Having a “Wicked” good time in Boston isn’t always about watching the Sox and gettin’ blotto.  

The Colonial Theatre Some of the biggest shows in the history of Broadway got their start 200 hundred miles north of Times Square at Boston’s Colonial Theatre. Long before they hit the Great White Way classics like “Anything Goes,” Porgy and Bess,” “Carousel,” “La Cage aux Folles” and flops like the recent bomb “High Fidelity” previewed here. Since it opened its doors for “Ben Hur” in December of 1900, the famed theater (the song “Oklahoma!” was written on the onyx table outside of the ladies’ room.) has been churning out hits and misses longer than any other venue in the city of Boston. 106 Boylston St., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Boylston. 617.880.2400.

Cutler Majestic Theatre Literally right around the corner, the stunningly elegant Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College has one of the busiest marquees in town. Since its re-opening in 2003 the beautifully restored “21st century theater in the 19th century building” has become home to Opera Boston, Handel and Haydn Society and Emerson Stage while also being the perfect place to enjoy ballet, comedy, theater and music. The time for enrichment has come! 219 Tremont St., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Boylston. 800.233.3123.

Citi Performing Arts Center The Citi Performance Arts Center’s cavernous Wang Theatre has been filling their 3,600 seats for big shows like the upcoming “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”, dance programs and single concerts. Be forewarned that in a room this size, there’s a reason the cheap seats are so cheap. You want to be able to see and hear what you’re paying for. 270 Tremont St., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Boylston. 617.482.9393.

Wilbur Theatre Next door, upstairs from the popular nightspot Aria, the intimate Wilbur Theatre sadly remains dark much of the time. Tennessee Williams once appeared here in a flop called “Battle of Angels.” The last show to be banned in puritanical Boston, “Hair,” also played the Wilbur. But nothing of note has happened here since the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” closed in December. 246 Tremont St., Boston. MBTA: Red or Green Line to Park Street. 617.423.4008.

Shubert Theatre Across the street the more intimate Shubert Theatre has, unfortunately, been dark quite often lately as well. At 1,600 seats, it shouldn’t be too hard to find something appropriate for the quaint little theater, but aside from the Boston Lyric Opera, there’s little going on at the Shubert either onstage or at the box office. 265 Tremont St., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Boylston. 617.482.9393.

The Opera House The other big name in town is the gloriously refurbished Opera House on Washington Street. The sophisticated feel of the elegant theater, a perfect antidote to the urban jungle right outside the front door, makes this a wicked good place to see “The Nutcracker,” “Spamalot” and of course the wildly popular “Wicked,” which is coming back this fall. 539 Washington St., Boston. MBTA: Orange or Red Line to Downtown Crossing. 617-931-2000.

Charles Playhouse/Playhouse Lounge Not everything in Boston is big. Two of the area’s most successful theater events happen nightly at the Charles Playhouse just behind the Shubert. “Blue Man Group” is upstairs and “Shear Madness” (11,400 performances and counting) is down. In between them is the Playhouse Lounge, the original site of the Comedy Connection and an almost “Cheers”-like place for people who work in theater. These days the laughs at this delightful watering hole come fast and furiously on Friday nights during post-show karaoke. 74 Warrenton St., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Boylston. 617-931-2787.

Lyric Stage at the YWCA Just outside of Copley Square, the Lyric Stage Company has been not-so-quietly making theater magic in their home on the second floor of the YWCA building since 1990. The 250-seat space is perfect for the oft-awarded company that’s been dubbed “Boston’s Off-Broadway.” 140 Clarendon St., Boston. MBTA: Orange Line to Back Bay. 617.585.5678.

John Hancock Hall Just a stone’s throw from the Lyric is the 1,100-seat John Hancock Hall where the “Urban Nutcracker” rocked the house last Christmas season. Comfortable seats and great sightlines await you, though the lack of a box office can sometimes make ticket purchases a bit challenging. 180 Berkeley St., Boston. MBTA: Orange Line to Back Bay.

