Boston, MA

Bank of America Pavilion
DESCRIPTION: Ocean breezes, a brilliant city skyline, and Boston's historic, working harbor set the stage for a summer night's enjoyment; every summer, this covered outdoor venue showcases all musical genres

BOX OFFICE: purchase from LiveNation

ADDRESS: 290 Northern Avenue  MAP

PARKING: nearby garages

TRANSIT: n.a.

PHONE: 617-728-1600

WEBSITE: http://www.bankofamericapavilion.com

Citi Performing Arts Center
DESCRIPTION: A two theatre complex that honors all aspects of performing arts, including the Boston Ballet Boston Lyric Opera, dance companies and Broadway musicals; within the complex is 3600-seat Wang Theatre began life in 1925 as the Metropolitan Theatre and was hailed as a magnificent movie French-inspired cathedral with crystal chandeliers and doorways of imported marble that formed an elegant lobby for the early days of movies and Vaudeville acts; it was renamed the Music Hall in 1962 and after a major renovation, it was renamed the Wang Theatre in 1983; in 2006, the arts complex announced a long-term sponosrship by Citigroup, hence the addition of "Citi" as an umbrella name; 1500-seat fully restored Shubert Theatre within the arts complex, also enjoys a distinguished history as the Little Princess of Boston theatres; not everyone can afford theatre tickets, so the CPAC also brings vital arts education and community outreach programs to Boston

BOX OFFICE: daily

ADDRESS: 270 Tremont Street

PARKING: nearby garages

TRANSIT: Boylston Street Metro Station is 3 blocks north at Tremont and Boylston

PHONE: 617-482-9393

WEBSITE: http://www.citicenter.org

 

Wilbur Theatre
DESCRIPTION: This 1200-seat theater opened in 1914 and has been the scene of many landmark theatrical productions, including A Streetcar Named Desire starring Marlon Brando before he blew up as as movie star

BOX OFFICE: Mon-Sat (non-performance days) Noon-6p

ADDRESS: 246 Tremont Street  MAP

PARKING: theatre validates patron parking tickets for a $5 discount that enter the nearby Archstone Garage after 5pm on show nights

TRANSIT: Boylston Street Metro Station is 3 blocks north at Tremont and Boylston

PHONE: 617-248-9700

WEBSITE: none

Boston Center for the Arts
DESCRIPTION: not-for-profit performing and visual arts complex that supports working artists to create, perform and exhibit new works, develops new audiences, and connects the arts to community; the complex includes the Cyclorama, SpeakEasy Stage Company and Sugan Theatre Company; BCA presents contemporary works by established and emerging regional, national, and international visual artists via six large-scale exhibitions in the Mills Gallery each year; resident companies include Company One, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Theater Offensive, Publick Theater, Up You Mighty Race and Pilgrim Theatre Company

BOX OFFICE: Wed-Thu Noon-5p, Fri-Sat Noon–10p,
 Sun Noon–5p

ADDRESS: 539 Tremont Street  MAP

PARKING: nearby garages

TRANSIT: half block west on Tremont, then 4 short blocks north on Clarendon Street to Back Bay Station

PHONE: 617-426-5000

WEBSITE:
 http://www.bcaonline.org

Colonial Theatre
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1900 on the site of the former Boston Public Library, it faces the Boston Common; for more than 100 years, the theater has hosted some of the finest Broadway plays; beautifully restored in 1995 to the grandeur of its hey day, while preserving the historic detail and superb acoustics

BOX OFFICE: Performance Weeks: Mond 10a–6p, Tue–Sat 10a–8p, Sun Noon–½ hour after last curtain time or 6p

ADDRESS: 106 Boylston Street  MAP

PARKING: nearby garages

TRANSIT: Green Line at the Boylston Street Station half a block east

PHONE: 617-426-9366

WEBSITE: http://www.bostonscolonialtheatre.com

Boston Opera House
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1928, the venue has been host to everything from extrvagant vaudeville to a movie screen; this venue hosted Disney's The Lion King inaugural production; after a recent multi-million-dollar renovation, the Opera House is once again an architectural jewel for Opera and Broadway-style productions like A Chorus Line and Dirty Dancing

