FAQ & TERMS
Spark Theatre Festival submissions are now open. Please read the FAQs and Terms and Conditions below. Acceptance into the festival is contingent upon agreement with these terms.
Important note: Spark Theatre Festival NYC is no longer accepting musical submissions.
However, Emerging Artists Theatre is excited to announce the launch of a brand-new Musical Theatre Festival in late fall 2026. Musical submissions for our new festival will open soon. Stay tuned for details!
Q • What is Spark Theatre Festival NYC?
A • The Emerging Artists Theatre (EAT) Spark Theatre Festival NYC is a three-week-long festival of new, self-produced work. Each artist is given one presentation of their piece during the festival; select productions may be given additional performance times. Spark Theatre Festival runs seven days a week, with multiple performance slots on many days. Pieces over 60 minutes will only be given a performance time that accommodates their show’s length.
Q • Does it cost anything to submit to Spark Theatre Festival NYC?
A • There is no cost to submit or participate, and the presenting artist receives half the box office proceeds. Emerging Artists Theatre provides the theatre space, stage manager, and assistant stage manager for the technical rehearsal and the performance, plus a house manager, box office, and concessions personnel. There is, however, an audience guarantee, which requires presenting artists to bring one paying audience member per minute of their performance. Read more about the audience guarantee below.
Q • What is the audience guarantee?
A • Because there is no submission or participation fee, each production is required to bring in a minimum of one paying audience member per minute of performance time (example: a 10-minute piece = 10 paid audience members). The festival is designed for artists who are ready to attract a paying audience for their work, and the vast majority of participating productions will not owe anything—instead, they will make money through their box office split. If your production does not meet the minimum audience requirement, you are responsible for covering the difference in Emerging Artists Theatre’s guaranteed portion of the box office. You may use your share of ticket sales toward that balance or make a tax-deductible donation to cover the remainder.
Example: A 60-minute show with $20 tickets must bring in 60 paid audience members. If 60 tickets are sold, the $1,200 box office is split 50/50 between the artist and EAT. If only 30 tickets are sold, EAT retains the full $600 box office toward its guarantee. If no tickets are sold, the artist owes the $600 guarantee directly to EAT.
Q • What is the difference between a workshop performance and a fully developed work?
A • Workshop performances typically include work being shown in front of an audience for the first time, usually with scripts in hand, or performances that haven’t been through the workshop phase. Fully produced work typically includes off-book productions that have undergone workshopping. These productions are typically ready for press viewing and are open to reviews.
Q • Where does Spark Theatre Festival NYC take place?
A • The festival will take place at the 28th Street Theatre, 15 W. 28th Street, in New York City. The festival runs in a professional 99-seat theater. After each performance, all props and personal items must be removed from the dressing rooms and theater space within 15 minutes of the end of the performance or talk back.
Q • Who can apply to be part of the festival?
A • Spark Theatre Festival NYC is for artists in the tri-state area of NY, CT, and NJ, in the areas of dance, solo performance, cabaret, or short plays (less than 60 minutes). An exception might be made for artists who live outside the tri-state area if they have a large following in NYC. To help you reach a large audience, EAT does not accept pieces that have been performed in NYC within the past year. EAT’s mission is to be an incubator for new work, and many pieces in the series are being seen for the first time. Artists may, however, bring back a past piece if they have not performed it recently and can secure a sufficient audience.
Q • What is the talkback element?
A • Each piece can decide to have a talkback after their performance, which is moderated by one of our curators. The talkback is a chance for the artists to ask specific audience questions. This feedback has helped improve their work and move it forward. The talkback takes place at the end of the evening, featuring short pieces and usually runs 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the time. It is an invaluable tool for artists to evolve their work.
Q • Does the festival provide furniture, a piano, a video camera, or a projector for artists?
A • EAT provides a series of cubes, tables, chairs, and music stands for use by artists. EAT also provides, at no cost to the artists, an upright Yamaha piano, a video camera, and a tripod. Artists who would like to use our video camera must provide their own SD card and a person to run the camera. A projector is also available for each festival.
Q • How does the festival work with Equity actors?
A • Actors’ Equity Association actors are welcome to participate. Emerging Artists Theatre presents your piece as part of the festival, but participating artists are responsible for filing any required Equity paperwork and ensuring compliance with applicable AEA agreements. The three most common Equity scenarios are:
- Showcase Code – Artists may use EAT’s Voluntary Accident insurance policy for their Equity application.
- 29-Hour Reading Agreement – You may not charge admission. You would provide EAT with the equivalent of half the box office for that performance (based on the 188-seat house).
- One-Night Benefit for EAT – Tickets may be sold, with the box office split 50/50 between the artist and EAT.
Q • Does EAT provide rehearsal space, and what is the cost?
A • Our host theatre provides a limited amount of discounted rehearsal space on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to the tech schedule of the festival.
Q • When do we have our tech, and how long is it?
A • Each show will schedule a technical rehearsal with the stage manager, which will last one-and-a-half times the length of their piece. (So, a 10 min. piece gets a 15 min. technical rehearsal.) The festival is not for tech-heavy shows, as we aim to focus more on writing/creation than on technical aspects. For that reason, each show will be limited to approximately 5 light and sound cues.
Q • Do we print our own programs?
A • EAT prints a full-color program cover for the entire series. Each piece provides a printed insert specifically about their production, with a full cast list, bios, etc., that EAT staff will insert into the festival brochure.
Q • How does ticketing work, especially if there is more than one piece in an evening?
A • EAT creates a unique ticketing link that is only for your piece. We can give you updates on the number of tickets sold. Tickets can also be bought directly at the box office with cash or credit card on the evening of your performance. The box office manager asks each walk-up patron which show they are there to see and records it so each show receives the appropriate box office split.
Q • What is the ticket price?
A • Each performance slot has a minimum ticket price of $20, or $25 for musicals. If an artist would like to increase their ticket price, we can increase that amount for their show. Whatever the admission price for the piece, the audience member sees all the short pieces in that slot for that price.
Q: What if I accept a spot in the festival but later have to withdraw?
A • If you withdraw less than three weeks before the beginning of the festival, we will still hold you responsible for EAT’s portion of your audience guarantee at the lowest ticket price. We will ask late withdrawing shows to make this payment to Emerging Artists Theatre as a tax-deductible donation.
Q • Do I need to credit Emerging Artists Theatre in future productions?
A • Yes, we ask that you include the following text in future programs or on your company website: “This piece was originally developed at Emerging Artists Theatre’s Spark Theatre Festival (formerly the New Work Series) in New York City.”
Applications to the Spark Theatre Festival are now OPEN through June 14, 2026.