• Free For All Ticket Lottery New this year, the Shakespeare Theatre Company will distribute the majority of Free For All tickets through an online ticket lottery. Last year, high demand created long lines in the summer heat. We hope this will provide a safer and more pleasant experience for all our patrons. Lottery winners will be randomly selected and notified via email.
  
  

  To enter the Free For All Lottery:

  For evening performances
  Visit this page between midnight and 1 p.m. on the day of the performance.  The lottery closes precisely at 1 p.m. Once the lottery closes, you will be notified via email if you have been selected for that evening’s performance.  Selected entries will receive two tickets.  Tickets can be picked up from will call starting at 4 p.m. and all tickets MUST be picked up by one half hour prior to show time or they will be released to the standby line.
  
  For matinee performances
  Visit this page between midnight and 1 p.m. the day prior to the performance.  The lottery closes precisely at 1 p.m. Once the lottery closes, you will be notified via email if you have been selected for the next day’s matinee performance.  Selected entries will receive two tickets.  Tickets can be picked up from will call the day of the performance starting at 11:30 a.m. and all tickets MUST be picked up by one half hour prior to show time or they will be released to the standby line.

• Stand-by Line
  Another great option for tickets is the stand-by line at the theatre.  Within the half hour before the performance, any unclaimed tickets will be released to the stand-by line.  In addition, any seats not filled 10 minutes prior to the performance start time will go to the stand-by line.  If you have a group, this is also the best option to get tickets to the same performance. Limit two (2) tickets per person.  First come, first served.  Unclaimed tickets have been available for the stand-by line for nearly every performance in this year’s Free For All.

• Reserved Tickets Friends of Free For All In appreciation for their generous support in keeping Free For All Free, Friends of Free For All receive exclusive benefits such as reserved Free For All tickets, exclusive use of the Patron’s Lounge, invitation to special events, program recognition and more.  Anyone can become a Friend of Free For All by making a tax-deductible contribution to support this important outreach program.
  
  Become a Friend Learn More
  
  2010-2011 Season Subscribers  To subscribe to the 2010-2011 Season and get access to reserved Free For All tickets or if you are already a subscriber and would like to reserve tickets please call the Box Office at 202.547.1122 option 1.
• Students for Shakespeare Students for Shakespeare is an educational program dedicated to providing students with enhanced access to the plays of William Shakespeare. To qualify, groups must consist of students in grades 12 and under, with at least ten participants and a maximum of 50 participants.
  Please note: To qualify for Students For Shakespeare, your group must consist of students in grades 12 and under, with at least ten participants and a maximum of 50 participants. The student/chaperone ratio for Students for Shakespeare groups is two chaperones for every ten students.
  
  Learn more

The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Free For All is a much-loved Washington tradition, offering free performances of a Shakespearean classic to the general public.  The revival of our recent and wildly popular production of Twelfth Night opens the 2010-2011 season, marking the second year of Free For All at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW; Metro Stop: Gallery Place-Chinatown).

History of Free For All
Previous Productions

“Deserved oohs and aahs…a flaw-free comic tag team.”
Washington Post

“Sexy… one big over-the-top ode to love and the result is delightful.”
DCist

“Exuberant… A rose strewn romance."
Washington City Paper

One of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, Twelfth Night ponders love lost and found. A shipwreck separates twins Viola and Sebastian, but tragedy quickly turns to comedy when they wash up in a land turned upside-down by love. With raucous antics, ravishing language and rich characters, Shakespeare creates a bittersweet tale of laughter and longing.

Free For All FAQ

Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your Free For All experience!

How do I get there?
The easiest way to visit Sidney Harman Hall is by taking Metro, the area’s extensive and easy-to-use public transportation system. Sidney Harman Hall is a block from the Gallery Place-Chinatown and Judiciary Square stations. For metro maps and times visit wmata.com.

Several parking garages are located around Sidney Harman Hall; rates and closing times vary, so please check with each individual garage.

How many seats are available?
As part of our Free For All commitment to bring free theatre to the D.C. metro area, we plan several outreach efforts that may affect the number of seats available to the public each night. We host “Ward Nights,” where D.C. council members and their ward constituents are invited to specific performances. We also host large school groups for some performances through Students for Shakespeare. Because of these reserved groups, certain performances will have fewer seats available, so your patience is appreciated as we reach out to the D.C. community.

What is the Free For All Ticket Lottery?
New this year, the Shakespeare Theatre Company will distribute the majority of Free For All tickets through an online ticket lottery. Last year, high demand created long lines in the summer heat. We hope this will provide a safer and more pleasant experience for all our patrons. Lottery winners will be randomly selected and notified via email.

To enter the Free For All Lottery:
For evening performances
Visit this page between midnight and 1 p.m. on the day of the performance.  The lottery closes precisely at 1 p.m. You will be notified via email if you have been selected for that evening’s performance.  Tickets can be picked up from will call starting at 4 p.m. and all tickets MUST be picked up by one half hour prior to show time or they will be released to the standby line.

For matinee performances
Visit this page between midnight and 1 p.m. the day prior to the performance.  The lottery closes precisely at 1 p.m. You will be notified via email if you have been selected for the next day’s matinee performance.  Tickets can be picked up from will call the day of the performance starting at 11:30 a.m. and all tickets MUST be picked up by one half hour prior to show time or they will be released to the standby line.

Stand-by Line
Another great option for tickets is the stand-by line at the theatre.  Within the half hour before the performance, any unclaimed tickets will be released to the stand-by line.  In addition, any seats not filled 10 minutes prior to the performance start time will go to the stand-by line.  If you have a group, this is also the best option to get tickets to the same performance. Limit two (2) tickets per person.  First come, first served.  Unclaimed tickets have been available for the stand-by line for nearly every performance in this year’s Free For All.

How can I reserve tickets ahead of time?
All 2010–2011 Season subscribers and Friends of Free For All may reserve Free For All tickets in advance for select performances. Anyone may join Friends of Free For All by making a tax-deductible contribution to support this important outreach program. Subscribers are eligible for two tickets, but the number of tickets that Friends of Free For All may reserve varies by level of giving.

I have a ticket! Now what?
After receiving your tickets, you will probably have time to eat before the performance. Food and beverages are available in the ground floor lobby while you wait in line for tickets. Full concessions bars are open in the Orchestra and Mezzanine lobbies pre-show and during intermission. Avoid long lines at intermission by pre-ordering food and beverages for the break. You can also go to one of the many restaurants in Gallery Place-Chinatown within walking distance of the theatre. However, no outside food or drink is permitted in the lobby.

Most importantly, you must be in your seats no later than five minutes to curtain or you may lose your seat. At five minutes to curtain, House Management fills all open seats with patrons who are waiting outside with vouchers.

When should I arrive?
We recommend arriving at least one hour before the start of the performance to pick up reserved tickets.  All seats will be released to the Standby Line starting at a half hour before the performance start time.

Popular events at the Verizon Center can increase traffic on the Metro. Please check the Verizon Center calendar at VerizonCenter.com/events before heading out and plan extra time on days with concerts or games.

Is the Free For All family friendly?
The Free For All is recommended for people ages 10 and older, although anyone can come. While this is a family-oriented event, we do not have an official crying room. Guardians should bring children out into the lobby if they are restless.

In conjunction with the Free For All, the Target Family Fun Fair is an event that is completely family friendly.

• The Washington Post
• The Real Estate Community Partners
• General Dynamics

In kind support for Students for Shakespeare has been provided by:

Take Metrobus or Metrorail to Gallery Place/Chinatown
to the 20th Annual Free For All.
  

Bank of America is the official bank of the Harman Center for the Arts.