Hoping to enlarge the profile of theater in the Boston area, dozens of companies that usually compete for audiences will band together on Sept. 10 for the Greater Boston Theatre Expo.
At the free Expo — the first of what organizers hope will be an annual event — members of the general public will be able to learn about upcoming productions, capitalize on special ticket offers, and meet actors, playwrights, directors, and designers of sets, costumes, and lighting, according to organizers. It will take place in the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts.
The theaters involved range from large organizations like the Huntington Theatre Company, the American Repertory Theater, and ArtsEmerson, to midsize theaters such as SpeakEasy Stage Company and Lyric Stage Company, to fringe companies like Whistler in the Dark Theatre, Charlestown Working Theater, Zeitgeist Stage Company, Sleeping Weazel, and Apollinaire Theatre Company.
David Colfer, general manager of Emerson Stage and one of the organizers of the Expo, said in a statement: “From the award-winning work on the stages of our flagship companies to the remarkable and innovative pieces by Greater Boston’s adventurous small theatre scene, the range of work being produced in our region is among the most impressive in the country. By bringing so many theatre companies together under one roof at the Greater Boston Theatre Expo, organizations will connect with new supporters, and audiences will have the chance to explore this rich marketplace in a format that is convenient, efficient, and free.�
The press release announcing the Expo stated that while RSVPs are not required, they are “encouraged,’’ at www.stagesource.org/programs-and-events/gbte/
Don Aucoin can be reached at aucoin@globe.com