The South Florida Theatre League
Invites patrons to
‘Come Under Our Umbrella’
and Experience a
Free Night of Theatre
as part of their
2014 Summer Theatre Fest

South Florida audiences will once again have the opportunity to see theatre for free, check out new plays in development by South Florida playwrights, and tell the world what the arts – and theatre – mean to them. The success of last summer’s Get in Bed With the Arts program and play reading series indicated to the League that theatre patrons are ready and willing to try new theatrical experiences, and even cross county lines to do it.

The South Florida Theatre League is the ‘umbrella organization’ for close to 70 theatres from Key West to Jupiter, and this year’s Summer Theatre Fest’s theme is Come Under Our Umbrella. Participating theatres have been given large white canvas beach umbrellas which they will decorate according to their mission, current production, or any other aspect of their company they would like to showcase. These umbrellas will be displayed at various readings and performances throughout Summer Theatre Fest and patrons will be encouraged Come Under Our Umbrella to talk about their theatrical experiences, and the significance of the arts in their lives.

Free Night of Theater is an audience development program that has proven to be immensely popular since the League first introduced it in 2008. 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 ever consider. Developed by the Theatre Communications Group (the national organization for American Theatre) about a decade ago to increase audiences, subsequent studies found that approximately 42% of patrons who attend a Free Night of Theatre return to that theatre and purchase tickets. So far, participating theatres include Area Stage, Actors’ Playhouse, Delray Beach Playhouse, Palm Beach Dramaworks, Sol Children Theatre, and TheatreXP.

“All of our Summer Theatre Fest programing provides a chance for people to really get to know the variety of local talent available. There’s so much meaningful work happening at all levels and this provides a chance for the community to interact in exciting ways,” says South Florida Theatre League Executive Director Andie Arthur.

Patrons can sign up for tickets at summerfestfreenight.southfloridatheatre.com starting on June 9 for performances during the month of July. The window to enter the lottery will close on June 23 and patrons will find out if they have won tickets on June 27.
Come Under Our Umbrella -umbrella schedule:

June 9             Lost Portraits by Kenneth N. Kurtz at Miami Acting Company,
performing at the Hibiscus Room in Pinecrest Gardens
June 23           Outside by Juan C. Sanchez, Ann Gillespie, Ozzie Rodriguez,
Nick Mwaluko, and Vanessa Garcia at The  Krane
June 30           The Pot by Glenn Hutchinson atMain Street Players
July 7              Endless Song by Andie Arthur at Lost Girls Theatre, performing
at the Deering Estate
July 14            The Dana Plays: Raising Money for the American
Cancer Society by Various Playwrights (venue to be announced)
July 21            Dead by Night by Juan C. Sanchez at Actors’ Playhouse
at the Miracle Theatre
July 28            Tres Mariasby Hector Pino at Teatro Prometeo
August 4      It Feels Good by Michael Yawney at GableStage
August 18      Instant Classic by Paul Tei at Mad Cat Theatre
August 18      Two Weekends and a Day by Susan Westfall at City Theatre
at Empire Stage
August 25      Fuck the Universe: Scott and Charlie Steal Space by
Jeremiah Musgrove at Alternative Space Theatre

Umbrellas will also be featured at the following events:

June 26- 29    City Theatre’s CityWrights Conference
June 27 – 29   The Women’s Theatre Project’s Girl Play

Umbrellas will also be seen at the Sol Children Theatre and Entr’Acte Theatrix.

Summer Theatre Fest Reading Series

Every Monday from June until August, member companies will be hosting readings of plays by South Florida Playwrights. There will be at least eighteen evenings of readings across four counties on the thirteen Mondays of Summer Theatre Fest. Playwrights range from established local favorites, including Carbonell winners and nominees, to emerging talents, with plays vastly ranging in subject matter and style. For more details, including a synopsis of each reading, please visit www.southfloridatheatre.com.

Summer Theatre Fest Reading Series Schedule:

June 2             Finding Mona Lisa by Michael McKeever at Zoetic Stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center
June 9             Lost Portraits by Kenneth N. Kurtz at Miami Acting Company at the Hibiscus Room in Pinecrest Gardens
June 16           Captiva by Chris Demos-Brown at Maltz Jupiter Theatre
June 23           Outside by Juan C. Sanchez, Ann Gillespie, Ozzie Rodriguez,
Nick Mwaluko, and Vanessa Garcia at The Krane
June 23           Juxtaposition by Julie Gilbert at Palm Beach Dramaworks
June 30           The Pot by Glenn Hutchinson at Main Street Players
June 30           The Signature of Fear by Bob Bowersox at TheatreXP
July 7              Endless Song by Andie Arthur at Lost Girls Theatre at the Deering Estate
July 14            The Dana Plays: Raising Money for the American Cancer
Society by Various Playwrights (venue to be announced)
July 21            Dead by Night by Juan C. Sanchez at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
July 21            Roses are Blind by Wendy White at New Light Foundation
July 28            Desperation by Marj O’Neill-Butler at Pigs Do Fly Productions at Empire Stage
July 28            Tres Marias by Hector Pino at Teatro Prometeo
August 4        It Feels Good by Michael Yawney at GableStage
August 11      Broken English by Nancy Cheser at Area Stage
August 18      Instant Classic by Paul Tei at Mad Cat Theatre
August 18      Two Weekends and a Day by Susan Westfall at City Theatre at Empire Stage
August 25      Fuck the Universe: Scott and Charlie Steal Space by
Jeremiah Musgrove at Alternative Space Theatre
August 25      Dear Mom by Nancy Holson and Jay Falzone at The Plaza Theatre

The South Florida Theatre League is an alliance of theatrical organizations and professionals dedicated to nurturing, promoting, and advocating for the growth and prestige of the South Florida theatre industry. The South Florida Theatre League is funded by its members, member theatres, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, and the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

For more information about the South Florida Theatre League, including a list of member theatres and their current and upcoming productions, visit: http://www.southfloridatheatre.com