Now that the weather has finally started to get a little wintry, it's time to think about summer.
Dec. 1 -- Thursday of this week -- is the deadline for applications for the 2012 Summerstage Festival, sponsored by the Tulsa PAC Trust.
Applications can be found at
tulsaworld.com/pactrust -- just click on the word SUMMERSTAGE on the home page.
Summerstage started a couple of decades ago as a way to showcase some local theater companies during a time when the Tulsa PAC was more or less empty -- the very first Summerstage featured only four productions.
Over time, the festival has grown into a wide-ranging performing arts event, with shows ranging from full-scale musicals to intimate cabarets, spoken-word artists and dance companies, magic acts and family shows.
"We strive for diversity," said Chad Oliverson, marketing director for the Tulsa PAC Trust. "We want Summerstage to be the place where groups and individual artists can take a risk, try something new or unexpected."
Last year, Summerstage for the first time featured works in progress, which received a staged reading early in the festival's run, and a fully staged performance later.
Oliverson said the Trust will be offering this again, and said it is important for applicants to label their submissions as "New Work" to be considered for the workshop program.
"We will select the workshop productions once we get all the applications in," he said. "We did three workshops last year, but we could possibly do more, if we get enough applicants interested in that."
