is a contest for composers/playwrights that guarantees the winner a free spot in the 2020 Toronto Fringe Festival, as well as provides a bursary of $3,500.
THE NEW PLAY CONTEST
Take a chance and submit that script you've been working on! Did you know that Kim’s Convenience got its start because playwright Ins Choi won the New Play Contest in 2010? It’s the perfect way to get your story seen by a larger audience and kick-start your writing career.
What it is: This is a contest for playwrights that guarantees the winner a free spot in the 2020 Toronto Fringe Festival, as well as a bursary for first, second, and third place. The 2020 New Play Contest is sponsored by the Aubrey & Marla Dan Foundation.
THE 24 HOUR PLAYWRITING CONTEST
Do you have what it takes to write a play in 24 hours? New this year: the 24 Hour Playwriting Contest is happening in the fall, on Saturday, October 19, 2019. The winner will receive a staged reading at the 2020 Next Stage Theatre Festival and a full run at the 2020 Toronto Fringe Festival.
What it is: This contest challenges writers to create a new play in 24 hours by incorporating four mystery elements. The winner receives: a cash prize; a staged reading at the 2020 Next Stage Theatre Festival; a free, 7-performance production slot in 2020 Toronto Fringe.
Ready to fast-track yourself to Fringe glory in 2020?
Click the button below to read all the fine print and submit your application for one, two or even all three contests!
Cost to Apply: $35 per application to cover jury and administration expenses. (Yes, you can submit more than one.)
Deadline: All contests close Tuesday, October 15, 2019.
What about the 2020 Lottery?
In case you don't know, participants in the Toronto Fringe Festival are randomly drawn by lottery.
Why do we do this by lottery? Why do we leave it all to chance?
Because we believe that every story has a right to be told. Because we believe that everyone should be offered access to the creative opportunities at Fringe. No matter who you are.
Here are some key dates:
October 9, 2019: Lottery information and categories (i.e. Culturally Diverse Artist Project, Accessible Category, etc) will be released.
October 16, 2019: 2020 Fringe Festival Lottery applications open.
November 10, 2019: Applications for the 2020 Fringe Festival Lottery close.
December 3, 2019: The 2020 Fringe Festival Lottery Party.
A note about the Site-Specific Category: Applications will open October 16, 2019, and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. More information will be available shortly.