This Week in Theatre: Free! Snazzy! Seagull.

Plenty of delightful doings in A-Town this week! First, Austin is participating in Free Night of Theater 2007. The program is exactly what it sounds like: reserve tickets to see a show for free. It's like the biggest giveaway ever! And it lasts all the way through the first week of November. Only a few shows were available at press time, but we have it on good authority that new shows and fresh batches of tickets will be added. Check back frequently.

ACoT is gearing up for their annual B. Iden Payne Awards ceremony. We expect it'll be one classy affair, with a special award planned for the fabulously talented Karen Kuykendall, presented by the also-fabulous (and always charming and funny, we might add) Robert Faires. This year's presenters feature a nonstop lineup of talent, courtesy of our local Actors Equity Association. Sunday 10/21, 5pm, Jones Auditorium in the Ragsdale Center at St. Eds. Tickets online (sliding scale) and at the door.

There's a little show we want you to know about. A powerhouse-packed cast will be presenting Chekhov's The Seagull at the Off Center, Th/Fr/Sa at 8pm this weekend, and running through November 3rd. Featuring a new translation by director Graham Schmidt, we're completely certain this show will be the buzz in weeks to come. Besides, we're more than a little partial to Chekhov. Details here.

For the rest of the exciting theatre offerings this week, check the Ist List.