For immediate release:                                      
Contact: Nicola Daval

September 24, 2008                                          
202-232-8979 or info@lowt.org
                                        

League of Washington Theatres & Theatre Communications Group

Present the D.C. Area’s 3rd Annual FREE NIGHT OF THEATER

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The League of Washington Theatres (LOWT), in conjunction with Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national association of non-profit theatres in America, presents the Washington, D.C. area’s 3rd annual FREE NIGHT OF THEATER from October 9 thru November 20, 2008. (The official date for FREE NIGHT OF THEATER nationally is Thursday, October 16 but expanded dates are being offered to increase theatre participation and available tickets as all theatres are not performing on the official date).

<>FREE NIGHT OF THEATER is TCG’s annual national audience development program to attract new theatergoers to America’s professional not-for-profit theatres. LOWT has garnered the support of 24 theatres to offer local theatregoers more than 3500 free tickets to their productions during this year’s promotion.  Washington, D.C. is one of many communities across the country participating in the program, begun in 2005, and this is the area’s third year of involvement.  <>

The goal of FREE NIGHT OF THEATER is to encourage ‘first-timers’ to see their first live theatre performance while giving regular theatregoers a chance to visit a theatre they have not previously attended.  In 2006 and 2007, D.C. area theatres gave away tickets valued at a combined total of over $280,000. Audience surveys from 2007 showed that 70% of FREE NIGHT OF THEATER patrons were attending a specific theatre for the first time, almost 50% returned to that theatre for another visit, and 80% purchased theatre tickets for an area theatre following their experience with FREE NIGHT OF THEATER (survey conducted by Shugoll Research, Bethesda, MD).  <>

Theatregoers will be able to reserve tickets through the LOWT website, www.lowt.org, beginning at noon on Wednesday, October 1, 2008.  Patrons can reserve up to two (2) free tickets and are encouraged to visit a theatre that they have not previously attended.  Once tickets have been reserved through the website, patrons will receive a reminder about their reservation and pick up their tickets at the individual theatre’s box office on the night of the show. Typically the tickets go very quickly.

NEW. Because of the quickness with which the available tickets are taken online, LOWT is adding something new to further encourage theatre attendance across the area, as well as satisfy those who may not be able to get tickets. The LOWT Theatre Discount Coupon will be available online and list a variety of discounts to participating theatres through the fall.

Theatres participating in 2008: Adventure Theatre, Arena Stage, Bay Theatre Company (Annapolis), Bethesda Theatre, Charter Theatre, Folger Theatre, Forum Theatre, GALA Hispanic Theatre, The In Series, Journeymen Theatre, MetroStage, Olney Theatre Center, Quotidian Theatre Company, Rep Stage, Round House Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Signature Theatre, Solas Nua, Studio Theatre, Synetic Theater, Teatro de la Luna, Theater J, Washington Shakespeare Company, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.