FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lacey Leffler September 14, 2011 Marketing Director 253.573.2360 laceyl@broadwaycenter.org Broadway Center's First Annual - Fall Free For All Offers More Than 75 Performance Artists In Tacoma's Theater District October 8 & 9, 2011 Presented by Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation Fund of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Key Foundation and City of Tacoma Tacoma, WA - Tacoma's Broadway Center, the South Sound's premier home for the performing arts, announces a new project as part of its 28th Season, the FALL FREE FOR ALL, two days of free festival on October 8 and 9, 2011. Seven venues in Tacoma's Theater District at 9th and Broadway, including the historic Pantages and Rialto Theaters, will see their doors thrown open to the public for 19 hours of shows, exhibits and activities, Saturday, October 8 from 10:00am to 11:00pm, and Sunday, October 9 from Noon to 6:00pm. More than 75 performance events and activities will be offered including theater, music, dance, poetry, storytelling, visual arts, street performers and hands-on activities for children. Events are designed to engage a range of ages from tiny tots to over 21 only. Food vendors and beverage stations will be available during all hours of the festival. Free wristbands will be distributed to allow access to any venue. Patrons are encouraged to register early for their wristband going to www.broadwaycenter.org<http://www.broadwaycenter.org/>, or register onsite at the festival. Contribution boxes will be available for those able and inspired to make a contribution. Food carts will be open on Broadway and various sites will offer a no-host bar for those 21+. "With the FALL FREE FOR ALL, we open wide these publically owned theaters that are so vital to our community. For two days in the heart of downtown Tacoma, we will offer free performances unlike anything presented elsewhere in Western Washington. We invite everyone to come down and enjoy the shows, food and fun, all thanks to the generous support of our sponsors who have made this festival a reality," commented Executive Director David Fischer. The Broadway Center thanks the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation Fund of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Key Bank, City of Tacoma and BECU for their support. Among the performance gems being offered at the FALL FREE FOR ALL, is the culmination of a two year-long collaboration between Broadway Center and EnJoy Productions, entitled VOICES OF THE CITY, a project designed to invite community connection through storytelling and art making by a diverse cross-section of Tacoma citizens. This effort to "animate democracy" gives voice to those who are not often heard as they express themselves through music, film, story performance and visual arts. Project participants include: DeVitta Briscoe, Rob Collins, Melanie Denise Cunningham, Alice Di Certo, David Duea, Antonio Edwards, Steph Farber, Daryl Frost, Kristin Harper, Julio & Maralise Hood-Quan, Roxanne Hreha, Ame Lee, Tad Monroe, Diane Lachel, Lenora Peyton, Johnnie Pratt, Nancy Tyson, and Kim Washington. A photography exhibition by Jesse Michener will be open for public viewing at Theatre on the Square. The project was designed by Enjoy Production's Martha Enson and Kevin Joyce along with Broadway Center's David Fischer. Enjoy Productions, one of the nation's best independent performance production teams, supported the creation of each participants' work through individual coaching. In addition, arts workshops were led by spoken word artist Elijah Muied, public art creator Mauricio Rubalino, UWT Art and Social Change Faculty Beverly Naidus and Loraine Leeson, and Poet/Storyteller Merna Hecht. Each venue will present a specific style of presentation: Films in the Pantages (in partnership with the Grand Cinema): Saturday: "The Black Stallion" (feature family film); "How to Die in Oregon" (documentary); "A Film and Discussion by Paul Rucker" (documentarist and musician); "A Video by Melanie Denise Cunningham" (Voices of the City participant); "Rattle and Hum" (concert film chronicling U2) Sunday: "The Black Stallion" (feature family film); "These Amazing Shadows" (documentary); "Rattle and Hum" (concert film chronicling U2). Music in the Rialto (curated by Aaron Stevens with support from Kenny Coble): Saturday: Ukulele Ohana; Eternal Fair (Andrew Vait); Kris Orlowski; Local Strangers; Port St. Willow; Pacific Northwest Sacred Harp Singers; Horse Feathers; The Tacoma Round (featuring Noah Gundersen, Kris Doty, Nick Principe, Matt Gano, and Glory Cancro); Paul Rucker; Portland Cello Project (featuring Horse Feathers and Drew Grow); Drew Grow & the Pastors' Wives. Sunday: CityHall; Hurtbird; Sons of Warren Oats; Pearly Gate Music; Kelli Schaefer; Laura Gibson; Portland Cello Project, with Kelli Schaefer and Kevin Sur (of Indian Valley Line), Concours d'Elegance. Dance and Variety in Theatre on the Square: Saturday: Tacoma Philharmonic's Kids Concerts with Let It Shine Music and members of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra; "11 Days of Dr. King" (spoken word and dance tribute); Magician Andrew Evans; best of the School of the Arts (music and theater); Tad Monroe (Voices of the City participant with music). Sunday: "11 Days of Dr. King" (spoken word and dance tribute); Tacoma City Ballet; Mov!ng Company (MLK Ballet); Koncrete (hip hop); Fab 5; "Yes You May" (theater). Both Days: Voices of the City Exhibits. Cabaret and Quirky Fun in Rehearsal Hall 1: Saturday and Sunday: (in rotation) Professor Humbug's Flea Circus; Smitty and Rami; Brian Neel's Vaud Rats; and more. Voices of the City in Rehearsal Hall 2: Saturday and Sunday: (in rotation) various VOC participants tell their stories, plus interpretive display and short dance documentary excerpts from Barefoot Collective. Northwest Playwrights Alliance - "Double Shot Play Fest" in Rehearsal Hall 3: Saturday: Double Shot (7 new, short plays). Sunday: Adam Utley (Improv Theater); Double Shot; Civic Engagement Lecture on drug use in America. Surprise Street Performances: Saturday: (in rotation) Brian Kooser's Giant Puppets; Wonderland Activities by Theater Simple; Voices of the City participants (on Broadway, in Theater Square Park, at the State History Museum, at the Tacoma Dome Link Light Rail and at St. Joe's Hospital). Sunday: Brian Kooser's Giant Puppets; Park Bench (community interviews) by Theater Simple; Voices of the City participants (on Broadway, in Theater Square Park, at the State History Museum, at the Tacoma Dome Link Light Rail and at St. Joe's Hospital). Look for the complete schedule (subject to change) via www.broadwaycenter.org<http://www.broadwaycenter.org/>, or pick up the Tacoma News Tribune on Thursday, October 6. For additional information, please call the Broadway Center Box Office at (253) 591-5894. ### ### ### Jared Wigert Marketing Manager Broadway Center for the Performing Arts Phone: 253.573.2368 Fax: 253.591.2013 www.broadwaycenter.org<http://www.broadwaycenter.org/> Pantages Theatre | Rialto Theater | Theatre on the Square Tickets on sale now! Wanda Sykes <http://www.broadwaycenter.org/season/showDetails.asp?key=266> (September 16), Margaret Cho <http://www.broadwaycenter.org/season/showDetails.asp?key=273> (October 28), Joan Rivers <http://www.broadwaycenter.org/season/showDetails.asp?key=274> (November 4). Broadway Center Box Office: 253.591.5894.