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Applications for shows are open! Link is below, please read the policies before applying, as there are updates.

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Festival Details:

Location: The Atria, 3146 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 (Humboldt Park neighborhood)

Dates: Shows are April 10-13, 2025. Tech and load in start April 8, 2025.

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Application Policies for 2025: OPEN THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2024

If you previously participated in the Festival, welcome back! As we learn and develop, new policies have been instituted. These should help streamline processes for artists and admin. Some new policies may be the result of our new venue and theme. Please read carefully below for all changes and the application link.

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Submission Information:
Your submission can be any genre (comedy, horror, romance) and any discipline (circus, dance, puppets, burlesque, interdisciplinary arts). Priority will be given to Chicago-area locals and those with local connections. A cast must consist of at least 50% Chicago residents to count for priority, and all cast members must be approved to work in the US. Acts will be matched with cabarets or used as openers for shows, as best fits the needs of the Festival. We will take genre and discipline into account.

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2025 Theme:

This year's festival will be slightly different! As we seek to create a supportive and inclusive arts environment, we must also remember our actual environment and the challenges our planet is facing as a whole. This year we will be presenting matched shows and presentations on topics regarding climate change, sustainability, and environmentalism.

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Artists are not required to have a scientific background, nor to find their own scientist for a presentation (but if you have a scientist, do let us know!). The Festival will assist with this.

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If your show or act does not have an obvious connection to the theme you are still very welcome to apply! Festival staff will be in touch after submissions are reviewed to collaborate on tailoring the work to meet our needs.

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Notes on the Festival Structure and New Policies​​

The aim of the festival is to celebrate the vast diversity of styles of performance art in Chicago, so priority will also be given to particularly unique work. For example, if multiple burlesque shows apply, likely only one will be selected. Collaboration is encouraged.

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Every show will be allotted 90 minutes for showtime in the venue. This time slot includes all breaks and talk backs. Intermissions are recommended by the festival, as we keep bar sales this year. 

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Ticket prices will be set by the festival to ensure accessibility to patrons and equitable payment to artists. Set amounts of low-income tickets will be designated for every show, along with general admission and front-row VIP tickets to generate income. If you have concerns regarding ticketing, we can meet after the selection procedure.

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Load-in and Strike shifts will be set prior to tech week. Each participating artist will be asked to schedule themselves for a shift. More information on shifts and all other tech week details will follow in March.

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FAQ on applications: 

  • How do I apply?

  • Deadline for application

    • Applications will close on December 31,2024 to give time for selection and act creation. This application is not “first come first serve”. Submissions will be reviewed as they come in for completeness, but will not be fully evaluated until the deadline.

  • What do the artists need to provide?

    • You are responsible for insurance, all your personal equipment (circus apparatus, special lights, costumes, etc.) and talent management, as well as show creation and rehearsals prior to tech week.

    • You are also responsible for providing housing, and transportation for all the artists and equipment. Please reach out if you need assistance, but note that we cannot guarantee help.

    • All companies will also be asked to assist with either load in or load out of shared equipment (risers, chairs, portable rig, etc.). We also highly encourage you to market your own show. More tickets sold, more money for you!

  • What does the festival provide?

    • We provide the venue and all the related trappings (lights and sound, soft goods, in house bar). We also provide box office and front of house services, and the festival will be running a marketing campaign. The following personnel will also be provided, though you are welcome to bring your own if you already have someone you routinely work with: Light designer, Sound tech, Stage manager 

  • How do I get paid?

    • Ticket split of door profits, distributed after festival closing to the company's main contact.​

  • What if I don’t get in?

    • We will inform you via email if you are not selected; feel free to reach out if you want more explanation of our reasoning. Know that we are limited in how many shows we can accept; nonacceptance is not indicative of our personal feelings toward any artist. If you are not accepted please consider volunteering in exchange for tickets.

  • What if I do get in?

    • You will be notified of your acceptance via the given “main contact email”. Please make sure this is an email address you check regularly to aid in the acceptance process. Deadlines for technical requests, artist info and bios, and all other details will be included in the acceptance email. 

  • How else can I participate?

  • If you’re interested in working with us for a paid position, or in being a vendor or sponsor, please email us directly at yesmaamcircus@gmail.com. Make sure to include the service you’d like to provide and your rates. Paid positions are extremely limited at the moment, but we appreciate your interest and hope we can work with you!

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