Live Theater

Whether it's a small community theater that seats twenty or a Broadway venue that seats fi ve-hundred, live theater can provide a stimulating, fun and interesting evening. It can also be dreadful, so the onus is on you to check the reviews ahead of time. (We wouldn't take one bad review too seriously, given how the male lead in the play might have run off with the reviewer's boyfriend and this is payback time. On the other hand, if you see a couple of good or bad reviews, then it's time to pay attention.)

With a little time and effort, you can usually fi nd some excellent live theater. Shows will range from musicals to Shakespeare to the avant garde. The actors can be volunteer community members or highly paid professional actors, and there's not any guarantee that one will necessarily outshine the other. When deciding what to see, try to determine whether you are looking for a slick Broadway production or what your local theater group has to offer.

cost

Tickets can range in price from free to $200 or more. Matinee performances are usually less expensive than evening performances. You can also show up an hour before the play and take your chances. Budget for drinks during intermission, and perhaps lunch or dinner, depending when the performance is.

where to find theater

Your local paper should have a list of theaters in the area and what's playing. Most papers have a weekly entertainment section that has reviews and listings. Alternative papers are usually an excellent source of information on local theater. Another source is the Yellow Pages. Check under "theaters." If your city has a performing arts center, call for a schedule of events.

On the internet, www.americantheaterweb.com is a great resource for fi nding theaters in your area. Each listing has information about the theater and what is scheduled to play. City guides such as www.citysearch.com have tremendous resources if you live in a large city. If your city has a visitor or tourist center, give them a call. They often provide a list of theaters in your area and what's playing.

preparation

Once you have found a theater and a play or musical that sounds interesting, check out the theater, especially if you see the words "equity waiver." We can't stress the importance of this. It will allow you to pick out the best available seats and you can see if the place is nice or a total dive. One of us got tickets for a play and didn't discover until arriving at the theater that the performance was in the nude (audience included—explain that one to a fi rst date!). You'll want to know these things before you purchase tickets. When you go to the theater, ask about the play. Did they hire Minnie Mouse to play Blanche in "Streetcar Named Desire"? Was the daughter of the producer cast in the lead? Are there any reviews? If not, ask why.

Also find out if the dress is casual or formal, how long the performance lasts, and where to park.

alternatives

Let's say you'd like go to the theater, but there are none in your area or you can't afford the tickets. Why not try the local colleges and universities? They usually have live theater and are often very reasonable. You might even try the local high schools. Some schools have drama departments that do an excellent job. If there is a play you want to see but the tickets cost too much, contact the theater directly and ask if you can watch a rehearsal. A rehearsal can sometimes be more entertaining than the actual performance.