About Face Theatre Announces AFTERNOONS OF FREE THEATRE FOR SENIORS

About Face Theatre is pleased to announce AFTERNOONS OF FREE THEATRE (AFT) FOR SENIORS, a new initiative providing 80 economically-disadvantaged seniors at Chicago's Town Hall Apartments (managed by Center on Halsted and Heartland Alliance) one free ticket to each performance in About Face's 2018-19 season, including transportation to and from the theatre, and the inclusion of any additional services differently-abled patrons may require. The program launches on Sunday, November 11, 2018 with the matinee performance of AFT's Chicago premiere of THIS BITTER EARTH.

Comments AFT's Director of Institutional Giving Benjamin Sprunger, "Though About Face Theatre has a long and nationally recognized history of working with LGBTQ and allied youth, to date, the organization has never specifically undertaken any initiatives involving the senior population of Chicago. Knowing that there's a direct corollary between health and participation in the arts, we hope to not only provide Town Hall residents with transformative, enriching theatre that is relevant to their lives and experiences, but to improve their overall health as well. This program affirms About Face's desire to be more intergenerational and represents our first foray toward specifically welcoming, including and catering to this underserved and rapidly growing population."

"Center on Halsted is proud of our growing relationship with About Face Theatre as they expand their exciting and LGBTQ-affirming artistic programming," said Modesto Tico Valle, Chief Executive Officer. "This new initiative not only helps to grow our collective efforts in ensuring that our seniors have opportunities to enjoy the performing arts, but also to ensure that we do everything we can to help enable this population to break out of isolation that is all too often the case as they age in our community. AFT will compliment the already wide and varied array of social, educational and health-related programming Center on Addison (Center on Halsted's Senior Services program) offers for Town Hall Residents."

AFTERNOONS OF FREE THEATRE (AFT) FOR SENIORS is made possible through an inaugural Powering the Arts Program grant from ComEd and the League of Chicago Theatres. In September 2018, Powering the Arts awarded $120,000 in grant funding to 17 non-profit arts organizations throughout northern Illinois. The grantees, which range from local theaters to art galleries, received up to $10,000 each for projects that expand access to arts and cultural offerings for underserved audiences in the communities ComEd serves.

About Town Hall Apartments

October 2014 saw the opening of the Midwest's first LGBT-friendly affordable senior housing complex, Town Hall Apartments, in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. One of only a handful of such residences in the nation, Town Hall Apartments is home to 80 individuals, 55 years of age or older, who make less than $30k per year. Many of these residents reported having been faced with homelessness and discrimination in the past, but have now been given a safe, welcoming and affordable place to call home.

About Face Theatre creates exceptional, innovative, and adventurous theatre and educational programming that advances the national dialogue on sexual and gender identity, and challenges and entertains audiences in Chicago and beyond.

PHOTO CREDIT: (pictured) Residents of Chicago's Town Hall Apartments. Photo by Lauren Roth.

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