Submit For The 2nd Annual Comedy Festival: Due Oct 31

The PlayGround Comedy Festival is our annual celebration of the best in comedic performance, including stand-up, improv, sketch, and comedic plays. The Comedy Festival will include up to 60 performances of 20 unique events taking place March 12-April 4, 2027, performed live at Potrero Stage (San Francisco) and simulcast online. All performances will take place at Potrero Stage & Simulcast; Admission-Free (Suggested Donation: $10-$30). For complete guidelines, click here.

FESTIVAL GUIDELINES

– PlayGround will select up to 20 performers/teams to each receive 3 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.
– Upon selection, projects will be responsible for remitting to PlayGround a $600 facility licensing fee, due by November 22, 2026. These fees cover the costs of: fully-equipped Potrero Stage, Technical Director, House Manager, Stage Manager/Board Operator, Streaming Broadcaster, as well as co-marketing, production management consultation (1 hr), and box office services. Marketing for individual projects will be the responsibility of the producer.
– PlayGround will split box office proceeds 50/50 with producing teams.
– For complete guidelines, click here

PROJECT SELECTION AND PRODUCTION
– 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 an off-book public presentation
– Performances in the 2027 Comedy Festival must run be between 30-50 minutes (solo-stand-up performances can be 20 minutes with the expectation that they will be paired with another 20-minute act) 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.