For the 2025-2026 Season RED BARN Partners for Good In our Community:

Big Night Out Is Now In its 5th Year and Discounted Tickets to see “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” for Children and Families VIA CFFK Grant

Affordable Access to Live Theatre for Local Youth and Families

On November 18, 2025 the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys (CFFK) awarded Red Barn Theatre a $5,100 Paradise for Good grant to bring down the cost of live theater tickets for children and families to see Red Barn production of the 1960’s musical classic “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Red Barn was one of 73 non-profits who were awarded nearly $900,000 in total this year.

With the grant, tickets for children will be $15 and $25 for adults. The show, produced in cooperation with Bravo Theatre Camp – dedicated to growth and education for children in the world of theater – will be acted by and produced for children. There will be four shows May 1 through 3. From the grant award:

“This project directly supports the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ mission to make the Keys a better place to live now and for future generations by expanding access to the arts, fostering youth development, and strengthening community connection. By partnering with Theatre Bravo to produce You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Red Barn Theatre is creating a joyful, inclusive experience that brings families together and introduces children to the magic of live theatre — many for the first time.

Reducing ticket prices ensures that middle and working-class families can participate fully, removing financial barriers that often exclude them from cultural events.”

Big Night Out – Free Tickets for Those In Need

For the 46th 2025-2026 Season Red Barn Theatre, for the fifth year in a row, is rolling out it’s Big Night Out – free tickets for those in need program. This year Red Barn is again working with non-profit community partner A.H. Monroe. A.H. Monroe provides affordable housing; health services including HIV/AIDS and works to address the causes of homelessness.

As our partner, A.H. Monroe is provided with at least 20+ gift certificates, each good for two free tickets, a $120.48 value (72 tickets total) to a mainstage production. A.H. Monroe then distributes these tickets to their clients.

Red Barn also gives out numerous gift certificates to other non-profits for give away at charity auctions, raffles, and fundraisers. The value of free tickets this year is estimated to be over $4,000.

In years past, Red Barn received a majority of the cash funding for the program from grants. While these sources dried up after the first three years, Red Barn has continued its commitment to the community via the program and contributes 100% of the cash costs this year as it did last year. Administrative costs were always provided by Red Barn 100%.

History of Big Night Out

Year 4 – 2024 – 2025 Season: $0 in Grant Funds, $4,176 Program
While there were no grant funds, Red Barn provided A.H. Monroe with 36 gift certificates, each good for two free ticket and valued at $116. All 72 tickets were redeemed.

Year 3 – 2023 – 2024 Season: $4,410 in Grant Funds, $5,040 Program
Red Barn received $3,500$ in new grant monies and rolled over $910 the previous year’s same grant from the Florida Keys Council of the Arts ABC Grant. Tickets were provided to A.H. Monroe, Take Stock in Children and Sister Season Fund. 90 tickets were redeemed.

Year 2 – 2022 – 2023 Season: $10,500 in Grants Funds, $16,000 Program
Red Barn was granted $3,000 from the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys (CFFK) and $7,500 from the Florida Keys Council of the Arts ABC grant. That leveraged $5,500 from Red Barn. Red Barn worked with Sister Season Fund, A.H. Monroe, Take Stock in Children, Keys to Be the Change, SOS Foundation and Florida Keys Foster and Adoptive Parents Association to provide 312 tickets. 145 tickets were redeemed. Some of the grant money not used was forwarded to 2023-2024.

Year 1 – 2021 – 2022 Season: $5,000 Grant Funded Program
For the 2021-2022 Season, the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys (CFFK) granted Red Barn $5,000 to provide free tickets for those in need. Red Barn worked with Sister Season Fund, A.H. Monroe, and the local Take Stock in Children to provide approximately 140 tickets during the season. 77 tickets were redeemed.

How Big Night Out Came About

The data we collected on Red Barn ticket buyers shows the traditional audience skews older and wealthier than the average resident. This season two regular tickets cost at least $120.48 with fees. Think about how strapped the working class is on our island, especially with the cost of housing.

Mimi McDonald, Managing Director, Joy Hawkins Artistic Director and the Red Barn Board have always been generous in providing tickets to those who asked but wanted a more formal program and wanted to expand the audience beyond the usual suspects. Red Barn doesn’t have the wherewithal to figure out who’s in need and then provide them with tickets. But the original grants specifically called for arts organizations to partner with other organizations in the community. And THAT was the aha moment that made the Big Night Out project click. Instead of Red Barn finding a way to identify people in need, it could partner with organizations already serving those in need. Red Barn gives these organizations the tickets and they in turn give them to worthy clients. While the grants have dried up, Red Barn Theatre continues the program at our own expense.

How Big Night Out Works

Red Barn produces Gift Certificate, each with two free tickets, and provides them to the organization(s). Each gift certificate has a unique Offer Code. This allows the recipients the ability to go online and purchase their tickets on any night to any of the shows without having to call the Box Office or to be identified in any way, allowing the participants to blend in with everyone else and be part of the community.

Said our friends at A.H. Monroe of the program:

“Live theatre at the Red Barn, often featuring our friends and neighbors, provides sure uplift...especially since attending ANYTHING live has been in short supply for the past twelve months. 

The joy this opportunity will bring to our clients, living with HIV/AIDS, as well as our tenants living in our housing facilities with disabilities other than HIV/AIDS, the elderly, homeless veterans, and low-income households is without measure. For them, it represents an evening “on the town”, and the benefits of this are many: socialization, creative indulgence, connectivity to new worlds and amazing stories and escape from everyday worry. No film, TV show or book can provide that instant and, more importantly, shared gratification of in-the-moment theatre. 

We look forward to distributing tickets to our clients and Housing residents and, toward that, we urge you to fund this special grant request from Red Barn Theatre. They are the best, and we give them a standing ovation for innovating this lovely program.”

If your organization is interested in collaborating with us, contact our Development Director Chris Hamilton at chrishamilton170@gmail.com.