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Family First Nights

Participating families from the South Brooklyn Youth Consortium attend The Color Purple.

Family First Nights^® is a nationwide program specifically designed to encourage at risk families to attend theatre on a regular basis. Many programs exist for students to attend the theatre; however, if the experience is not supported and sustained within the students' home environment, there is little lasting impact promoting theatergoing as a lifelong activity.

By engaging the entire family and offering repeated exposure through multiple visits, Family First Nights offers the participating families the opportunity to make live, professional theatre part of their cultural heritage.

Partner social service agencies are responsible for identifying appropriate families, coordinating family participation, and organizing transportation and other logistics.

About the Program

• Family First Nights provides specially-priced theatre tickets for families who may not otherwise be able to attend Broadway and Touring Broadway shows. Families are selected by local partner social service agencies.
• Families commit to attend the theatre together three times per year.
• Each family member pays $5-10 per ticket for orchestra seats, often less than the cost of a movie ticket.
• Additional ticket costs are paid for by sponsorships.

Harvey Fierstein greets participating families from Harlem Children's Zone.

Participating families take part in post-performance discussions. They receive family theatre packets including study guides, etiquette information, a guide to who's who backstage, and a CD of the show, if available.

In New York City, The League is currently partnering with families selected by the South Brooklyn Youth Consortium in Brooklyn, Harlem Children's Zone in Manhattan, the YMCA in Staten Island, and Dunton Block & Civic Association, Inc. in Queens.

Partial funding has been secured from the Bloomberg Foundation, the Loews Foundation, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and Department of Youth and Community Development, and the Theatre Sub-District Council.

Family First Nights is also taking place in Appleton, WI; Atlanta, GA; Buffalo, NY; Charlotte, NC; East Lansing, MI; Hartford, CT; Indianapolis, IN; Memphis, TN; Milwaukee, WI; Rochester, NY; Tampa, FL; Tempe, AZ; West Palm Beach, FL.

Family First Nights was established in 2005.

For more information about Family First Nights, please contact Rachel Reiner.

Family First Nights^® is a joint venture of The Broadway League and The Broadway League Foundation.