18th & Union offers a variety of producing models, including co-presentations and rentals. After reading through these guidelines, you can propose a show with the Production Proposal form.

Co-Presentations

A co-presentation is a partnership that divides responsibilities for creating, marketing, and presenting a show between you and 18th & Union. Preference is given to "portable" performances: shows that have minimal production requirements and can share the space with other performances. We schedule most co-presentations on weekends: Thursday-Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees. Here's how it works: 

• You are your own producer. 18th & Union is the presenter.  
• You provide the show and a stage manager to run it. 
• You are responsible for all aspects of production, including production materials, artist compensation, royalties, and union relationships.  
• If any performers are members of Actors Equity Association, you must either have an Equity contract or the show must be produced under the Equity Members' Project Code.  
• We provide house management, ticket sales, and other administrative services, and run the bar.  
• We provide one 3-hour tech rehearsal in the space with our technical director. We can sometimes provide additional rehearsal time in the space on an as-available basis, but it's expected you'll do most of your pre-tech rehearsals elsewhere.  
• You create and print a program (optional). We have templates and graphical assets we can share.  
• No rent is required upfront. We split the ticket sales proceeds 50/50, with a $125 guarantee to the house. In other words, the first $125/performance goes to 18th & Union, the second $125 to you, and we split the rest. We write you a check about 1 week after your final performance for your share.  
• All of our tickets are sold on a 3-tier choose-your-own-price basis, with prices labeled "Discount", "Full Price", and "Give a Little More". We're currently pricing 7:30pm shows at $15/22/28, and late night shows at $12/17/22. But we're open to suggestions for individual shows.  
• We're a partner with TeenTix, a membership organization that connects young audiences with arts organizations. Card-carrying TeenTix members (up to age 19) can purchase remaining tickets at the door for $5 each. We do not hold tickets for this program; they're only available at the door if the show hasn't sold out.  
• Marketing at 18th & Union, just like everything else here, is a 50/50 collaboration between 18th & Union and the artist. The more you market, the better your show will do, especially to people only you can reach (family, friends, followers from other shows you’ve done). See our marketing information page at: http://bit.ly/18UMarketing  
• When sharing the space with other shows, each show has to be able to move in and out in 30 minutes.  
• You don't need a lighting designer. We have a repertory lighting plot with multiple looks and areas. You can't make changes to the rep plot since it's shared with other shows and events. But we have extra instruments and open dimmers, and each show can usually have a special or two. You'll work this out with our technical director at your tech rehearsal.  
• We can store small amounts of stuff - costumes, a chair, a few props - between performances. Larger items have to be loaded in and out for each performance. Our lobby chairs and some tables can be used for shows, so we might already have furniture you need.

Weekly rentals

Weekly rentals offer near-exclusive use of the space during each rental period. The rate is $1,000/week through August 31, 2020. Beginning September 1, 2020, the rate will go up due to increased costs of operating the space; we'll know the new rate by the end of February, 2020.

• Weekly rentals are scheduled Monday through Sunday.
• Preference will be given to rentals of 3 weeks or more.
• You are responsible for all aspects of production, including marketing the show and selling tickets.
• The rental includes standard seating, a rep lighting plot, and use of all of the theater's technical equipment.
• The seating risers can't be moved, but it is possible to create a variety of seating configurations. 
• You can build a set and customize the lighting design.
• The standard rep lighting plot and space configuration must be restored by the end of the rental.
• 18th & Union runs the bar for rental performances, but the renter is responsible for ticket sales and house management.
• The space's lobby is sometimes used for community events at times when the space would otherwise be unoccupied. However, the renter's rehearsal and performance schedule always have first priority.
• If it works with the renter's schedule and production, 18th & Union sometimes presents off-night and late-night shows during weekly rentals. We'll reduce your rental cost by $100 for each such performance.
• You agree to offer $5 tickets at the door to TeenTix cardholders, as available.

Event rentals

An event performance rental is for a period of 4 or more hours. The rate through August 31, 2020 is $200 for the first 4 hours, plus $20 for each additional hour. We primarily schedule event rentals on Sunday through Wednesday evenings, and normally can't accommodate them on Friday and Saturday nights.

• You are responsible for all aspects of production, including marketing the show and selling tickets.
• 18th & Union runs the bar and provides house management for public events.
• Free alcoholic drinks may be served at private events with a banquet permit issued by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis board. Banquet permit conditions and applications are available here.
• You'll use the standard seating arrangement and rep lighting plot. Any lighting specials must be set up at the start of your rental unless you've arranged for additional rented time in the space. 
• We'll provide a tour of the tech equipment at the start of the rental.  
• You'll provide a stage manager to run the show. 
• Unless otherwise arranged, all production materials (sets, costumes, props, etc.) must be removed from the space at the end of the rental. 
• You agree to offer $5 tickets at the door to TeenTix cardholders, as available.

Check our master calendar for availability before inquiring about specific dates. 

Ready to propose a show? Click here!