Thank you for your interest in performing at the 2012 Panoply Arts Festival! Here's what you need to know about our deadlines, stages, and other details.

General Festival & Selection Process Info

The festival will be held April 27 - 29, 2012 in Big Spring International Park in downtown Huntsville, Alabama. The hours of the festival are:
Fifth Grade Days - Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 29 from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Public Hours        - Friday, April 27 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
                             - Saturday, April 28 from 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
                             - Sunday, April 29 from 12:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Panoply Performer Timeline:
January 27, 2012 - Call for Entry Submission deadline
February 3, 2012 - Accept/reject letters mailed (includes Performer Tech Forms)
February 29, 2012 - Performer Tech Forms deadline 
March 14, 2012 - Performer Schedule announced to the public

Selection Process:
Programming for Panoply 2012 will feature local and regional performers selected for the festival by our Stage Management committee. Preference will be given to those performers scheduled for the 2011 festival, which was cancelled due to the April 27 tornadoes. This committee consists of volunteers experienced in all forms of the performing arts. Entries will be evaluated on:

Artistic quality of work
Technical suitability for an outdoor stage
Content suitability for a family audience
Performer's ability to attract and hold an audience
Compliance with Call for Entry guidelines

Staging and Ticket Info

Staging Information:
There are 6 performing arts areas of the festival: 3 main stages, 2 smaller venues, and the PanoKids Performance Area.

The main stages include the Global Village Stage, the Showcase Stage, and the Valley Jubilee Stage. The smaller venues are the Theatre Demo Tent and the Family Food Tent. All stages are fully equipped with sound and light systems and operators.

Ticket Information:
Admission to the festival is $5.00 per day Panopass or $10.00 for the entire weekend. Children 12 and under are free. Tickets may be purchase in advance by calling The Arts Council, Inc. at 256.519.2787 starting February 1, 2012.

Performer Passes will be released to those selected after your completed tech sheets are received. These passes are for performers only.

Call for Entry General Criteria

All entries must comply with the following:
Each performer must be age 10 or older. This is not an average age.
Content of performance must be acceptable for general audiences; no preaching or dissemination of political or religious views is allowed.
Costumes must be suitable for family audience.
The purpose of the performance must be to entertain an audience rather than to train the performer (i.e., no recitals).
The entry form must be completed in full and submitted by the deadline.
The performers/groups MUST be cooperative in working with Festival management and volunteers.
Photographers will be in the park taking pictures throughout Panoply. Submission of an Entry Form shall constitute permission for Panoply to use photographs of the festival performers in Arts Council publications and for other publicity purposes throughout the year.
Festival performance is expected to be similar to submitted entry.
Variety of entire weekend's programming will be a consideration by Festival management in the final selection.
Any material submitted for judging must not be more than 2 years old.
Due to the volume of entries, the selection panel will only be able to review the first five minutes of a performance, so make sure your best performance is at the front of the DVD or CD.

Criteria for Music:
Taped music is not allowed.
All performers must submit a DVD of a RECENT performance or dress rehearsal of work of comparable quality and type to that which will be performed at the festival if selected.
The DVD must include a sample of at least three numbers. DVD must be labeled with date and location of performance. If a DVD is not available, a CD of a RECENT performance plus a large, clear color photograph of the whole group in performance attire will be an acceptable substitute. NOTE: A good quality CD and clear photo is preferred over a poor quality video.

Criteria for Theatre & Musical Theatre:
Taped music is allowable backup music for performers, but piano or band is preferred.
Use of set pieces is encouraged. Sets must be easily setup and struck in no longer than 20 minutes. Panoply has no fly capability.
Costume changes must be done in the 10x10 tented dressing area provided.
All performers must submit a DVD of a RECENT performance or dress rehearsal with work of comparable quality and type to that which will be performed at the festival if selected. DVD must be labeled with date and location of performance.

Criteria for Dance:
Taped music is acceptable.
Costume changes must be done in the 10x10 tented dressing area provided.
Description and photo/sketch of all costumes to be worn must be included.
All performers must submit video of a recent performance or dress rehearsal of work of comparable quality and type to that which will be performed at the festival. The video must include a sample of at least three dances.
Video must be labeled with date and location of performance.
Panoply reserves the right to limit the number of pieces performed in a 30-minute block.
MUSIC MUST BE FAMILY-FRIENDLY and Panoply retains the right to stop the performance if the presentation is deemed unsuitable for family viewing.

Criteria for Strolling Performers:
Taped music allowed on portable (battery-powered) player.
Costume and performance material MUST be family-friendly.
Strolling performers will be provided a weekend pass and be free to come and go; no firm schedule will be built for most strolling performers.
Kid-centered strolling performers will be booked for slots in the PanoKids area as well as free to roam the park.
No dressing rooms are provided for strolling performers.

Don't Forget...
Submission of entry is not a guarantee of an invitation to perform at Panoply.
Performances juried into Panoply will be mailed technical sheets, a stage diagram form and an emcee form that MUST be returned by mail, fax, or e-mail to The Arts Council by close of business Friday, Febuary 29, 2012.
Photographers will be in the park during Panoply. Submission of an Entry Form shall constitute permission for The Arts Council to use photographs of festival performance for publicity purposes throughout the year.

Now that you've read the guidelines, please click here to complete our Call for Entry form!