2023 Calliope Shorts Call for Writers & Collaborating artists

SUBMISSION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 8TH!

After two successful years of producing Calliope Shorts, Calliope Stage is poised to begin our third iteration of our company’s most popular production. And you don’t want to miss this year’s twist! We have a surprise community partner collaborating with us to create a truly unique evening of WNC theatre magic. (Announcement coming in November!)

We are now seeking local writers and artists from other mediums to collaborate on round three of Calliope Shorts, scheduled for August 2024 production. In alignment with our company mission, this will be an original collaborative theatrical production capturing stories (and tastes!) from within WNC.

Individual artists will be assembled into pairs or small teams and work via either in-person or remote platforms (Zoom, FaceTime, phone, email, etc.). Each team will be responsible for creating an original theatrical production 10 minutes in length that dramatizes a story rooted in WNC. The resulting Shorts will reflect the artistic inclinations and points of view of the team creating it, and so we seek a diverse group of artists to collaborate with one another. We welcome professional and amateur artists of all ages.

All collaborating artists will receive a stipend for their artistic contribution.

Scroll down for details and online artist submission form.

Project FAQS & INFO

  • Inspired by the magic of the Appalachian Mountains, Calliope Stage Company is a professional, 501c3 theatre company established in 2021 in Sylva, North Carolina. The company focuses on new work development and providing a platform for Western North Carolina artists to use their stories and voices to engage in theatrical creation and production. Through inclusive programming, we are passionate about developing new theatrical works as well as new theatre artists and audiences in our immediate community.

    Built upon a foundation of personal and authentic relationships with the people and artists who hold our region dear, we aim to create meaningful performances that elevate the collective mind, heart, and identity of our community.

    In addition to our ongoing new works initiatives in WNC, Calliope Stage Company is proud to share that Ride an Old Paint by Michael Aguirre will be produced Off-Broadway in January 2024 at 59E59 theatres in New York City after two development processes for the script in 2021 and 2022 with Calliope. We are proud to have supported new work and Appalachian artists as stories are developed for the worldwide stage.

  • We believe the majesty of the Appalachian Mountains houses a tremendous opportunity for new theatre. We value the stories deep within these mountains and see their potential to garner the respect and admiration of theatre artists and audiences worldwide. Calliope Stage will build this bridge.

  • After the submission period ends, Calliope will match individual artists into pairings or small teams.

    Each team will be responsible for creating an original theatrical production 10 minutes in length that dramatizes a story rooted in WNC.

    Before the writing process kick-off, each Team will meet virtually with a Calliope Staff member to receive helpful information and guidelines before being set off on their own writing process. Each Team will have the freedom to determine their working process from there, and so the process is flexible to your schedule.

    After each Draft submission date, writing teams are required to meet with an outside professional theatre artist matched by Calliope for feedback on their draft. (This year, all writing teams will also get a free additional workshop from our secret community partner to spice up their process.)

    Calliope is available at all times throughout the process to answer questions and assist in the process.

  • This call is open to both amateur and emerging or established professional performing artists and writers of all mediums (oral storytelling, music, dance, poetry, creative writing, acting, etc.) and all ages. Artists must live, work, or otherwise have roots in Western North Carolina.

  • September | Public Call for Collaborators Released

    November 2023 | Submission Deadline & Teams Notified to Begin Creating

    December 15th | Check-In #1: Concept DUE

    February 2nd | Check-In #2: First Draft DUE

    March 1st | Check-In #3: Second Draft DUE

    March 18th | Final Drafts DUE

Ready to SUBMIT?

Please complete the artist submission form below. Although certainly not a requirement, we welcome online portfolios, links to your artist website and/or social media sites, etc. – anything you feel would help us get an idea of who you are as an artist or creator - for those that have them. We may request a virtual meeting with you after we receive your submission to get to know you further and make the best writing match.

All submitting artists will receive a response from Calliope before the end of November.