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Strawberry JamMISSION
Strawberry Jam is a five-week arts festival dedicated to providing local directors with the opportunity to grow their craft through practice. Motivated by an observation that Seattle's outstanding acting and playwriting communities are fueled by experimental forums not availabe to directors, SJAM was born in 2022 as a unique public workshop with the director at its center. Now in its second year, SJAM features veteran and emerging artists alike, working with texts ranging from classics to original works. For its audience, the event is a wide-ranging celebration of styles, visions, and voices packed into fifteen nights of relentless energy at 12th Ave Arts... All that makes a Strawberry Jam.
BUDGET & COMPENSATION
SJAM is a paid performance opportunity. As in all of its work, Strawberry Theatre Workshop is fervently committed to financially supporting working artists. In this spirit, the majority of the funds allocated to each SJAM project must be paid to individuals. Only a small amount in each budget will be allowed for other reimbursable costs. The artist designated as the Director must be paid 40% of the budget as an artist fee, and another 40% must be divided among collaborative artists including one person designated as the Stage Manager. During the selection process, proposals will be categorized by the selection committee based on scope with the following guidelines in mind. Proposals of modest length (roughly 30 minutes or less) will be tagged as SHORT-FORM and budgeted $1000. Pieces that expect to run around one-hour will be tagged ONE-ACTS and awarded $2000. Lastly, accepted FULL-LENGTH proposals (90-minutes) will receive $3000 budgets. FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Meetings will begin in early May 2023. The Mainstage Theatre will be available to SJAM artists on a limited basis for rehearsals beginning Monday, May 22, by appointment but only through the first week of June when performances begin. After the festival opens, each project will be booked to tech/perform for one week and 'understudy' for a second week to provide an outlet in the case of a project dropping out of the festival due to illness. Each performance week will include two days of staging, two nights of tech rehearsals, and three evening performances. 
FESTIVAL STAFF
Strawshop intends to support each weekend with staff lighting & sound designers, with repertory plots that can be adjusted during two technical rehearsals on Tuesday and Wednesday nights prior to Thursday openings. In addition, Strawshop's technical team will provide a unit set with flexible stage platforms and curtains to realize as many configurations as possible. A Festival Director will coordinate changes between events. HOW TO APPLY
The selection committee is a trio of performing artists and arts supporters who want to see the Seattle directing community grow. The application is a simple Google form that is designed to help each proposal move from idea to reality. Why is this story necessary in 2023? Who are your artistic collaborators? What are the obstacles to getting your work in front of an audience? Strawberry Jam is not an original works festival, though new writing is not prohibited. The focus is on the director's vision for realizing a story onstage. Applicants do not need to submit scripts, résumés, or video samples—they do not need to show a traditional 'pedigree' of theatre directing training. Just a passion and confidence for completing a project and making the most of the opportunity if selected for SJAM23. To be considered, pull your vision and your closest collaborators together and summarize your best ideas on the linked application. Submit by March-15. If the committee has clarifying questions, they will reach out and help you make your best pitch. The final SJAM roster will be announced April-15. TIMELINE FOR PROPOSALS
COVID SAFETY
Strawberry Theatre Workshop is committed to ensuring safe and sanitary places of employment for Actors, Designers, Directors, and Stage Managers. To address the uncertainty around the transmissibility and virulence of COVID-19, influenza, and other contagious diseases, the company will strictly enforce workplace standards including masking, distancing, and regular COVID testing throughout SJAM23. Updated company protocols will be shared with all artists before collective work at 12th Ave Arts begins May-1. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
With only one successful festival under its belt, SJAM is still an evolving program. Ideas and comments from the community are the way we move forward, but we also recognize that a single local festival will never cater to everyone's needs. We hope SJAM inspires others to sponsor alternative opportunities to grow the craft of directing in our region. Any questions or comments should be directed to Annelih GH Hamilton, Festival Director at sjam@strawshop.org 
STRAWBERRY JAM
Listing Information Title: Strawberry Jam: Directors Festival Opens: Thursday, Jun 8, 2023 Plays: Thu-Fri-Sat, 7:30 pm Venue: Mainstage Theatre at 12th Ave Arts Address: 1620 12th Ave, Capitol Hill, Seattle Ticket Prices: $36 Festival Pass (all plays), $12 General (one play) Phone Sales: 1-800-838-3006 Online Sales: sjam.bpt.me graphic design by Melanie Wang
photos by Christian Zumbado & Adam Zopfi Hulse 12th Ave Arts 1620 12th Ave, Capitol Hill, Seattle 98122 Map |
