Hello!
Thanks for your interest
in Shotgun Theatre Lab. It gives us great joy to be able to have a production
company that grants emerging artists the same opportunities we had when
we were just beginning. The inspiration for this came earlier this year
when we encountered with yet another talented, amazing, passionate artist
who would do anything for the chance to put on a play, but was unable
to find an available, affordable space.
In 1992, we just happened
to be in the right place at the right time to get a foothold in La Val’s.
The rent was cheap; it was close to a food source, and it was small and
manageable enough for a bunch of bush-league theatricians like ourselves.
Other folks have not been so fortunate. We have a lease agreement with
the owner of La Val’s now, and so we have decided to create a lab
space in the Subterranean for theatre artists to try out experimental
new works.
This little packet will
serve as your guide to submission procedures and so forth. It aims to
answer all of your preliminary questions. Of course, we probably won’t
have thought of everything, so feel free to email Gina Pulice, self-appointed
Shotgun Theatre Lab Impresario, with any questions we haven’t tackled
in these pages.
First, some general guidelines…
SHOTGUN THEATRE LAB PROJECTS MUST:
1) Be original-
NO PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AND/OR PRODUCED PIECES
2) Honor the spirit of "experimental theatre" (more on that
later)
3) Have a song and a dance
4) Be set in a "black box"
5) Be costumed from our shop or culled from your own crafty (read: free)
resources
6) Be followed by a post-show discussion, or "talkback", so
the audience can ask questions and/or make comments about what the hell
it was they just saw.
And now, on to everybody’s
favorite part of a boring rules and regs document, the FAQ section!
F.A.Q.- Playwrights
How do I submit my play
to your company?
That part’s
easy. Just send a copy of your script, along with a one-page personal
statement of interest to:
Shotgun Theatre
Lab Productions
2640 College Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
In most cases,
we would like to keep the script for our files. However, if you are not
comfortable with that or if there is any other reason you would like your
script returned to you, send a SASE (with enough postage to cover the
weight) along with your submission.
What’s a "personal
statement of interest"?
It’s a chance for
you to tell us why we should do your play. You should answer the questions:
- Why do you want to
work with this company?
- How is your piece experimental?
- What level of involvement
would you like to have with the production of your script? (that is
to say, is it a work in progress that you’d like to revise? Do
you plan on attending rehearsals? Do you want to have any part in the
choice of director or in casting?)
*FAQ- Directors
How do I let you guys
know that I want to direct a play for Shotgun Theatre Lab?
Simply send a one-page
letter of intent, outlining your interest in directing for Black Box Productions
and your particular approach to theatre. Attach your theatrical resume
and send to:
Black Box Productions
434 36th Street #1
Oakland, CA 94609
*please note that it is the intention of Black Box Productions to make
separate the role of playwright and director.
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