'Free Night Of Theater' Program Celebrates Fifth Anniversary 10/8 Thru 11/1

Free Night of Theater, the amazing nation-wide event, will celebrate its 5th Anniversary this year. For three weeks beginning October 8th and continuing through November 1st, nearly 700 theaters in over 120 cities and 30 states will once again throw open theater doors so that patrons and would be patrons can participate in TCG's Free Night of Theater.

It is anticipated that more than 75,000 free tickets will be given away. Free Night of Theater is the single largest national initiative aimed at bringing new audiences to America's not-for profit theatres.

Free Night of Theater strives to attract new and diverse audiences to American not-for-profit theatre; build future audiences by targeting new and infrequent theatregoers; reach first time and non-traditional theatregoers; increase awareness and diversity of American not-for-profit theatre by communicating that theatre is energetic and accessible to everyone and is an exciting and rewarding entertainment option.

Since its introduction in 2005, Free Night has expanded to include 120 participating cities and close to 700 theater companies, introducing 75,000 new theatergoers to not for-profit theatre. In 2008, more than 65,000 free tickets were distributed by local theatres via the program's national interactive website, www.freenightoftheater.net. For 2009, the goal is to give away 75,000 tickets to over 2,000 performances nationwide.

Theatre Communications Group's (TCG) mission is to strengthen, nurture and promote the professional, not-for-profit American theatre. TCG initiatives include a variety of artistic, management, international and advocacy programs. Its many publications offer a national resource for reference, opinion and debate on theatre and the performing arts today. The organization serves 14,000 individuals and nearly 500 theaters nationally.