CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS- Fool’s Paradise: Untrue Stories Live!

Key Dates

Submission Deadline: Jan 24, 2025 at 11:59 pm (PST)
Selection Announcement: Febuary 21, 2025
Artist Publicity Package Deadline: March 11, 2025
Tech Requirements Deadline: April 12, 2025
Cue Sheets/Prompt Script Deadline: April 23, 2025
Tech/Dress: April 26, 2025 [day]
Event Dates: April 26 & April 27, 2025 [night]
Post Mortem via Zoom: week of April 28, 2025 [date/time TBD]

Artists must be available for all the above dates and times.

Event Location: Progress Lab 1422, 1422 William Street

Event Details

In the immortal words of the American Poetry collective S. Mouth:

~ “My world’s on Fire, How bout yours?” ~

A night where we gather to share stories.

Rumble is accepting submissions for the next edition of our New Creation Cabaret Series. It’s something like a storytelling night, only the stories don’t have to be true. But they can be, because there’s always a little truth in fiction. 

Building on the trajectory of past themed Cabarets including ‘Summertide’(June 24); ‘Symbiotic’ (Oct 23); ‘Harvest Moon’ (Oct 22); our next Cabaret invites submissions riffing on the term ‘Fool’s Paradise.’

What does “Fool’s Paradise” mean? It’s a saying which refers to a “state of enjoyment based on false beliefs or hopes; a state of illusory happiness.” Like the Matrix, or perhaps late stage capitalism!

As always though, the themes are there for loose inspiration. We accept new or existing works with creative interpretations of the theme.

Technical info / Logistics

The “Fool’s Paradise” Cabaret will take place indoors at the Progress Lab 1422 main studio, April 26 & 27, 2025. This means that unlike our outdoor cabarets we have more control over environmental conditions, so there is more opportunity to work with lighting, projection and loud sound if that’s what you’re into.

Works should have a maximum running time of 12 minutes

We will select three pieces.

Call Details

We strongly encourage works including:
Creative Fiction
Futurism and Afrofuturism
Storytelling and Fable
Underrepresented and Experimental Forms of Storytelling
Multidisciplinary work
Drag
Multilingual work
Work fusing genres 

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants whose project draws on or shares traditional knowledge must be able to verify adequate permissions to share this story in public. 

We strive to make participating in our events accessible to all artists, and work to eliminate barriers where possible. If you have any access needs that you’d like us to know about please do let us know.

How it works:

1. We select story concepts submitted by you.
2. Selected Artists write a piece (maximum 12 minutes).
3. Pieces will be performed by the writer or another artist as you see fit.
4. We will provide an additional fee/resources for a collaborative artist as appropriate.
5. This all happens LIVE, IN PERSON, INSIDE PL!
6. Everything gets recorded and is available as archival.
7. We may request to host pieces online for a short time to increase access to them. You maintain full creative rights to your piece.

Selected Applicants will receive:

Presentation Fee ($1000)
Collaborating Artist Fee as appropriate (up to $500) 

Submission Details

What to Submit:

• Tell us who you are: What is your cultural/artistic background and preferred pronoun?
• What do you want to create/do? Why this story? Why now? 
• Is there a collaborating artist you will be working with? If so, what is their role? 
• Send us something to get to know your artistry better. This could be:
  -Past writing
  -Video or audio of you performing/your work being performed
  -Audio recording of you reading something you care about
  -CV

Please include any access needs you may have. If a written submission is not accessible to you, we will accept applications in the format of a voice recording or video submission.

How to Submit: 

Please fill out this form.

If you need assistance with filling out this form or would like to submit in a different format, please let Artistic Producer (Angie Descalzi) know.

For further information: www.rumble.org or email angie[at]rumble.org (Artistic Producer)

We will be in touch with selected applicants by February 21, 2024.