Sting to perform 10 benefit concerts for New York's Public Theater

NEW YORK, July 11 (UPI) -- British recording star Sting is to perform a string of 10 concerts this fall to benefit New York's Public Theater, organizers said.

The shows will take place between Sept. 25 and Oct. 9 and will feature the singer, songwriter and musician performing songs from his new album, "The Last Ship," which is set for release Sept. 24.

A limited number of free tickets are to be offered for each concert via a lottery system and 100 Sting.com Fan Club members will receive free tickets to a special birthday celebration performance Oct. 2, the theater said.

"Sting is one of the great artists of our time, a brilliant songwriter who is also a model of activist commitment," Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis said in a statement. "'The Last Ship' is shaping up to be a masterpiece, both an elegy for and a celebration of the working class life of the Newcastle shipyards. The Public is honored to call Sting a friend and thrilled to be hosting these benefit concerts."

"The Public Theater, a New York institution committed to supporting all of the city's distinct communities, was a natural fit to perform this material that is, at its core, about the importance of community," Sting said.