PROVIDENCE, R.I. (September 27, 2012)--Nearly two-dozen theaters around the country are offering free and discounted tickets for plays, classes and other services to veterans and military families as part of the Blue Star Theatre program, which is being launched Friday at the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, R.I., by National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, and others.

The program announced Thursday will also offer workshops and playwriting classes to veterans, job postings and casting notices on military bases.

Reed's office said the program builds on the Blue Star Museums program, in which more than 1,800 museums nationwide offer free or reduced summer admission to military families.

Theaters participating are in California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Virginia, Kansas, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.