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SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK 8

CURRENTLY RECRUITING!

Theatre Battery is accepting artist applications for SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK VIII: A 24-Hour New Play Festival, performing on August 1st, 2026 at Kent Station. Local playwrights, actors, directors, composers, and choreographers are encouraged to apply.

Starting in 2013, SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK has been produced by Theatre Battery in order to celebrate new plays and build networks among theatre artists in the Puget Sound region. The time limit, production challenge scenarios, and randomized creative teams provide an instant canvas on which to take risks and build trust between otherwise unlikely collaborators. The resulting performance is a singular and sleep deprived expression of Theatre Battery’s community.

With Theatre Battery presenting the world premiere of JAR OF FAT by Seayoung Yim this summer, we thought it would be a perfect time to revive the festival in which we first got to see Seayoung's work on our stage over ten years ago. Hundreds of local artists have participated in this project, spawning lasting collaborative relationships, published new plays and film projects, and memories of great encounters with voices of the Pacific Northwest.

Approximately 40 selected applicants will be grouped by drawing into 5 – 6 teams at the start of the festival. Each team will select at random a unique challenge related to the form of their piece. Past challenges have included pieces performed without the use of spoken language, solo performances, and plays written without the use of stage directions. One group will create an original ten-minute musical, for which a composer, choreographer, and musicians will be provided. Other surprise challenge conditions will be introduced.

PERTINENT DATES:

Wednesday, July 15th:
5pm Application Deadline (All Disciplines)

Monday, July 20th:
Selected Participants Announced

Friday, July 31st:
6:30pm Kick-off Reception and Selection of collaborative teams
8pm Playwrights/Composer commence writing

Saturday, August 1st:
7am Playwrights complete work and meet with Directors
8am Rehearsals begin with Directors and Actors
6pm Technical Rehearsal
8pm Performance & Closing Reception

TO APPLY:
Email submissions and inquiries to theatrebattery@gmail.com with the following:
ACTORS: Resume, Headshot, and link to a recent audition, taped monologue, or song. Please note if you have experience with drag performance, clown, puppetry, and/or musical theatre. Actors not listing Musical Theatre experience or providing a singing audition will not be considered available for casting in the musical.
PLAYWRIGHTS: Brief cover letter, resume, and representative script sample lasting no longer than 10 pages.
COMPOSERS: Brief cover letter, resume, and representative audio sample of one of your compositions. All styles and training backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
DIRECTORS/CHOREOGRAPHERS: Brief Cover letter and Resume.

Artists of all ages, types, gender identities, ethnicities, races, sexual orientations, religions, and disabilities are encouraged to apply for all positions.

All festival events hosted in downtown Kent. Travel stipends and temporary housing are available upon request and review. Free parking; carpools arranged. Food provided throughout.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Wednesday, July 15th @ 5pm