For more info, go to www.cif.com

CIF Seeks Submissions for its 2006 Festival
The Chicago Improv Festival, a juried and professional festival that
celebrates improvisational expressions in all of its comedic and
multi-disciplinary forms, on November 15, 2005 at 9 a.m. (CST) will
begin accepting submissions for performance in the 9th Annual Chicago Improv
Festival (April 24-30, 2006). CIF will continue to accept submissions until
January 15, 2006 at 7 p.m. (CST). CIF will notify all submitted acts and/or
ensembles of their invitational status by February 1, 2006 at 7 p.m. (CST).

Acts and/or ensembles may submit more than one show to CIF.

2006 Festival Theme
After receiving its Not-For-Profit 501(c)3 certification from the
IRS, the Chicago Improv Festival has undergone several organizational
changes in its administration. CIF's new Festival Artistic Director,
Mark Sutton, has selected a theme for the 2006 festival.

This year's festival will highlight IMPROV AS THEATER. We will give special
attention to improv's role in the theater process as well as
work highlighting the art form's use as a writing tool, teaching
medium, and performance avenue. Consideration will be given, not only to the
content of a performance, but also it's style, theatrical
presentation, overall look and tone, and attempt to advance and
refine improvisation for performance to audiences.

Artistic Categories

Main Stage: shows that can comfortably perform well in a 950 seat theatre
Showcase: ensemble improvised shows (long-form, mid-form, or short-form) Sketch:
ensemble sketch shows
Duo: two-person improvised or sketch showsSolo: one-person improvised or sketch
shows Fringe: unusual improvised or partially pre-written shows

Jury Members
All submissions will be reviewed by members of a paid jury made up of
professional actors, artistic directors, directors, improvisers and
teachers from Chicago's improv and theatre communities. CIF jury
members include: Dexter Bullard, Adrian Danzig, Jeff Griggs, Don
Hall, Nick Johne, Halena Kays, Susan Messing, and Mark Sutton.
Additional jury members TBA as they are added on.

Where to Submit
All submissions may be emailed to CIF at
jpitts@... or mailed to:

Chicago Improv Festival
2936 N. Southport Ave., Second Floor
Chicago, IL 60657


Submission Check List
Please include ALL of the following for your submission (1 each per
submission):
A 30- to 60-minute VHS, DVD, or CD-ROM of your act or ensemble's show A full
media package of your act or ensemble including press and reviews A black/white
photo of your act or ensemble and a color photo of your act or ensemble A
three-paragraph description of your act or ensemble A three-paragraph
description of your act or ensemble's showContact information for your act or
ensemble (email, phone, fax, and website) A complete list of all the names of
your act's or ensemble's cast and crew Full contact information of your primary
contact person Full contact information of your secondary contact person A list
of all technical needs for your act or ensemble For every submitted show, $35
dollars non-refundable submission fee paid by check, money order, or online via
CIF's PayPal account.
Submission Notes
All acts and ensembles that performed in CIF's 2005 festival may use
their CIF 2005 performance as their submitted tape/DVD.*


All submissions sent to CIF are non-returnable by CIF.


CIF will send all submitting acts or ensembles a confirmation email
that their submission has been received by CIF, within 24 hours of
CIF receiving their submission.


Extra consideration will be given to acts or ensembles from other
countries.


If sending your submission on a DVD, please double check the quality
of your DVD by playing it on another computer or DVD player then the computer or
DVD player it was burned on, before sending it to CIF. If CIF's jury members are
not able to play your DVD on their computer or machine it are not CIF's jury
members' responsibilities.


If paying by check or money order, please make the check or money
order out to: CHICAGO IMPROV FESTIVAL. If your check bounces, you will have to
also pay CIF's bank fee penalty.


By submitting, all out-of-town invited acts agree to sign a non-
compete agreement with CIF for a period of two (2) months prior to
and one (1) month post their CIF appearance.


By submitting, all invited acts agree to list their CIF appearance in
all of their promotional materials for a period of one year.


If a submitting act or sketch ensemble performs at another Chicago
festival six months prior to their CIF appearance, they agree to
submit and perform different written material at CIF than they will
perform at any other Chicago festival.


* This provision is provided only as long as there has not been a
significant cast change in the act or ensemble since their CIF 2005
performance; if there has been significant cast change/s the act or
ensemble must still send CIF a recent performance tape/DVD of the act or
ensemble's show.

Festival Performance Notes
All invited acts or ensembles will get one performance slot within
the festival.

The performance slots are 30- to 45-minutes long, as to be determined
by CIF.


All invited acts or ensembles will get a 45-minute tech rehearsal on
the day of their performance, with CIF providing a stage
manager/light board operator.


Main Stage performances will be held on April 27, 28, 29, and 30,
2006.


Showcase, Sketch, Duo, Solo, and Fringe, performances will be held on April 28
and 29, 2006.


All Main Stage and Alternate Stage performances will take place at
the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, IL, 60657.


By submitting, all invited acts agree to have their shows webcast by
CIF.


What CIF Provides
CIF will provide all invited acts or ensembles the following in
exchange for their non-paid performances at CIF 2006:
A professional theatrical venue to perform in.
Professional administrative, box office, and technical staff.
Professional advertising, marketing, and publicity for the
performances. Professional documentation (photos and/or videos) of performances
held at CIF. Professional promotional outreach to industry and agents in
Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City. Comps to industry professionals and
agents that attend CIF.
Possible inclusion in any private professional auditions held through CIF. CIF
Performer's Pass (one per performer). The pass is good for free admission to CIF
parties and special events; discounted tickets to CIF shows; and several
discounts with a variety of local area businesses (including hotels and
hostels). CIF Performer's Packet (one per out of town act or ensemble). The
packet will contain brochures and flyers from Chicago's improv theatres and
training centers; Chicago public transportation maps; CIF staff contact
information; contact information to festival acts and ensembles; discount
information from local businesses; a guide to the festival's surrounding area;
official updates; a schedule of events and performances; and CIF 2006's official
press releases and promotional materials. CIF
Contact Information
Chicago Improv Festival
2936 N. Southport Ave., Second Floor
Chicago, IL 60657
773-935-9810 | 773-296-0968 (fax) Executive Director: Jonathan Pitts
jpitts@...
Managing Director: Rachel Romanski: cifrachel@...
Festival Artistic Director: Mark Sutton



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