Die-hard theater-goers are camping out overnight for a chance to snag free tickets to the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of The Merchant of Venice, but Pacino isn’t the only freebie in town. Here's another deal Shylock would love: since 1989, children’s theatre stalwart Theatreworks USA has presented a summertime Off-Broadway production free of charge. Their 2010 production, WE THE PEOPLE: AMERICA ROCKS! is premiering this week at the (blessedly air-conditioned and indoor) Lucille Lortel Theatre.

Jamie LaVerdiere, Badia Farha, Colin Campbell McAdoo and F. Michael Haynie. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Imagine the lovechild of Altar Boyz and Schoolhouse Rock, and you’ll get some idea of WE THE PEOPLE. An ambitious teen is running for student council president but has difficulty in completing her campaign speech on "What American Government Means to Me.” Luckily, America’s original boy band, The Founding Fathers (Washington, Jefferson, Adams and Franklin) show up to inspire her via an array of songs written by some the best young composers and lyricists in NYC. Along the way this Fab Four teach this modern student (and the audience) about How a Bill Becomes a Law, How the President is Elected, The First Amendment, and more.

Sure, the aim is education, but if anyone can make it fun and entertaining, Theatreworks USA can. After all, this is the company that scored multiple award nominations by turning the kiddie book Click, Clack, Moo into a deliciously warped tale about labor negotiation last summer, and by joyfully stripping away the Broadway excesses of Seussical the Musical in 1997.

According to Theatreworks USA’s website, a limited number of free tickets will be made available to individuals each show day at the theatre on a first come, first served basis.

Monday- Friday: tickets for each day’s performances will be distributed beginning at 9:30AM (this includes the 10:30am tickets, 1pm tickets as well as 6pm tickets for Thursday night shows)
Weekends: Tickets will be distributed one hour prior to curtain time.

Since tickets to weekday daytime shows are mostly earmarked for social service groups and camps, public ticket availabilty is best for Thursday evenings and weekend performances. Click HERE for the full performance schedule.

Theatreworks USA is a non-profit company, and its Free Summer Theatre program is entirely underwritten by grants and donations from corporations, foundations, and individuals. For more information on supporting Free Summer Theatre, click HERE.

The performance schedule for WE THE PEOPLE: AMERICA ROCKS is: Mondays at 10:30am, 1pm; Tuesdays at 10:30am, 1pm; Wednesdays at 10:30am, 1pm; Thursdays at 10:30am, 1pm, 6pm; Fridays at 10:30am, 1pm; Sundays and 3pm. Exceptions: Exceptions: 10:30am only on Thurs 7/8 and Fri 7/9, added 10:30am perf on Sat 7/10, no perf Sun 7/11, no 10:30am perf on Wed 7/14. All performances will be held at The Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street.