Theaters around the nation have gathered their forces and gone to war against the demon television by staging a free day of theater next week. A few of those battles of the culture war will be waged in the South Sound.

On Thursday, Oct. 19, theaters of greater Tacoma â€" Tacoma Actors Guild, Lakewood Playhouse, Tacoma Little Theatre and Tacoma Musical Playhouse â€" will present a free 7:30 p.m. theater night at Tacoma Musical Playhouse with each of the theaters staging a snapshot of its lineup.

Each theater will present for 20 minutes showcasing a show from its 2006-2007 season. TMP will do a medley of songs from its hit “Thoroughly Modern Mille” while TLT will present a few numbers from its “Dreamgirls.” Lakewood will do a collection of work from its upcoming musical “Seussical” while TAG will present scenes from “Ya Got Trouble,” a one-man show about the life of Robert Preston.

This collaborative effort will also include door prizes, dancing and all things theater fun.

Similar events are occurring around the nation in what will likely become an annual event conceived by the Theatre Communications Group and sponsored locally by Theater Puget Sound.

Olympia's Harlequin Productions will present a free showing of Peter Donaldson’s “Salmonpeople” as part of free theater night Oct. 19. This one-man show has a bit of everything â€" homespun economics, character insight, and cartography. At one point, Donaldson’s on-stage persona, Cyrus Jackson, draws the entire map of the bioregion, naming 100 rivers. This is a show for everyone, no matter what side of the environmental divide the viewer sits.

The show continues Oct. 20 and 21, 8 p.m., for $20-$25. Tickets are available at Harlequin Productions. â€" Steve Dunkelberger