Artist Application
Calling All Creatures of the Queer and Uncanny
We want acts that crawl out of closets and crypts alike. Theater, drag, dance, ritual, horror oddities — if it’s bold, queer, and a little possessed, we want it on our stage.
Please read ALL of the info below (seriously, don’t make us haunt you) and then fill out the form at the bottom of the page.
Bring your act to the altar of queer horror!
The stage is hungry.
What is the Stage Fright Festival?
Stage Fright is an annual queer horror theatre festival, the first of its kind! Stage Fright focuses on the many facets of the horror genre, producing work that has wide appeal, is technically impressive, and remains authentic to the voices and perspective of the creators. We prioritize the audience’s experience, leaning into spectacle while preserving the soul, promising to never be boring. We create work using techniques and styles passed down from ancient times, through the vaudeville era, marrying tradition with the topical. Through theater we build community.
What Are We Looking For?
Our mission is to produce original theatre by professional and emerging independent artists, of the highest artistic integrity, centering trans and queer creators and audiences. The horror genre has a special and symbiotic connection to queer culture. We believe in the power that theatre and horror have to build and bond communities.
If that is something you can get behind, we would love to hear from you!
More specifically, we're looking for pieces that fall into two categories: Over 45 minutes and under 45 minutes.
Shows over 45 minutes are our "Mainstage Shows". Shorter pieces will be performed together as a sort of anthology, marketed as "Stage Fright Side Show", and have two performances.
General Information
Where
CoHo Theater (2257 NW Raleigh St, Portland, OR 97210)
When
The festival will run from October 9-19, 2025.
Who
Stage Fight was founded in 2022 and is primarily run by Jeff Desautels and Amica Hunter. In 2024, they added a few people to help with the planning and management of the festival.
What??
Stage Fright is newly a 501(c)(3) non-profit! That means any donations to us are tax-deductible.
Tell your friends!
Application Deadline
May 16, 2025
ADA Accessibility
The first floor of CoHo Theater and stage is ADA accessible. However, The Voms, Tech Booth and additional dressing rooms are not ADA-accessible.
Stage Fright recognizes the written application process is not accessible for everyone who might want to submit. If this is a barrier for you for any reason, you are welcome to film yourself reading and answering each of the required questions.
You can email it to us at creeps@stagefrightfestival.com with the subject line "Stage Fright 2025 Application".
If your file is too big to email, you can share it with creeps@stagefrightfestival.com via Google and send us an email to notify us.
A Word About Tech
Our tech days will be Monday, Oct 6, Tuesday, Oct 7, and Wednesday, Oct 8 and Oct 15.
Please note that we have limited tech time. Stage Fright operates under a fringe model, which means things are quick and dirty:
Shows have no more than 15 minutes to set up, and 15 minutes to tear down. And everything starts on time!!!
We cannot guarantee you will have any storage space at the venue
We encourage you to limit your cast & crew size
By applying to the festival, you are agreeing to operate under the restrictions inherent in this model of theatre.
A comprehensive technical questionnaire about your show will be provided to all selected artists.
Fees / Compensation
Artists selected for the Mainstage will get three performance slots and earn all ticket sales from their own performances. They will be responsible for a $300 production fee that can be paid up front or deducted from ticket sales at the end of the festival.
On average, gross ticket sales for a single performance slot in 2023 were $280 and $461 in 2024.
Pieces under 45 minutes in length and under will perform together, will receive two performance slots and each act will be responsible for a $100 production fee.
Promoting yourself (alongside Stage Fright's promotion) and garnering an audience is the best way to maximize compensation!