Student Festivals

Hart House Theatre proudly hosts a yearly Student Festival Season, produced alongside executive members of Hart House U of T Student Groups. These Festivals are an avenue to provide performance groups on campus with the opportunity to present their work on the historic Hart House stage while providing a level playing field of opportunity for U of T Students.

The Hart House U of T Drama Festival Monologue Competition is a virtual submission and live performance event intended to provide all U of T students with a platform to share and promote their enthusiasm for creativity, storytelling and theatrical performance. The Competition supplies U of T students with the opportunity to become engaged in campus theatre while offering a vehicle to advance the quality of co-curricular theatre at the University of Toronto, without having to commit to a full-length production. This Competition is a companion piece to the yearly Winter Term U of T Drama Festival which takes place on the historic Hart House Theatre Stage.

For reference: THE HART HOUSE U OF T DRAMA FESTIVAL MONOLOGUE COMPETITION 2024 INFORMATION PACKAGE.

1. How are monologues submitted? Participants can submit monologues through the submission form or email to [email protected].
2. Can I submit a previously used self-tape? You may submit a piece previously submitted for past self-taped auditions. You also may submit a piece you have previously performed, however, the submitted video may not have been used for another public presentation.
3. Can I submit a monologue that contains coarse language or potentially triggering themes? Yes. You are asked to indicate any content warnings when submitting the form.
4. Can participants submit a monologue even if they cannot make the live performance? Yes! You are encouraged to submit, even if you can’t make it to the live performance date, as you will still receive valuable feedback from our judges on your piece. You would only maintain eligibility for the Award of Merit, awarded to one submission not shortlisted for the performance.
5. If I am selected to perform, can I perform a different song/piece from the one I initially submitted? You are expected to perform the same piece from your initial submission so that all participants have an equal opportunity to showcase their growth and development from the feedback provided by the judges. Additionally, among the awards being distributed, there is the Most Improved Award, which may only be accurately assessed by the judges if you are performing the same piece.
6. Can I submit multiple monologues? No. If you submit more than one monologue, then the most recent submission will be sent to the judges making the earlier entries void.
7. Can U of T alum submit? No. This opportunity is only for current U of T students.
8. Do I have to buy a ticket to attend the event? No! The event is free for all members of the community to attend and does not require a ticket purchase to enter. Encourage your friends and family to come!

Presented by Hart House Theatre and the U of T Festival of Music Executive

Hart House Theatre proudly hosts our inaugural music festival–The Hart House U of T Festival of Music (FoM). This new festival will provide music groups and individuals on campus the opportunity to perform on stage for an audience. With such an abundance of music groups associated with U of T, participation in the festival is a great opportunity for music groups to interact, collaborate and promote their own work and ventures.

For reference: THE HART HOUSE U OF T FESTIVAL OF MUSIC 2024 INFORMATION PACKAGE.

1. Who is eligible to participate? Music groups and individuals. Each performance piece must have a direct association with the University of Toronto (Student/Staff/Faculty/Alumni). Current Students will be prioritized.
2. Is there an audition? No. Musicians and singers of all experience levels are encouraged to submit to the festival.  Submissions are completed through an online form.
3. What is the festival timeline? Submissions are due in early November. Acceptance is confirmed in late November. Technical rehearsals and performances are in mid-January.
4. Can I perform in more than one piece? Yes, but the number of submissions allowed per person is determined yearly based on the overall number of submissions. Once equal performance opportunities are created, the remaining spaces are divided among the additional submissions.
5. Who do I contact if I have questions or want to get involved? The team for the Festival of Music can be reached at: [email protected].

Presented by Hart House Theatre and the U of T Drama Coalition

Every February, original student-written one-act plays compete for six coveted awards during this adjudicated festival.

The Hart House U of T Drama Festival has spawned numerous performers who have gone on to become stars of stage and screen: Ted Follows, David Gardner, Don Harron, Arthur Hiller, William Hutt and Donald Sutherland – to name a few. Over 80 years since its inception in 1936, and since Trevor Rines resurrected it in 1993, the U of T Drama Festival has provided a high-profile showcase for up-and-coming theatrical talent, as well as an accessible avenue for U of T students to perform and direct on the historic Hart House Theatre stage. 

