Theatergoers can see top-notch drama play out in front of them without having to mortgage their houses to pay for tickets; at least for a week, anyway.

A handful of South Sound stages are offering free theater events Oct. 15-21 as part of a national effort to celebrate the dramatic arts.

Capital Playhouse will offer a free performance of "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17.

The theater's rival down the street, Harlequin Productions, is staging its masterful "Macbeth" at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18. And Olympia Little Theater will offer a discussion about theater as well as host a streamlined version of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth," courtesy of Harlequin.

Federal Way's Centerstage Theater will offer a free reading Thursday, Oct. 18, of "Baby," at the Knutzen Family Theatre. This fast-paced play looks at the world through the eyes of a newborn until he turns 1 year old.

Lakewood Playhouse has a special presentation of "Holes" Oct. 18 lined up for the cause while theaters up and down the Sound have things planned.

More information about the events can be found here. â€" Steve Dunkelberger