Solo Fest Guidelines
The PlayGround Solo Performance Festival is PlayGround’s annual celebration of the best in solo performance. Now in its ninth year, and for the first time opening up to performers from across the country, the 2026 Solo Fest will take place January 16-February 8, 2026, performed live at Potrero Stage and simulcast online, with up to 20 unique performances presented over four weeks. Proposals, due by 11:59pm on September 30, must be submitted via Google Form.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
PlayGround invites submission of proposals for the 9th annual PlayGround Solo Performance Festival, to take place at PlayGround’s San Francisco venue, Potrero Stage, with live online simulcast, January 16-February 8, 2026. PlayGround is interested in diverse voices and approaches, including storytelling, clowning, music, dance, multimedia, comedy, etc. In addition to new works by individual writer-performers, we are also interested in collaborations between separate writers and performers as well as adaptations of existing material in the public domain, historical biographies and/or historical events. BIPOC, trans/gender-nonconforming, and artists with disabilities encouraged to apply. Running time for proposed pieces can be up to 50 minutes without intermission.
FESTIVAL GUIDELINES
PlayGround will select up to 20 performers to each receive 3-4 public performances at Potrero Stage with live online simulcast within the festival period. Performers will each receive 2 hours of technical rehearsal (date and time TBD). PlayGround will provide the theater, simulcast setup and digital platform, front-of-house and technical staff, marketing, publicity, and box office services.
– Selected projects will receive three performance slots over the course of the festival (optional fourth performances may be available upon request)
– Selections will be determined by lottery; up to 15 slots will be guaranteed to PlayGround-affiliated artists and up to 5 slots will be offered to non-PlayGround artists
– Projects must culminate in the off-book public presentation
– Performances in the 2026 Solo Performance Festival must run be between 30-50 minutes with setup/strike of no more than a half-hour on either side.
– Projects must participate in PlayGround’s radical accessibility program, including free admission (with PWYC donation option) and online simulcast.
– Projects involving union artists will have the opportunity to be presented under PlayGround’s SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement (deferred) and all performers, regardless of union status, would then be expected to sign a SAG-AFTRA agreement; projects are solely responsible for the terms of artist compensation and for fulfilling those terms.
– NEW THIS YEAR: Upon selection, projects will be responsible for remitting to PlayGround a $450 facility licensing fee for three performances or a $600 licensing fee for four performances, due by October 31, 2025. Producers will make their choice of having either a three or four performance run and PlayGround will do everything possible to accommodate all requests.
– PlayGround will provide the following: fully-equipped Potrero Stage, Technical Director, House Manager, Board Operator, Streaming Broadcaster, as well as co-marketing, production management consultation (1 hr), and box office services;
– PlayGround will split box office proceeds 50/50 with producing teams.
Proposals, due by 11:59pm on September 30, must be submitted via Google Form.