New York, NY, October 25, 2007 - Last night, the League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. launched a new initiative -- LADIES NIGHT OUT ON BROADWAY -- a special evening on Broadway created for Broadway's most loyal group of theatregoers.

Similar to other successful League audience development programs (including Kids' Night on Broadway and Singles Night on Broadway), the first-ever Ladies Night Out on Broadway, created only for women, included special show discounts and an important charitable tie-in which raised thousands of dollars in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative of The Actors Fund, a program created to address the myriad of concerns women face when dealing with a serious medical condition. The free party included food and drinks at Spotlight Live and included a variety of activities including a Women-in-Theatre panel and Broadway karaoke. Hundreds of women attended the party and then saw one of the participating shows.

The Women of Broadway Panel was moderated Lite FM’s Valerie Smaldone, and included: Tony Award® winning actress Marian Seldes, Former Miss America and Broadway Actress, Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde), Actress Deidre Goodwin (A Chorus Line), General Manager Nina Lannan (The Color Purple), General Manager Charlotte Wilcox (Grease), Producer/Writer/Director Dori Berinstein (ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway), Producer Kristin Caskey (Legally Blonde), and Tony Award® winning Lighting Designer Natasha Katz (The Little Mermaid, The Coast of Utopia - Salvage).

"Women represent 63% of Broadway audiences and 66% of ticket purchasing decisions so LADIES NIGHT was our way of saying thank you. We hope that the free activities will remind our most loyal members about the variety of Broadway offerings and will give this very engaged demographic yet another reason to join us for an additional night on Broadway full of fun and entertainment," commented Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director, League of American Theatres and Producers. "Women are also the primary decision makers when it comes to purchasing theatre tickets and planning a night out on the town, and we were delighted to host for them what we hope will become an annual event that educates them, pampers them, rewards them and just reminds them about how much we appreciate their loyalty to Broadway!"

Serving as LADIES NIGHT Spokespeople were Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa, currently starring in XANADU at the Helen Hayes Theater. Commented Ms. Hoffman and Ms. Testa: “We’re honored to be the spokesgals for Ladies Night Out on Broadway because not only did we get to help raise money for women’s health, we got to introduce new audience members to the exciting world of live theatre.”

Participating Shows

Twelve Broadway shows participated in Ladies Night Out including, A Chorus Line, The Color Purple, Curtains, Hairspray, Legally Blonde the Musical, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Phantom of the Opera, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Xanadu. Two Off Broadway shows participated: including The Fantasticks and Stomp.

Spotlight Live Party

With the purchase of a Ladies Night theatre ticket to any of the participating Broadway or Off Broadway shows, ladies were invited to attend a free theatre themed party at Spotlight Live, the only restaurant where you walk in for dinner but walk out a star.

Some of the participating shows hosted post-show talk backs that corresponded with online show discussion guides made available on the event website. These online discussion guides for women interested in creating “theatre clubs,” provides the opportunity to form meaningful connections with like-minded women. In addition, Times Square area restaurants featured special offers, plus parking discounts. Please visit www.broadway.ivillage.com

Ladies Night Out on Broadway’s sponsors included Spotlight Live, The New York Times, Budweiser Select and shuzsociety.com, an online magazine and networking site for shoe lovers. As a part of the raffle, shuzsociety.com raffled one of a kind Broadway Boots decorated by a representative from each participating show. All proceeds were donated to the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative of The Actor’s Fund. Media partners are WNBC 4, ivillage.com, and 106.7 LITE-FM. to chat with other Broadway theatre fans and enter a Broadway sweepstakes.

About the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative

The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative was created by The Actors Fund to address the myriad of concerns women face when dealing with a serious medical condition. When women come to The Fund after a serious medical diagnosis they are often overwhelmed with concerns about their ability to work, family issues, managing basic bills as well as medical bills, and coping both physically and mentally with a challenging medical situation.

The PNWHI Social Workers help women negotiate the steps that follow a serious medical diagnosis. Through intensive case management, access to individual counseling, support groups, educational seminars, linkage to community supports and short-term financial assistance, the social workers help women receive the nurturing support that they need.

Each year, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative (PNWHI) helps hundreds of women in health crisis – many whose treatment is compromised by lack of health insurance. PNWHI provides women in the entertainment profession with access to health care, diagnostic, preventative, and mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and meaningful assistance when they are confronted with traumatic illness, injury or a violent situation. The goal of PNWHI is to provide women in the entertainment community with the resources and support they need to attain optimum health and independence.

About The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc.

The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc., created in 1930 is the official trade association for the commercial theatre industry. The League’s 600-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general throughout North America, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to almost 30 million people in New York and across the US and Canada.

The League also sponsors three annual free outdoor concerts: Broadway on Broadway® (with the Times Square Alliance) which attracts upwards of 50,000 theatre fans to Times Square each fall to kick off the new theatrical season; Continental Airlines presents Broadway’s Stars in the Alley ®, a celebration in the Theatre District’s historic Shubert Alley marking the official end of the season; and Broadway Under the Stars™ (with NYC & Company) on the Great Lawn of Central Park, which inaugurates New York City’s summer outdoor concert series.

The League maintains and operates programs designed to provide consumers with information about Broadway and a convenient means of accessing tickets. ILoveNYTheater.com is the first-ever multilingual website offering a comprehensive guide to Broadway theatregoing in New York. The site, which is available in six languages, offers tickets to Broadway shows as well as information about hotels, restaurants, transportation, and shopping.

About The Actors Fund

The Actors Fund, currently celebrating its 125 th Anniversary, is a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals - both performers and those behind the scenes - in performing arts and entertainment. Founded in 1882, The Fund serves those in film, theatre, television, music, opera, and dance with a broad spectrum of programs including comprehensive social services, health services, supportive and affordable housing, emergency financial assistance, employment and training services, and skilled nursing and assisted living care. Administered from offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, The Actors Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are in need, crisis, or transition. Please visit The Actors Fund website at www.actorsfund.org.

About Spotlight Live

Walk in for Dinner and Walk out a Star at Spotlight Live, an interactive Dining, Special Event and Live Performance Venue Located in the Heart of Times Square. Featuring the Inventive, American Comfort Cuisine of Celebrity Chef Kerry Simon and paired with an engaging dose of Karaoke, where you join our professional singers and dancers on stage for and evening of fun and live entertainment. Spotlight Live is located at 1604 Broadway, Between 48 th and 49 th Streets. Visit www.spotlightlive.com for more information.