Public Theater to Offer Free Lottery Tickets for Sting's 'LAST SHIP' Concerts, 9/25-10/9

For the first and only time, Sting will perform songs from his new album, The Last Ship, over 10 concerts to benefit The Public Theater. The Public will offer a limited number of FREE tickets via a lottery system for AN EVENING WITH STING, September 25 through October 9 at 8:00 p.m., in The Public's intimate 260-seat Anspacher Theater.

As part of The Public's ongoing commitment to accessibility and affordable programming, these free tickets will be distributed the day of each performance at The Public Theater via a lottery system. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., persons can enter the lottery by filling out an entry card with their name and indicating if they want one or two tickets. If two tickets are requested, both attendees must be present. At 6:00 p.m., the lottery winners' names will be selected. All winners must be present at the time of the drawing. Entry cards will not be given out before 5:30 p.m. and the winners will be selected via random lottery. A minimum of 10 free tickets will be given out at each performance, excluding the special Sting.com Fan Club concert on October 2.

An evening of music and storytelling with one of the world's most prolific artists, these benefit performances to support The Public Theater will offer unique insight into the creative process of both his new album, The Last Ship, to be released September 24, and his forthcoming play of the same name, premiering on Broadway in 2014.

Sting also has a long tradition of hosting special events for members of his official fan club. 100 Sting.com Fan Club members have been selected, via lottery, to receive free tickets to attend a very special concert in celebration of Sting's birthday on Wednesday, October 2 at The Public Theater.

A limited number of benefit tickets are still available for sale at http://www.publictheater.org, by calling (212) 967-7555, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street. Tickets at the top tier to include VIP seating and a pre-show meet and greet with Sting.

On September 24, Sting will release a new album of original material entitled The Last Ship. Drawing inspiration from the shipbuilding community of Wallsend in the North East of England where he was born and raised, Sting has crafted both an entire world and a close-knit community of original characters. In celebration of the album, these intimate benefit concerts at The Public will reveal Sting's influences behind the album through storytelling and visual projections paying homage to the traditional roots of the North East of England, with music from pub-like folk tunes to a wall of sound from Sting's full band, many of whose members also hail from the North East.

Composer, singer, author, actor, activist - Sting was born in Newcastle, England before moving to London in 1977 to form The Police with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. The band released five albums, earned six Grammy awards, and in 2003 was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since 1985, Sting has released 13 solo albums. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of his solo career, 25 Years, the definitive box set collection and the double disc, The Best Of 25 Years were released. Sting 25, the free iPad APP, which was awarded the prestigious Cannes Lion for Best Design/Aesthetic at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is also now available on iTunes and features exclusive all-star performances from his 60th birthday benefit concert, plus rare interviews, photos, music videos, and more. Sting has sold nearly 100 million albums from his combined work with the Police and as a solo artist and has earned an additional 10 Grammy awards, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and three Oscar nominations.

Photo by: Frank Ockenfels