Annex Theatre is an all-volunteer theatre company dedicated to creating bold new work in an environment of improbability, resourcefulness, and risk. 

Located up two flights of stairs in the heart of Capitol Hill, Seattle, we produce relevant plays for modern audiences. The volunteers at Annex work tirelessly to:

• provide an artistic home that fosters community, collaboration, experimentation, and artistic growth.

• offer artists ownership of the entire process of creating theater, as opposed to a bureaucratic structure they can work within but cannot control.  

• produce challenging and original works in intimate settings.

• produce theater that is broad in scope but economical in cost—Big Cheap Theater.

• attract patrons who might not be drawn to live theater.  We keep our prices low and focus on marketing to alternative audiences.

• offer artists payment in a different kind of coin: Ownership, artistic freedom, and deepening experience supplement small stipends.

• strengthen ties with other arts organizations in Seattle and foster cross-pollination.

• be part of the “research and development” wing of American theater and to generate respect for that role in American culture.

At Annex, artists have unparalleled opportunity to experiment with production roles, subject matter, and form. In order to offer this kind of freedom, Annex has continuously run on volunteer labor. Artists dedicate their time and energy to making exciting and daring work for free because of the chances they get to take. A majority of artists who work with Annex move on to produce at other established theatres, win awards, and establish long and productive careers. 

If your production is selected by the Annex Theatre Company, we will work with you to coordinate and provide production aspects like performance space, front of house staffing and tech support. We will also help you cast the show, recruit designers, run your production meetings, create and disseminate your marketing materials, and implement the technical aspects of the production. 

For nearly 40 years, we have continually chosen new and bold plays by artists who challenge the status quo of theatre in Seattle. Through our evolution we have produced award-winning plays about alternate realities and dystopian futures, superheroes and circus performers, and socio-political and economic issues with female, LGBTQ+, and POC protagonists. We primarily work with young and emerging female, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC playwrights and directors, most of whom are producing for the first time ever.

World Premiere & Local

Annex Theatre produces world premiere plays with local artists. Unfortunately, we cannot afford to house any out of town artists. We prefer the playwright to be local unless the director is closely tied to the playwright (we've worked with a remote playwright who was childhood friends with the director, for example). A play we select can have had readings/workshops or been partially produced, but otherwise it should be brand new to Seattle.

Relevant

All of our plays and projects are about topics relevant to the Annex company, guest artists, or our audiences. We choose topics that we are collectively passionate about. We are constantly asking "why this play now?" with every show pitched.

Risky

Most of the artists we work with may not get a chance anywhere else. We take a lot of risks, which is the scariest and most exciting thing about working with Annex. We work with a lot of unknowns, so if the artist who is pitching to us is also pitching the exact same project to 3 other theatres, we're less likely to want to work with them. We want to know Why Annex? What makes our potential partnership special?

Although defined differently by the individual artists and audience members who pass through our doors, bold new work is what Annex produces on its stage. We produce forward-thinking plays never seen before. 

No. We are unable to pay Equity wages nor acquire an equity waiver. If your pitch intends to work with any equity actors, we cannot produce your project at Annex.

Annex Company members are invited to participate in the selection process by reading scripts, attending pitch sessions to meet proposers, and joining our decision meeting run by consensus. 

If your proposal is selected, we invite you to participate in our production process. Annex Theatre provides artists with volunteer labor and resources ranging from rehearsal space and poster printing to snacks at tech—to allow artists to produce their art with little to no personal or financial risk. 

We provide a small stipend at the end of the process, a token of our gratitude and something to potentially recoup some costs you may incur during the process, like a parking ticket. But we know you're doing it for more than a stipend or even name recognition. You're doing it for love, just like the rest of us. It's why we choose productions that our artists are passionate about and need to be done at Annex.

It's an intense partnership that is (ideally) rewarding for both sides.

One of the perks of being an Annex Company member is that you get to participate in the season selection process! We invite Company members who pitch to also read the other plays, attend the other pitch sessions (get some tips!), and be present at the season selection day. 

Stipends and Rights:

Annex is entirely volunteer-run. We currently offer a stipend of $250 to mainstage production playwrights and $150 to all other participants. All participants in staged readings receive a $20 stipend. Stipend amounts for devised works and other proposals will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Playwrights retain the rights to their work through and after the production process. Annex playwrights have had their work remounted, published, and produced in alternative formats after their life at Annex. We request that artists keep an acknowledgement to Annex Theatre in the production notes. 

A Note on Safety and Access:

Annex Theatre is located up two flights of stairs in an urban neighborhood with an active nightlife scene. We apologize for any inconvenience this creates for artists to be able to access our space. Rehearsals for both mainstage and WIPs will occur at the theatre. In the event of a scheduling conflict, Annex Theatre will secure an alternative rehearsal location. 

Ticketing:

Sliding-scale ticket prices start at $5 for mainstage and $0 for WIPs. Every mainstage production also features a pay-what-you-can (PWYC) preview on the day before opening, and every Thursday during the run is PWYC. Mainstage live stream tickets are $10 (single-viewer) and $20 (watch party), and WIP live stream tickets start at $0 (suggested $10).

Space Specifications:

• Located up two flights of stairs (no elevator access)

• Max. audience capacity is 86 (with live stream equipment)

• Two gender neutral bathrooms are located up two steps

• Stage measures 24' x 24' (Backstage area is 6' deep)

• Lighting grid is 10' high

Estimated Production Slots for 2026:

We have 5 timeframes for our mainstage production slots. For WIPs, stage time begins after the corresponding mainstage show opens and there will be 2-3 performances during the run. Open-ended proposals can fit into any time on our calendar.

These dates are estimates and subject to changes based on production needs and artist scheduling.

• Slot 1: December 2025 – February

• Slot 2: March – May

• Slot 3: June – August

• Slot 4: September – October

• Slot 5: November – December

A small amount paid to artists who volunteer their time to producing a mainstage show at Annex Theatre to cover incidental cost of involvement.

Annex has two (3) studio cameras that live in the space, offering angles beyond the one center shot. We have 8 wireless lavalier mics that connect to the mixer, so audio is direct to stream. Our streaming software is Wirecast, which links directly to the Annex Youtube account.

In addition to producing mainstage and staged readings, Annex Theatre also hosts rental performances for local improv and comedy groups, fringe theatre companies, and one-off fundraising events. 

We also host immediate-action oriented events for the community through our Flinch/Punch programming, an ongoing RFP for urgent performance needs.