METAs Eligibility Criteria

 General Eligibility Criteria

1. ALL production registrations MUST be submitted AT LEAST 30 days prior to the first public performance in Montreal (including the Greater Montreal Area and the Eastern Townships).

   a. Late registrations: If your production is within 21-29 days prior to the first public performance in Montreal, please contact registration@metas.ca without delay. Best efforts will be made for jury attendance. The production is automatically ineligible for METAs consideration if registered less than 14 days prior to the first public performance in Montreal.

   
   

2. be produced by (or co-produced with) a Montreal-based company;

   a. The producing company must be registered and operate in the greater Montreal area: present an NEQ (Quebec enterprise number) or the Montreal home address of the principal artistic company member.

   
   

3. be performed primarily in English;

   a. Bilingual productions must be 51% in English (excluding subtitles). Productions presented alternately in English and French (or any other language) must be presented in English for the requisite minimum number of performances (see below).

   
   

4. be performed in a venue that is safe and regulatory;

   a. The presenting venue should have accessible fire exits, sufficient smoke detectors, and washrooms, as prescribed by the Quebec Safety Code, and respect the maximum capacity.

   b. To ensure the jurors’ safety, COVID-19 safety protocol must be clearly outlined at the time of registration.

   
   

5. be performed within the award season (September 1 to August 31);

6. adhere to the METAs Anti-Harassment Policy.

   
   

Eligibility Criteria for Professional Productions

In addition to satisfying the general criteria, professional productions must:

1. Present a theatrical run with a minimum of six (6) public performances in Montreal (including the Greater Montreal Area and the Eastern Townships) available for the METAs jury to see.

OR

Present a virtual production that is live-streamed (100% live and in real time) over 6 public performances or provide a broadcast for a minimum of 72 hours. It is expected that no post-production editing to the broadcast will take place.

a. A Note on Complimentary Jury Tickets: The METAs Committee is mindful of the burden placed on companies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Suggested complimentary tickets range from minimum twelve (12) to maximum seventeen (17) for this season. This may come in the form of x number of held tickets for the run, or one ticket per performance, etc. Please detail what the Box Office can accommodate in the Professional Registration Form. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you are unable to accomodate the minimum requirement.

2. Satisfy one of the following:

a. Be produced or co-produced by a PACT company (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres);

b. Engage artists under an Equity contract (Independent Theatre Agreement (ITA), Artists’ Collective Policy, Dance - Opera - Theatre (DOT) Policy, or the INDIE 2.2);

c. Confirm that 2/3rds (66%) of all applicable roles (see below) are professional artists, who either:

• are full members of a relevant professional artists’ association (CAEA, ACTRA, UDA, APASQ, IATSE, etc.);

• have completed specialized training in their field (not necessarily in academic institutions);

• have a history of public presentation, performance or publication (minimum five years).

APPLICABLE ROLES include: performers; writers; composers and lyricists;  directors; musical directors; choreographers; fight directors; stage managers; designers.

NON-APPLICABLE ROLES include: understudies, swings, and guest performers; dramaturgs; assistants; coaches; mentors; producers and administrators.

Independent companies wishing to register their professional production for METAs consideration will be asked to submit detailed information to validate the previous criteria.

3. If not engaged under an Equity Contract*, the company must provide documentation that all artists involved in the production are being remunerated for their work. This may come in the form of a signed agreement between the company and all production participants stating the method of remuneration (share of net box office profits; honorarium; negotiated rate; etc). *Equity Contracts include the Independent Theatre Agreement (ITA), Artists’ Collective Policy, Dance - Opera - Theatre (DOT) Policy, or the INDIE 2.2.

Consideration for “New Text (Original or Adaptation)” and / or “New Translation”

For a new text to be eligible for METAs consideration, the professional production must also:

1. be a world premiere;

2. be written, adapted or translated by a Montreal writer or translator OR be commissioned by a Montreal-based company.

For eligible new musicals, the credit will be awarded collectively to the book writer(s), composer(s), and lyricist(s).

Note regarding Community Theatre registration

A Community Theatre production is one produced by an organization that is not and does not intend to become professional.

The METAs Community Jury selects one (1) outstanding production to honour each year.

Please note registration for a Community Theatre Production for METAs Consideration is closed until further notice.

Productions NOT Eligible for METAs Consideration:

• workshops, readings, or showcases;

• improvised plays;

• training productions;

• festival productions (including off-festival productions);

• productions remounted or revived within five (5) years of the original METAs registered production;

• productions presented as part of a Montreal company season where the presenting company’s creative or producing involvement is negligible;

• touring productions:

  • “Touring” denotes productions originating outside of Montreal, where Montreal is a stop on a multi-city tour, and where the development or creative process of the production has negligible ties to the Montreal community. Exceptions may be made for school touring productions, provided at least nine (9) performances in Montreal are accessible to the members of the METAs Jury. The METAs Committee determines eligibility of school touring productions on a case-by-case basis.

Anti-Harassment Policy

The METAs embraces an open and inclusive environment, and encourages respectful behaviour that affirms the dignity of all individuals. The METAs further recognizes our shared responsibility for vigilance in creating and maintaining this safe environment. Companies registered for METAs consideration must adhere to the METAs Anti-Harassment Policy. Failure to comply may result in the cancellation of the company’s registration(s), rendering their production(s) ineligible for METAs consideration.

Rulings on Eligibility

Requests for clarification of uncertain eligibility must be submitted to the METAs Committee at least six (6) weeks prior to the opening performance in Montreal. The METAs Committee has final ruling on eligibility. 

Register your Professional Production Online

Eligibility criteria are subject to change.

UPDATED: September 1st, 2024