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New York, NY – October 28, 2024 - The current Broadway revival of Our Town, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, is pleased to announce a partnership with TDF’s Veterans Theatregoing Program The initiative will coincide with Military Family Appreciation Month, celebrated in November, allowing US veterans to attend select performances of the Thornton Wilder classic at no cost.

“One of the things I love about Our Town is the sense of community. It’s about seeing each other and taking care of each other,” said star Katie Holmes. “I remember the day we visited Peterborough, New Hampshire, where Wilder wrote the play, we were walking around and I saw in the town they had all of the names of people who served in Vietnam. It hit me so deeply because of this world that Thornton created of everybody knowing one another. It suddenly was your neighbor’s son or your son, and that does affect the whole town.”

The idea of doing something special for veterans stemmed from a conversation between Holmes and producer Jeffrey Richards. “It speaks of Jeffrey’s humanity and profound respect for our veterans that he said yes so quickly to this idea. The entire cast is so honored to perform for our veterans,” said Holmes.

Founded in 2017, the TDF Veterans Theatregoing Program allows vets to see shows on Broadway and beyond alongside their peers. TDF partners exclusively with veteran organizations in the city who distribute a limited number of theatre tickets at no cost to their constituents. Post-performance talkbacks are planned when possible, and complimentary TDF memberships are provided to participating veterans so they can continue their theatregoing at greatly reduced cost. To learn more about the program please visit tdf.org.

TDF Veterans Theatregoing Program is supported by the New York City Council Committee on Veterans (Robert F. Holden, Chair), as well as the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Thornton Wilder’s Our Town features 28 actors led by Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Jim Parsons as Stage Manager, Zoey Deutch as Emily Webb, Katie Holmes as Mrs. Webb, Obie and Audelco Award winner and Drama Desk nominee Billy Eugene Jones as Dr. Gibbs, Tony and Grammy Award nominee Ephraim Sykes as George Gibbs, Tony and Drama Desk Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Richard Thomas as Mr. Webb, Tony and Drama Desk nominee Michelle Wilson as Mrs. Gibbs, 2021 Special Tony Award winner and Drama Desk nominee Julie Halston as Mrs. Soames, Donald Webber, Jr. as Simon Stimson, as well as Ephie Aardema Sarnak, Heather Ayers, Willa Bost, Bobby Daye, Safiya Kaijya Harris, Doron JéPaul, Shyla Lefner, Anthony Michael Lopez, John McGinty, Bryonha Marie, Kevyn Morrow, Hagan Oliveras, Noah Pyzik, Sky Smith, Bill Timoney, Ricardo Vázquez, Matthew Elijah Webb, Greg Wood and Nimene Sierra Wureh.

Our Town began previews on Tuesday, September 17 ahead of an opening on Thursday, October 10 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th) for a strictly limited engagement.

The design team for Our Town includes scenic design by Tony Award-winner Beowulf Boritt (New York, New York; Act One), costume design by Tony Award-nominee and Drama Desk Award-winner Dede Ayite (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding; Suzan Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog), lighting design by Tony Award-nominee Allen Lee Hughes (Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog; A Soldier’s Play), sound design by Tony Award-nominee Justin Ellington (Ohio State Murders; for colored girls…), hair, wig & makeup design by J. Jared Janas (Mary Jane, Prayer for the French Republic), casting by Jim Carnahan, with Kate Wilson (The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window) as the dialect coach.

Our Town, the timeless drama of life in the village of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, has become an American classic with universal appeal. Our Town appeared on Broadway in 1938 to wide acclaim and won the Pulitzer Prize. For more info, please visit OurTownBroadway.com.

This production is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Samsational Entertainment, Louise Gund, Eric Falkenstein, Suzanne Grant, Patty Baker, Daryl Roth/Tom Tuft, Ronald Frankel, Rebecca Gold, Gabrielle Palitz, Brunish-Rooney-Hui/Laura Little, Thom & Karen Lauzon, Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, Score 3 Partners, Secret Hideout, David S. Stone, Craig Balsam, John Gore Organization, Caiola Productions, Concord Theatricals, Melissa & Bradford Coolidge, Irene Gandy, Kenny Leon, Willette & Manny Klausner, Andrew Marderian-Davis, Ellen Susman, Leslie Rainbolt, Randy Jones Toll & Steven Toll, James S. Levine, Hank & Kara Steinberg, Alexander “Sandy” Marshall, Ken & Rande Greiner, David Schwartz & Trudy Zohn, Patrick W. Jones, Maia Kayla Glasman, Brandon J. Schwartz, and The Shubert Organization.

About TDF
Founded in 1968, TDF (formerly known as Theatre Development Fund) is a not-for-profit service organization dedicated to sharing the power of the performing arts with everyone. TDF’s mission is to engage a broad and diverse audience by removing the financial, physical, and invisible barriers to participation in the performing arts. TDF’s initiatives include the TKTS by TDF Discount Booths; TDF Memberships; the TDF Costume Collection; and TDF Accessibility, Education, and Public Engagement Programs. Those Programs include open captioned, audio described, and ASL-interpreted performances; Autism Friendly Performances; the Veterans Theatregoing Program; school programs serving more than 11,000 NYC public school students annually; and partnerships with over 150 NYC community organizations serving 18,000 people in the tristate area. TDF envisions a world where the transformative experience of attending live theatre and dance is essential, relevant, accessible, and inspirational.

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