The Public Theater has announced that, for the first and only time, Sting will perform songs from his new album, The Last Ship, for 10 concerts to benefit The Public Theater in their intimate, 260-seat Anspacher Theater from September 25 – October 9.
An evening of music and storytelling with one of the world’s most prolific artists, these performances will offer unique insight into the creative process of both his new album, to be released September 24, and his forthcoming play of the same name, premiering in 2014. All proceeds benefit The Public Theater and are tax deductible.
“Sting is one of the great artists of our time, a brilliant songwriter who is also a model of activist commitment,” said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. “The Last Ship is shaping up to be a masterpiece, both an elegy for and a celebration of the working class life of the Newcastle shipyards. The Public is honored to call Sting a friend and thrilled to be hosting these benefit concerts.”
Sting added, “The Public Theater, a New York institution committed to supporting all of the city’s distinct communities, was a natural fit to perform this material that is, at its core, about the importance of community.”
In the spirit of The Public Theater’s ongoing mission of accessibility, a limited number of free seats will be distributed the day of each performance via a lottery system. Entries will be taken between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. each performance day, with a drawing beginning at 6:00 p.m. (All entrants must be present to win.)
Sting also has a long tradition of hosting special events for members of his official fan club. In addition to these 10 performances, 100 Sting.com Fan Club members will receive free tickets, selected via lottery, to attend a very special concert in celebration of Sting’s birthday on Wednesday, October 2 at The Public Theater. For details, please visit www.sting.com.
American Express Cardmembers can purchase advance tickets beginning on Wednesday, July 10 at 6 p.m. EST through Sunday, July 14 at 10 p.m. EST at PublicTheater.org or 212-967-7555.
An exclusive pre-sale for Sting.com Fan Club members will begin Saturday, July 13 at 12noon EST and conclude Sunday, July 14 at 8:00 p.m. EST. Sting.com Fan Club members must purchase tickets by phone at 212-967-7555.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Sunday, July 14 at 10:01 p.m. EST here and beginning Monday, July 15 at 12noon EST by phone or at the box office.
Benefit ticket prices range from $250-$2,500, with tickets at the top tier to include VIP seating and a pre-show meet & greet with Sting. Tickets are tax deductible for US residents. All performances begin at 8:00 p.m.
This fall, Sting will release a new album of original material entitled The Last Ship. Drawing inspiration from the shipbuilding community of Wallsend in the North East of England where he was born and raised, Sting has crafted both an entire world and a close-knit community of original characters. In celebration of the album, these intimate benefit concerts at The Public Theater will reveal Sting’s influences behind the album through storytelling and visual projections paying homage to the traditional roots of the North East of England, with music from pub-like folk tunes to a wall of sound from Sting’s full band, many of whose members also hail from the North East.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, The Public Theater is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare and the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. The Public continues the work of its visionary founder, Joe Papp, by acting as an advocate for the theater as an essential cultural force, and leading and framing dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day. Creating theater for one of the largest and most diverse audience bases in New York City for nearly 60 years, today the Company engages audiences in a variety of venues—including its landmark downtown home at Astor Place, which houses five theaters and Joe’s Pub; the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home to its beloved, free Shakespeare in the Park; and the Mobile Unit, which tours Shakespearean productions for underserved audiences throughout New York City’s five boroughs. The Public’s wide range of programming includes free Shakespeare in the Park, the bedrock of the Company’s dedication to making theater accessible to all, new and experimental stagings at The Public at Astor Place, and a range of artist and audience development initiatives including its Public Forum series, which brings together theater artists and professionals from a variety of disciplines for discussions that shed light on social issues explored in Public productions.
Source: PR Newswire
