Call for Artists
Passages
SONGS AND STORIES FROM THE IN-BETWEEN
What do you take with you?
They say you can’t go home again. Some of us leave and never return. Some return but find the place we knew has changed — or we have. Some discover community only in exile.
Passages, the latest edition of Thrown Stone’s Gathering series, invites poets, musicians, dancers, storytellers, and performers of all disciplines to share songs and stories from the in-between — of what is kept, what is left, and what takes shape along the way.
Please read the complete guidelines below before submitting, as multiple submissions are not allowed. If you have any questions prior to submitting, please contact us.
Theme
Passages: Songs and Stories from the In-Between
Passages examines the in-betweens of our lives — when you can’t go home again, and still have miles to go before you sleep.
The American folk song Shenandoah captures that ache: a river-song braided from Native, African, and voyageur traditions, filled with the sorrow of departure and the pull of what lies beyond the horizon. In the Navajo emergence story, entire peoples pass through world after world, leaving behind what cannot endure and carrying forward what must — each passage a trial, a renewal, a remaking.
Across cultures, the pattern repeats. In West Africa’s Epic of Sundiata, a child driven into exile remakes himself before returning as a king. In Homer’s Odyssey, every threshold tests how a wanderer is received. In China’s Journey to the West, pilgrims cross mountains and deserts, reshaped by each trial.
Passages invites artists to stand within this tradition — to share songs and stories of crossing, loss, discovery, and becoming that take shape in the in-between.
Program
The program will feature a mix of special guests and local artists selected through this call. Works may include poetry, music, dance, theatre, or hybrid forms.
Eligibility
- Open to artists living or working in Norwalk and surrounding communities.
- Original works only. You must be the sole creator and rights holder for any work performed.
- All performance disciplines welcome — spoken word, music, dance, theatre, hybrid forms.
- Each piece must not exceed 7 minutes in length.
Selection Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated on:
- Artistic quality
- Relevance to the theme
- Performance readiness and feasibility
- Diversity of perspective
- Suitability for a shared, mixed-genre program.
We provide
- A venue at the Crystal Theatre, including pre-set general lighting and basic sound equipment
- A 5-7 minute slot before a live audience
- Marketing and publicity for the event, with the option to tag participating artists on Instagram
- A short technical rehearsal, if necessary, as determined and scheduled by us
We Do Not Provide
- Payment
- Transportation or lodging
- Direct involvement in your performance (e.g., directing, choreographing, narrating, reading stage directions, or performing)
- Rehearsal space, costumes, props, set materials, elaborate lighting cues, or projections
- Complimentary tickets for artists’ guests
Timeline
- Submissions Open: August 20, 2025
- Submission Deadline: September 26, 2025
- Selection Notification: October 17, 2025
- Event: November 7, 2025
Submission Requirements
- Artist name, contact information, and optionally, IG Handle
- Artist bio (150 words max)
- Title of piece
- Genre (e.g., Dance, Film/Video, Memoir/Personal Story, Music, Poetry/Spoken Word, Fiction/Prose, Theatre/Performance, Hybrid Multimedia, or Other)
- Brief description of your piece and its connection to the theme (200 words or less)
- Full text/script of the piece (PDF)
- Link to a performance sample, if available (video, audio, or text)
- Performance length (max 7 minutes)
- Technical needs (must be minimal, e.g., microphone, music stand, simple audio playback)
- Rights confirmation: I confirm I hold all necessary rights to perform this work and any included material.
About Thrown Stone Theatre Company
Thrown Stone Theatre Company is the only professional theatre in Connecticut exclusively dedicated to new work from commission to development to production. Learn more and book tickets at thrownstone.org.