Storytelling Revolution Festival Submissions Now Open!

The Storytelling Revolution Festival (SRF) explores the wonder and complexity of our time by bringing together artists in a celebration of new works for the stage. We are looking for stories that spark wonder, challenge convention, and reflect the heart and diversity of our region.  

SRF is presented and curated by Actor’s Theatre of Louisville (ATL) and The Louisville Fringe Festival (LFF) and will run April 3-12 and 10-12. The festival will take place in Actor’s Theatre’s Main Street theatre complex utilizing all three stages (The Victor Jory, The Bingham, and The Pamela Brown).  

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 

All submissions must be original works and the artist and/or company must possess the legal rights to produce and perform their piece(s). Shows with previous productions are allowed. Please include a detailed production history in your submission. 

It is the responsibility of selected artists/companies to cast, rehearse, tech, produce, and prepare their show for the festival. ATL and LFF do not cast, employ or hire artists/companies that are selected for the festival. We provide performance dates, publicity, a scheduled time for tech and a stage for the performance of your piece. We also do not provide housing or stipends for out-of-town artists/companies.   

ATL will provide technicians to run the lights and sound. It is required that each show keep their technical aspects to a severe minimum. If your piece requires a large set and a plethora of light and sound cues, then it might not be a good fit for SRF.   

Scenic 

• Each space comes with its own preset standard floor and masking. 

• No specialty rigging will be allowed 

Props 

• Basic set of furniture will be provided (tables, chairs, benches, acting cubes) 

• All hand props should be the responsibility of the artists/companies. 

• No liquids or food without specific discussion and approval. 

• Designated prop tables will be provided backstage in each theatre. 

Costumes 

• Dressing rooms will be available for each performance space. The dressing rooms are a shared space.  

• Quick Change stations can be provided if needed. 

Lighting 

• ATL will provide a basic Rep Plot that cannot be altered in any way including but not limited to; changing focus, color, gobos, or adding/moving/striking lights. 

• ATL will provide a lighting board operator who will be able to bring up basic – premade lighting looks. The operator will not design the lights or program complex lighting sequences.  

Sound 

• ATL will provide a basic Rep Plot that gives full coverage of the audience 

• ATL will provide a sound board operator who will be able to program simple cues in QLab as well as set levels and timing. 

• Cues are accepted in most file formats, but .wav or .aiff are preferred 

• More complex cue sequences are allowed, provided the show is preprogrammed in QLab, prior to tech. 

• Files are appreciated in advance through download links, or day of tech on a flash drive. 

• Microphones are limited to 2 wireless handhelds. 

• All other audio equipment is the responsibility of the artist and/or company and must be discussed and approved at least one week prior to tech. 

‍

Submissions may NOT use any nails, screws, stage screws, tacks, staples, or similar items on stage floor; nor construct nor paint on any stage (touch-up work may be done with the permission of Theatre’s Director of Production and Operations); nor use any fog or haze machines, flash powder, explosives, firearms, weapons, lasers, strobe lights, live flame, or other hazardous devices or scenery, properties, or costumes unless such are in compliance with all applicable fire and safety regulations and are properly permitted for display to all approximate audience. 

Your submission should focus on what is at the heart of this festival: Story. We are searching for captivating and compelling stories and we believe that that takes many forms. If you only have the beginnings of an idea that’s okay! Give us your best pitch and outline how you plan to create it. Just because you don’t have a finished script, doesn’t mean we can’t help you bring it to life.  

The Storytelling (r)Evolution Festival, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville and The Louisville Fringe Festival does not and will not accept work that glorifies hate speech and the hatred of others. We understand that characters exist in our world that embrace the hatred of other people because of their race, sexuality, religion and gender identity. It is not prohibited to include portrayals of these people, but works that praise that behavior are strictly prohibited. 

‍

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

‍1) To what extent does this project inspire an experience of WONDER? Does this project expand the limits of possibility? Does it catalyze connection? Does it create a playground for imagination? Does it build a bridge to the extraordinary?

2) Does this project represent a REVOLUTION of the theatrical storytelling form? Does the form of this project create a new/different/interesting relationship between artists and audience? Is this story told in a form that inherently must be experienced live and in-person? Is the form of this story one that is less frequently experienced in the Louisville community or even in the U.S. American theatre?

3) Is this a project best realized by the State Theatre of KENTUCKY? Is the story by an artist from Kentucky or the surrounding region? Does the story celebrate something wondrous about Kentucky or the surrounding region? Does the story uplift a (r)Evolutionary moment, movement with roots in Kentucky or the surrounding region? Does the story shift ingrained or stereotypical narratives about Kentucky/Appalachia/the American South? Will it be specifically meaningful for this project to happen in Louisville and to be experienced by Louisville audiences? Will it spark a dialogue or next steps that are specifically needed in Louisville and the surrounding communities?

‍

Ready to submit your entry? Click here to fill out the submission form.

‍

The deadline for submissions is October 15, 2025.

‍

Have questions? Contact Actors Theatre at boxoffice@actorstheatre.org

‍