For Live Theatre Week, the stage is set for fun (and free shows)

There are many ways to participate in Live Theatre Week 2008, which unfolds Monday through Oct. 19 around the region.

Sure, you could attend a show by one of the 50 local participating theaters. But there are also a lot of opportunities to get in on the act. In fact, Live Theatre Week offers dozens of free events that get you up close and personal with actors and playwrights or allow you to peek backstage to watch technicians do their hocus-pocus — and there are even some chances for you to get up on stage and do some emoting yourself.

This will be the fourth year the Seattle-based service organization Theatre Puget Sound participates in a broader program, the National Free Night of Theater, which was devised by the New York-based Theatre Communications Group to promote live drama around the country.

Roughly 700 theater companies, in 120 cities, are taking part by hosting free performances and educational and performance events.

Theatre Puget Sound is again stepping up to the plate by encouraging local playhouses to open their doors and host free public tours, open rehearsals, play-readings, classes and all-ages activities.

Endorsed by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, the 2008 edition of Live Theatre Week has some new bells and whistles with events on the schedule of interest to teens, plus some English-Spanish bilingual events.

There are also more participatory activities, for those ready for the spotlight or just interested in discovering how to take better advantage of the Seattle area's impressive theatrical bounty.

Here are a few of our picks from the Live Theatre Week schedule:

Free Tickets

Theaters spacious and tiny, from Seattle to the Eastside to Tacoma, have signed for this big ticket giveaway. It's meant to give people a taste of live drama — and whet their appetites for more.

The popular program began giving away ducats last weekend, offering each recipient a free pair of seats to one show during Live Theatre Week (and a bit beyond — free dates actually continue through Nov. 2). There may be some tickets left — find out, and reserve seats if available at the Live Theatre Week Web site: www.seattleperforms.com/ltw.

Family Day

2-6 p.m. Saturday, Seattle Children's

Theatre, Seattle Center, and other

times and locales

Round up the kids and join in on this afternoon of free family-friendly performances, and creative, interactive, bilingual and multisensory programs led by local theater artists and educators and presented by Seattle Children's Theatre and Theatre Puget Sound. It's just one of many family-focused theater events happening in Puget Sound on Saturday; other theaters hosting family fun include SecondStory Repertory and Sprouts Children's Theatre, Balagan Theatre and Book-It Repertory Theatre. More details at www.seattleperforms.com/ltw.

Stonecarving Boot Camp

6 p.m. Monday

3838 Delridge Way S.W., Seattle

West Seattle stone carver Sabah Al-Dhaher will offer a lesson in his craft, and a studio tour. He is an adviser to the new Langston Hughes Performing Arts production "Bobbie and Jerome" (see more info on Page 40), and the creative team (including playwright Daniel W. Owens) will be on hand to discuss his new work.

Improv Playground

7 p.m. Monday

Market Theatre, 1428 Post Alley,

Seattle

Unexpected Productions, the granddaddy of local improvisational theater troupes, opens up one of its improv classes to anyone brave enough to join in — though it's OK if you'd rather just watch. Actors take classes to learn how to be spontaneous? Hey, it takes a lot of practice to wing it.

Reading of "All the King's Men"

7 p.m. Wednesday

King County Library, Burien Branch,

14700 Sixth Ave. S.W., Burien

Join community leaders and special guests for an informal reading from Adrian Hall's stage adaptation of a classic Robert Penn Warren novel, currently in production at Seattle's Intiman Theatre.

Tacoma United Theaters:

Special Performance

7 p.m. Thursday

Tacoma Musical Playhouse,

7116 Sixth Ave., Tacoma

Three Tacoma community theaters join forces to present excerpts from their upcoming musical, comedy and Shakespeare productions.

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com