Festivals are a cheap way to put on a show, but people still complain about the cost of getting a show on the boards. And often the biggest and most irreducible festival cost is rehearsal time. John Chatterton, the Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF)’s executive producer, knows something about production costs Off-Off-Broadway, having produced a slew of showcases and also run a rehearsal studio (Where Eagles Dare) for seven years. So he’s doing something about it.
“Call me crazy,” Mr. Chatterton said. “But if I can offer people 20 hours of free rehearsal time, I bet I could entice them to join the MITF over some other festival!”
So Chatterton has struck a deal with the Network, whose fancy new digs at 242 West 36th Street, Third Floor, include 9 spacious, clean studios — right around the corner from the MITF’s home base on W. 36th St. He figures he can give each show 20 hours of free rehearsal time without breaking the bank. The Network will give the MITF a break on the price.
Here are the details:
* Shows must have applied for and been accepted into this year’s MITF.
* Limit 20 hours per show, 200 hours total.
* Times limited to 10 am – 6 pm Mon. – Fri. in the first 2 weeks of July.
* Times will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis after June 1.
* Festival runs from July 16 – Aug. 12 (last week for extensions and overflow only).
* Short Subjects and shows that have not made their “advance sale” requirement not included in this offer.
Given that the participation fee for this year’s Festival is $550, and anyone budgeting a show of any kind should plan on spending $20 an hour for rehearsal space, this deal reduces the cost of being in the Festival to almost nothing. (You still have to pay Festival fees to get in the MITF; you get the free rehearsal time later.)
For more information about this year’s MITF, check out the Festival Web site at www.midtownFestival.org — look for the Festival Manual for all the details.
The MITF deadline is long past, and contracts are due to be signed on or about Apr. 1, so don’t delay — there’s still time to get in to the MITF, but it’s running out fast!
Application forms for the Midtown International Theatre Festival are available online at www.midtownfestival.org. Completed applications, scripts, production materials and a non-refundable reading fee of $30 (none for Short Subjects) must be mailed to: The Midtown International Theatre Festival, 2578 Broadway #145, New York, NY 10125. Pricing plans for shows vary. Details may be found at www.midtownfestival.org.
The 2012 Festival will take place at the June Havoc Theatre, 312 W. 36th Street, 1st floor; the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, 312 W. 36th Street, 1st floor; the Main Stage Theater, 312 W. 36th Street, 4th floor; and the Jewel Box Theater, 312 W. 36th Street, 4th floor.
Further information about the MITF can be found in the Festival Manual at www.midtownfestival.org.
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