Call for Proposals: KWLT 2026–2027 Studio Series

Are you ready to take the director’s chair, but see yourself more on the indie side of things than Hollywood Blockbuster? Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre is excited to announce our Call for Studio Series Proposals for the 2026–2027 season! 

What is The Studio Series?

KWLT’s Studio Series is our home for smaller-scale productions, shows that don’t need the same level of resources as our Main Stage plays. Ideally these are lower-budget affairs that bring a different vision to our space (or, conceivably, beyond it). March Madness, the New Works Festival, and the Popcorn Plays all fall within the scope of the Studio Series; this coming year, we’re hoping to supplement those offerings and provide more opportunities for creation to our community. And we want you to be part of it all.

We’re looking for up to four outstanding adventurous studio series submissions.  We currently have four potential slots in the season to launch these shows. Dates can be flexible to accommodate different theatre styles depending on theatre availability. We currently envision three performances for the Fall, Holiday and Spring slots, and six performances for the Summer slot since it is outdoors and could face weather challenges.

• Fall slot: October 16th-18th, 2026 (auditions September 6-8th, 2026)
• Holiday slot: December 18th-20th, 2026 (auditions November 1-3rd, 2026)
• Spring slot: April 30th-May 2nd, 2027 (auditions March 21st-23rd, 2027)
• Summer slot: July 16th-25th, 2027 (auditions May 16th-May 18th, 2027)

What Can Go In The Studio Series?

Here are the kinds of proposals that we’re anticipating, and some of the features that we’re looking for:

• Smaller casts
• Needs a limited run
• More experimental works
• A one-act play
• A site-specific show
• A play reading or radio play
• A limited budget show
• Or any other amazing idea for a show that wows the Artistic Steering Committee!

Proposals We’d Love to See

• A holiday or family friendly show for the month of December
• A new work in the development process
• Diverse stories brought to the stage through playwright and creative teams
• A play by a local or Canadian playwright
• Innovative comedies with something to say about the world around them

How to Apply

Whether you’re a seasoned director or stepping up for the first time, we invite you to share your vision and help shape KWLT’s studio series. Submit Your Proposal Here. It’s your responsibility to provide a copy of your proposed script. If you don’t have a PDF version, please contact the Artistic Steering Committee to make arrangements.

Proposals are due by the end of day on March 3, 2026

Questions?

Email the Artistic Steering Committee at ad@kwlt.org