PATA Set To Present Portland's Second Annual Free Night Of Musical Theater; Ticket Sales Kick Off On 10/1

This October, a night out to see a play in Portland continues part of a national movement celebrating the magic of live theater. Portland Area Theatre Alliance (PATA) presents Portland’s second annual Free Night of Theater which kicks off ticket sales October 1, 2009.

In the Portland area, 22 theater companies will join hundreds across the nation in other major arts markets reaching out to new audience members with the offer of a free ticket. This fall, theatre-goers from coast to coast will be given the opportunity to attend performances presented by over 700 theatres, in more than 120 cities, completely free of charge.

Free tickets can be reserved at the Free Night of Theater website  (http://www.freenightoftheater.net) beginning at 11 a.m. on October 1, 2009. In 2008, tickets sold out quickly. Additional free ticket inventory will be released October 4th, 8th and 15th; interested patrons should regularly check the TCG website for updated ticket availability. Patrons are encouraged to visit a theater they have never attend­ed and can reserve up to two free tickets. Free tickets are offered for performances scheduled between the kick-off day October 8 (Oregon’s Day of Culture) and October 31, 2009.

“TCG’s Free Night of Theater is an innovative way to explore Portland’s dynamic theater community,” said Jen Raynak, PATA President. “We are thrilled to bring this opportunity to new patrons who may have wanted to experience the excitement of live theater, but haven’t had the chance. We all hope that the community finds this an offer too good to refuse.”

Free Night of Theater 2008 is presented by PATA in conjunction with Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for professional theaters in the U.S.

Portland Area Theatre Alliance (PATA), now in its 22nd year of operation, is a membership organi­zation of Portland Area theatres. Its services range from providing a centralized calendar of theatrical activity in the region, to forums for discussion and debate about the profession, to providing resource guides to the­ater professionals, to audition services, to the Valentine Fund, which provides support the theater community members facing significant crises in health or other issues. PATA’s current membership numbers nearly 400 individuals, theatre companies and associated businesses. PATA is also the presenting organization for Fertile Ground – a City-Wide Festival of New Work in January. More information about PATA is available at www.patagreenroom.org.

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.  TCG serves nearly 500 member theatres nationwide.  More information about TCG is available at www.tcg.org.