Free Street Theater was founded by Goodman School of Drama graduate Patrick Henry (1936-1989) in the late 1960s.
As a grant-funded and donation-supported theater, the organization gives free or pay-what-you-can performances focused on contemporary social themes that are meant to bring together different ages, races and socio-economic groups.
It took theater out to the communities, did not charge admission, and created productions on contemporary themes, engendering better communication among races, social strata, and age groups.
Free Street's focus on outreach drew not only the regular theater-goer, but also - and most successfully - the 90% of the population that did not normally attend theatrical performances.
[3] In 2009, Free Street Theater Received the Hopie Award for Creativity and Innovation in youth theatre from the Lester and Hope Abelson Fund for the Performing Arts.