Apply to perform in santa cruz Fringe 2025

Festival Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025, downtown Santa Cruz
Application Deadline: Sunday, June 8 at 11:59 PM PT
Submissions reviewed on a rolling basis—apply early!

The Prompt: What within you must be seen?
We invite artists aged 18+ from anywhere to apply. We’re curating up to 10 original, performance-ready acts to shape a one-day immersive experience in Santa Cruz.

All performance disciplines are welcome—theatre, dance, comedy, circus, music, film, spoken word, and beyond. Selected acts will perform at least twice during the festival.


$200 stipend per act + profit share. No fees. Curated by a local, diverse team of artists & entrepreneurs.

From the soul of the Santa Cruz Festival Fringe, we ask

What is in you that must be seen?

It’s not about what you’re good at, or what you think you want to share

It’s about what’s pulsing, asking, demanding, quietly, fiercely to be seen

It might be tender, chaotic, funny, feral, cringy, magical, whatever

It is not for validation but to stop hiding  from ourselves

Be the whole damn universe in one body

Because you, me, we are instruments of cosmic freedom

Welcome to a stage where anything is possible

 FAQs

  • Artists 18+ from anywhere are welcome. We're curating 10 performance-ready acts across theatre, dance, comedy, circus, music, film, spoken word, and more. We are especially excited about immersive pieces that invite the audience in and artists willing to perform at least twice during the event.

    • A virtual interview in June, tech rehearsal on Oct 10th (required), and full-day participation on Oct 11, including at least two performances. Occasional creative check-ins as needed.

    • The venue will be in downtown Santa Cruz and we are anticipating ~300 attendees with performances spanning 2-3 stages.

    • Santa Cruz Fringe will provide basic lighting / tech design.

    • Artists will be responsible for their own travel to/from the venue.

  • Each act receives a $200 stipend + a share of 90% of festival profits. 10% of profits donated to a nonprofit aligned with the festival’s values.

  • We provide basic lighting and sound. Artists are responsible for their own set, props, and production elements as well as travel to/from the venue. Your piece should be simple enough to rotate in a shared, multi-stage setup.

  • Yes. Artists keep full copyright. We just ask that the piece acknowledge its participation in Santa Cruz Fringe. Details will be included in the collaboration agreement.

  • Apply by June 8, 2025 by filling out this JotForm: https://forms.gle/tcZsYYrdJpHoKDPr7 Submit a short description, a 5-minute video (sample or pitch), basic tech info, and a few written responses.
    There are no application or participation fees, and we review submissions on a rolling basis—so apply early.

  • Acts are chosen by a local team of artists, producers, and creatives with diverse backgrounds, genres, and lived experiences. All applicants will be notified of their selection by June 30th.