The Southern is well known for presenting a wide variety of local artists in a full season of performances that change nearly every week. The Southern provides unique opportunities for artists not only through its supportive environment, but also in special programs such as the McKnight Artist Fellowships for Dancers and Choreographers. This section offers information about the Southern’s curating policies, its technical specifications, as well as other performing and fellowship opportunities that are open to artists at the Southern Theater.

The Southern Theater is especially known as a world-class presenter of dance, and many of the talented artists in the Twin Cities have performed on our stage. Local dance artist are an important part of the Southern's community, and we nurture this relationship with a weekly Dance Community News Update. This succinct, e-mail bulletin offers information about current performances in the Twin Cities, grant deadlines, occasional job openings, and general news of interest to the dance community. If you would like to receive this free update, send an e-mail to newsletter at southerntheater.org or call Dana Kassel at 612-340-0155, ext. 15.

Dance artists and choreographers may also be interested in our McKnight Artist Fellowship Program for Choreographers and Dancers.

CURATING POLICIES

For artists who are interested in having their work presented at the Southern:

The Southern’s season is fully curated; works to be presented here are selected by Southern staff based on their suitability to our mission, vision, and curating philosophy. Programming at the Southern is not on a first-come first-served basis; we are not a "rental" house. We need to learn about an artist and the artist’s work, both the product and process, before making a decision to present that artist.

Our current programming structures generally do not make it possible for us to present a Twin Cities artist in their very first performance; as a general rule an artist or group will have at had at least two significant productions elsewhere before being considered for the Southern’s season. The exception to this is the late-night cabaret "Balls" which provides a very open venue for a wide variety of risk-taking work in the ten-to-fifteen minute format.

Once selected for presentation on our season, the Southern provides technical, public relations, and front-of-house support for works that have been made ready for production through a fundraising and production process that is external to the Southern. We do not act as producers; we do not assemble a company or production team or fundraise for a work’s developmental costs. We do not pay commissioning or production fees as such, rather our financial arrangement is based upon a split of the box office.

If you have work which you think would fit into the Southern’s programming, the best way to begin a dialogue with us is to send a brief letter outlining your proposed project, together with some background information about key project personnel. If we wish to pursue the project, we will contact you about ways we can become more familiar with your work. We do not have a formal application process or timetable.

Letters should be directed to:

Attn. Programming Manager
Southern Theater
1420 Washington Ave So
Minneapolis, MN 55454

Proposals for work can be accepted at any time; however you should be aware that we are generally booked approximately twelve to sixteen months into the future at any given time. You may contact us regarding productions on shorter notice than one year if you wish, as such openings do occasionally occur, but the likelihood of programming these is not strong.

The Southern Theater is currently accepting resumes for qualified electricians, sound engineers, deck hands and stage managers for our upcoming season. Employment is on an hourly basis. If you are interested in more information regarding upcoming work opportunities at the Southern, please contact or send a resume to the Southern Theater Production Manager:
 
Attn: Production Manager
Southern Theater
1420 Washington Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
hector at southerntheater.org

Special Note to Theater Artists and Technicians: (actors, directors, designers and other artistic personnel): Since the Southern is a presenting venue and not a producing theater, we do not hold auditions nor do we hire performers or artist personnel directly.