VOS THEATRE
SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS AND SHOW IDEAS
While our Fall of 2026 and Spring of 2027 shows are locked in, we are always interested in what to do beyond. Staging a play or musical takes considerable time and person-power to put together. Having enough lead time gives the production team and creative forces behind a show, the time necessary to make this the best show possible. As VOS Theatre grows, more and more people want to have a say in what shows are produced. There are many Directors and Producers out there, some experienced and some not, but with great ideas and vision. We want to hear from you!
If you have a show idea, this is your place to pitch it. Maybe it is a big musical or a play, a play-reading or a reading series, or a concert or cabaret style show. It could be a theatre related workshop you would like to see or lead.
Read on to learn more Fill in the Submission Form at the bottom of this page.
Would you like to direct, or produce?
Are you an experienced Director?
We prefer to have Director/Producer teams connected to a proposal.
A few other things to keep in mind:
1) This is a volunteer organization and there should be no expectation of payment.
2) All submitted ideas must be approved by the VOS Board of Directors.
3) We currently only do 2 big shows per year so there is no guarantee that your idea will be accepted.
4) Smaller show or play-reading ideas may be fit into our season if the Board deems them viable.
5) The cost associated with a play or musical is paid by the VOS Theatre and therefore seen as a business investment. It must be a financially viable product.
6) More than one person or group might submit a proposal for the same play or musical. If the Board decides on that title, there is no guarantee that your proposal will be chosen.
We are currently accepting proposals for Fall of 2027 , Spring of 2028 and beyond. Proposed shows that are outside of Spring or Fall will be considered, but will need to be researched by the Board for their feasibility. This includes possibly looking for an alternative venue that is not Victoria Hall, Cobourg. Victoria Hall show dates are not negotiable and are set by the Board in connection with Victoria Hall management well in advance. Proposals may include alternative theatre venues, ideally with connections already made by the proposal team. Play-readings, small concerts and workshops could be held at the VOS Baltimore location (former Baltimore United Church).
HOW DOES THE BOARD SELECT A SHOW?
There are many criteria for a VOS Theatre show to be selected. It is not a first come first served selection.
1) Is the show feasible for VOS to do? Ie. Can we realistically cast it? Is the vision realistic or physically buildable? is it appropriate for our audiences?
2) Will the show appeal to our audiences AND our core group of volunteers to engage them for 8 months?
3) Does the show have a good chance of making the Board’s investment money back and make a small profit to cover the company’s annual operating expenses?
4) Are the rights available to license?
5) Does the Director understand the limitations of a show license and will they respect the integrity of the script and music as the original authors created it?
6) Does the Board have faith in the Director, based on prior experience, reputation and knowledge of the individual to successfully complete the project?
The Submission Deadlines and Decision Making Process
While there is no hard deadline for submissions, they may be received at any time, we generally like to decide on a show about 12 months before Opening Night. This allows the Director ample time to prepare. Decisions by the Board are made in private and while the proposing team may request and receive feedback on why a proposal was declined, the Board’s decision is final. The Board may make an alternative proposal to the proposing team to better satisfy the VOS requirements.
Once a show has been decided by the Board, the Executive Producer will work on next steps and a work back schedule for the show with the successful proposal team.
The VOS Board must commit a large amount of money to a show before any ticket income is received back, therefore, during production, the Board’s word is final and the Board may deny some expense requests if they are deemed unreasonable. The Board, in extreme cases, may cancel a production or replace any member of the production team, including the Director, Producer(s), or any cast member, if there are irreconcilable disputes or breaches of the Code of Conduct.
THE PROPOSAL should contain these elements:
1) A TITLE PAGE with the show name, the preferred show date (Fall 2027, Spring 2028 other) and the names, contact email and phone of the team or individual submitting
2) A short synopsis of the show (especially if it is not as well known)
3) If you know…Who holds the performance rights for this show? Music Theatre International (MTIShows), Concord Theatricals, Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW). Playwrights of Canada, etc.
4) Why is this show relevant now? Why are you proposing it?
5) Basic vision for the show… what makes this show special, staging, set pieces?
6) Short bios of the director and any key, committed team members including theatre experience.
Please save the proposal as a PDF or DOC file and send by email to this address: shows@vostheatre.com
and/or fill in the online form.