variety pack vol. 3 submissions

submissions open march 1st

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submissions open march 1st ~

basics

Deadline: Sunday, April 5, 2026, 11:59 ET

Notification date: Friday, May 1, 2026

Submission Fee: $10

What We’re Programming: up to 10 one-hour-long comedy acts and up to 2 two-hour workshops

Variety Pack Vol. 3 dates: July 9-12, 2026

What we’re looking for

  • COMEDY

  • 60 minutes or less

  • Genre-bending, -blending, or -breaking shows. Huh? Yeah, great question. We want shows that aren’t purely standup, sketch, or improv. We love audience participation/crowdwork, mash ups of tropes or genres, and/or are highly structured acts (game shows, dating shows, news desk, talk shows, cooking shows, etc.)

What Variety Pack provides

  • Standardized light plot and full sound system at the Louis Bluver Theater at the Drake

  • 70-seat house

  • Front of House, Stage Manager, and Production Assistant to make sure your show runs smoothly

how variety pack works

  • Three shows every night: 7:00p, 8:30p, and 10:00p

  • Half-hour (30 minute) turn-around time between shows

  • Each act gets an hour-and-a-half (90 minute) tech rehearsal the week of its show

  • Each act splits box office earnings for its show with Variety Pack (50/50 split!)

FAQs

I have an IDEA for a show but it’s not fully baked yet. Should I submit it?

Sure! We’ve spent ten dollars on way dumber things than a half-baked idea! For real though, you’re welcome to submit pitches for shows that have never been road tested. We love that kind of thing.

Should I submit my hour-long standup special?

No, not for the festival. However! You should absolutely sign up for the newsletter so that you’re the first to know when we open submissions for our secret side project where your hour-long special would most definitely fit.

should i submit my play for a reading?

No, not to Variety Pack.

what if it’s a comedy?

Still no, sorry.

Do I have to live in Philly to be considered for Variety Pack Vol. 3?

No! Acts from all over are encouraged to apply, with the understanding that if you're programmed into Vol. 3 (and/or future fests), we're not able to house you or pay for your travel arrangements.

still got questions? We’ve got answers!

Shoot us an email with your questions about Vol. 3 submissions and we’ll add it to the FAQs!

submissions open march 1, 2026

Check back on March 1 for the application, and in the meantime follow us at @varietypackcomedy or subscribe to our newsletter!