Since 2002, the Drama Festival has only accepted original student-written plays, serving as a much-needed showcase for talented U of T playwrights.

The final evening concludes with a public awards ceremony where participants are recognized for their outstanding contributions.

For reference: THE HART HOUSE U OF T DRAMA FESTIVAL 2024 INFORMATION PACKAGE.

1. What is the Hart House U of T Drama Festival? The U of T Drama Festival is a multi-day festival that features previously unproduced student plays and theatrical works. It takes place in the historic Hart House Theatre and starts at 7:30 PM each night. Recognized Student Groups submit applications in November and the Festival takes place in February. Independent submissions will not be accepted.
2. Who is eligible to participate? All individuals involved in a Group’s production must be eligible participants. An eligible participant is defined as a registered full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate student, faculty, or staff member of the University of Toronto for at least one semester of the academic year of the Festival, or alumni within one calendar year of graduating.
3. Can a Group submit more than one play? Yes, but the number of submissions allowed per group is determined yearly based on the overall number of submissions. We want to create equal opportunity and then the remaining space is divided among the additional submissions. Participants may also be part of multiple productions so long as they can commit to the schedule.
4. Will Fight/Intimacy Consultation organized through Hart House make a production ineligible? No, Fight/Intimacy Consultation arranged by Hart House Theatre will not disqualify a production.
5. What COVID restrictions will be put in place during performances? Currently, there are no COVID protocols in place. Hart House Theatre will inform participants of any restrictions if the situation changes. All University and Public Health Guidelines must be adhered to.
6. Who do I contact if I have questions or want to get involved? The team for the Drama Festival can be reached at: [email protected].
7. What is the Meet and Greet? The Meet and Greet is a chance for all of the groups competing (along with their casts and crews) to get together and showcase two-minute vignettes from their productions. It is also a time to get comfortable in the space and on the stage, meet the adjudicator, and meet with Hart House’s Technical Director to review requirements and ask any remaining questions you may have. This event is mandatory as it covers the general rules to be followed during the Festival at Hart House Theatre. The Meet and Greet is crucial for the director and crew of each group.
8. What is the Hart House U of T Playwriting Competition? Hart House organizes an annual adjudicated playwriting competition with cash prizes. All submissions for the Drama Festival are eligible to submit to the Competition. Playwrights are responsible for submitting their play. If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, check out the Playwriting Competition or contact Gillian Lewis at [email protected].

Presented by Hart House Theatre and the U of T Festival of Dance

Hart House Theatre proudly hosts Canada’s largest university dance festival – The Hart House U of T Festival of Dance (FoD). Created in 1995 as an avenue to provide dance groups on campus the opportunity to perform on stage for an audience, the Festival of Dance has now grown into a celebration of the diversity and prosperity of the U of T dance community.  Past events have included over 60 different dance pieces, well over 200 performers and an impressive variety of dance forms including jazz, ballet, ballroom, modern, contact improv, hip-hop, musical theatre, Irish, Latin and Egyptian belly dancing, just to name a few. With such an abundance of dance groups associated with U of T, participation in the festival is a great opportunity for dance groups to interact, collaborate and promote their own work and ventures.

For reference: THE HART HOUSE U OF T FESTIVAL OF DANCE 2024 INFORMATION PACKAGE.

1. Who is eligible to participate? Dance groups and individuals, but each piece must have a direct association with the University of Toronto (Student/Staff/Faculty/Alumni).

2. Is there an audition? No. Dancers and choreographers of all experience levels are encouraged to submit to the festival.  Submissions are completed through an online form.

3. What is the festival timeline? Submissions are due in January. Acceptance is confirmed in February. Technical rehearsals and performances are in late March/early April.

4. Can I dance/choreograph more than one piece? Yes, but the number of submissions allowed per person is determined yearly based on the overall number of submissions. We want to create equal opportunity and then the remaining space is divided among the additional submissions.  

5. Who do I contact if I have questions or want to get involved? The team for the Festival of Dance can be reached at: [email protected] and watch past FoD Season Trailers on YouTube.