BOX OFFICE: purchase from LiveNation

ADDRESS: 539 Washington Street  MAP

PARKING: nearby garages in the Theatre District

TRANSIT: Red Line and Orange Line have stops nearby

PHONE: 617-426-9366

WEBSITE: http://www.bostonoperahouse.com

Orpheum Theater
DESCRIPTION: Opened as the Music Hall in 1852 and once served as the original home of the New England Conservatory; though it has been restored a few times, the grand lobby is dated, seating legroom is lacking and the ladies restroom line is always looooooonnng; that doesn't seem to matter to patrons who come for the short sightlines, loud acoustics and good times enjoyed during Rock, R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop and Comedy acts
BOX OFFICE: Mon-Sat 10a-5p

ADDRESS: 1 Hamilton Place  MAP

PARKING: closest garages is on Tremont Street

TRANSIT: Red Line and Green Line at Park Street Station, 1 block northeast, then left on Tremont Street and 1 block southeast

PHONE: 617-482-0650

WEBSITE: none

 

Charles Playhouse
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1839 as a church, it has evolved into a playhouse in 1958; today it is Boston's most active Off-Broadway Theatre space has a long history in Boston's Theatre District; the theater is intimate and acoustically great; home theatre for Blue Man Group

BOX OFFICE: a Ticketmaster venue

ADDRESS: 74 Warrenton Street  MAP

PARKING: nearby garages

TRANSIT: half block west to Stuart, then right half a block, then 2 short blocks north to Boylston Metro Station

PHONE: 617-426-6912

WEBSITE: http://www.blueman.com

Stuart Street Playhouse
DESCRIPTION: Originally built as a cinema in 1970, the Stuart Street Playhouse was converted into a live performance space called the 57 Theater in 1996; in 2000, the theater was redesigned with a new outer lobby and other amenities to enhance patron experience and renamed Stuart Street Playhouse

BOX OFFICE: in the Radisson Hotel Boston, hours vary by show

ADDRESS: 200 Stuart Street  MAP

PARKING: in the garage attached to the Radisson Boston, parking costs only $10 when your ticket is validated in the theatre

TRANSIT: then right 1 block, then 2 short blocks north to Boylston Metro Station

PHONE: 617-426-4499

WEBSITE: http://www.stuartstreetplayhouse.com

Huntington Theatre Company
DESCRIPTION: Though built in 1925, the building was established in 1982 as the Boston University Theatre; it has garnered national acclaim for its ambitious program of important new plays, freshly revived classics and major musicals; has also featured plays like Ain't Misbehavin and August Wilson's Radio Golf

BOX OFFICE: Noon-6p or 8p, depending show times

ADDRESS: 264 Huntington Avenue in Boston University Theatre  MAP

PARKING: campus parking lot

TRANSIT: Massachusetts Ave Metro Station is 2 blocks south on Massachusetts Ave

PHONE: 617-266-0800

WEBSITE: http://www.huntingtontheatre.org

Cambridge, MA

Loeb Drama Center
DESCRIPTION: Home of American Repertory Theatre and one of the country's most celebrated resident theaters and winner of numerous awards; this internationally acclaimed company presents a mix of drama, music, comedy, beloved masterpieces and important new works; offers a pre-performance and post-performance discussion series (Saturday matinees)

BOX OFFICE: Tue-Sun Noon-5p

ADDRESS: 64 Brattle Street in Harvard Square  MAP

PARKING: campus parking lot

TRANSIT: Harvard Square Metro Station is 2 blocks southwest on Brattle, then 1 block east

PHONE: 617-547-8300

WEBSITE: http://www.amrep.org

Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1978, this visual and performing arts center features a multicultural theatre, dance, music, poetry and gallery exhibitions; art galleries are open Mon-Fri 10a-6p

BOX OFFICE: Mon-Fri 10:30a-6p

ADDRESS: 41 Second Street  MAP

PARKING: nearby parking lot

TRANSIT: Green Line at Lechmere Station is 1 block north, then 1 block east on Cambridge Street

PHONE: 617-577-1400

WEBSITE: http://www.cmacusa.org