Theatre patrons and potential theatre patrons will have the opportunity to try something new this summer: The South Florida Theatre League is proud to announce the Summer Fest Free Night as a part of the WLRN Summer Theatre Fest.

Patrons can log on to summerfestfreenight.southfloridatheatre.com and choose up to three theatrical productions they’d like to see. A lottery for those tickets will take place on Monday July 9^th, and patrons will be notified if they have won.

Over 400 tickets are being lotteried for thirteen shows at Palm Beach Dramaworks, Mad Cat Theatre Company, Lake Worth Playhouse, Sol Children Theatre, Entr’Acte Theatrix, and The Plaza Theatre. Free Night offers patrons an excellent opportunity to visit a venue they’ve never been to before, or sample a type of theatre they might not otherwise never consider.

“As someone who has to budget her entertainment spending wisely, I understand it can be difficult for patrons to try something new. Summer Fest Free Night will allow potential theatre patrons to experiment a little, at no cost to them, and hopefully to fall in love with a new theatre,” says Andie Arthur, the South Florida Theatre League executive director.

The Theatre Communication Groups’ Free Night of Theatre was originally introduced as a three city pilot-program in 2005, the program’s the goal being to increase public awareness of the national theatre community, while in turn attracting new and non-traditional audiences to the theatre. During 2011’s Free Night of Theater over 400 participating organizations offered more than 55,000 tickets to over 1,800 performances in 19 states. The total value of the tickets offered was estimated at 1.75 million dollars!  Historically, over 33% of patrons who attend a show offered at Free Night of Theater come back and buy a ticket at that theatre.

Summer Fest Free Night– the South Florida Theatre League’s version of the program, began in 2008. The South Florida Theatre League is grateful to the LA Stage Alliance, the performing arts service organization of Greater Los Angeles, for facilitating the enter-to-win lottery system.

Summer Fest Free Night is one arm of the South Florida Theatre League’s promotions for Summer Theatre Fest. Patrons can also participate in A Taste of Summer Promotion. If a patron sees three Theatre League Member performances, they will be eligible to receive a $20 gift certificate to The Melting Pot, the popular restaurant that offers a truly unique dining experience created by the art of fondue.

For more information about the South Florida Theatre League, the Taste of Summer Promotion, a list of participating theatres and their current and upcoming productions, visit: www.southfloridatheatre.com or contact Andie Arthur at:  andie@southfloridatheatre.com/954-557-0778