Boston Center for the Arts Theaters in residence at the South End’s BCA needn’t worry about a lack of box office. The beautiful new Stanford Calderwood Pavilion has all the appropriate amenities for a fabulous new theater complex. The Virginia Wimberly Theatre, (the Huntington Theatre Company’s second stage), has great acoustics and perfect views, but the lack of a center aisle makes getting to and from your seats clumsy and uncomfortable. The smaller Roberts Studio Theatre, home to SpeakEasy Stage Company, boasts state-of-the-art everything, making it the perfect black box space. The BCA’s 142-seat Plaza Theater, though functional, isn’t a great place to watch anything longer than 90 minutes. Old, uncomfortable seats worn from age and use just don’t cut it once you’ve sat in the newer theaters. Perhaps the tenants (who pay handsomely for the space) should stage a rent strike! 527-551 Tremont St., Boston. MBTA: Orange Line to Back Bay. 617.426.5336.

Huntington Theatre Company main stage The Huntington Theatre Company’s main stage on Huntington Ave could also use a good overhaul. Onstage you’ll see some of the most incredible sets ever built, but the theater itself has some challenging acoustics and its own share of uncomfortable seating. Avoid the balcony if you can. 264 Huntington Ave., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Hynes/ICA. 617.266.0800.

Wheelock Family Theatre The Wheelock Family Theatre has its own unique acoustical challenge. The happy and not-so-happy kids that flock to the family friendly facility can’t always sit still for the entire production. It’s a wonderful noise problem to have. All kids should experience the joy of theater in such a welcoming environment. If you have a (really) little bro or sis who wants to visit you at school, this is where to take them after the Children’s Museum. 200 The Riverway, Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Fenway. 617.879.2147.

Loeb Drama Center/Zero Arrow Theatre If you happen to find yourself on the other side of the river, the critically acclaimed American Repertory Theatre calls the Loeb Drama Center its home. The 556-seat space is just what you would expect from a theater of this caliber. Great seats, perfect acoustics and a front of the house staff that operates like a well-oiled machine. More intimate ART productions like “Sxip’s Hour of Charm,” featuring human beatboxer Reggie Watts are staged at their brand new Zero Arrow Theatre, Incidentally, that weird puffy mime in red on the table of contents page is from “Sxip’s” also. 64 Brattle St., Cambridge/Arrow St., and Mass. Ave., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Harvard. 617-547-8300.

Arsenal Center for the Arts The New Repertory Theatre finally has a new home in the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown. The facility boasts two stunning performance spaces and some of the finest equipment available. Unfortunately the location isn’t easily accessible via public transportation. The New Rep folks claim it’s just a bus ride away, but you have to get to Central Square to catch that bus. And at the end of the night it can be a long, cold wait in the dark for the ride back to the Square. 321 Arsenal St., Watertown. 617-923-8487.

Anywhere they can No story about theater space in Boston would be complete without the written equivalent of a standing ovation for the enterprising Actors’ Shakespeare Project. Throughout their relatively short lifespan, the ASP has made ingenious use of available, and often unconventional, performance spaces like the Old South Meeting House, the Jorge Hernandez Cultural Center at Villa Victoria, Dorchester’s Strand Theater, the Cambridge Multicultural Center, the Central Square YMCA and most recently the basement in the Garage at Harvard Square. Shakespeare may have said “all the world’s a stage” but the Actors’ Shakespeare Project is proving it. Check their site this fall to find out where in the world they’re going to put on “Macbeth” in late October. Venue subject to change. 617.547.1982

Watts from "Sxip's Hour."

With tickets to some of these shows starting at prices more expensive than the video games you’re saving up for, you might think twice about hitting the theaters. While you’re thinking about it the second time, remember this little box that you saw right here. There are ways around paying full price for theater tickets. Here they are.

• Arts Boston 

Located in unmissable circular buildings in the middle of Copley Square and Faneuil Hall, ArtsBoston slashes prices on select tickets by almost half sometimes with their BosTix program. Check out their Web site for current deals, and visit them in person to check out one of the cool little buildings pictured above.
Copley Square, Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Copley, Faneuil Hall, Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Haymarket. 617.262.8632, Tue-Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Show of the Month

You’re a Freshman now, and SotM offers two-year membership for only $35, which will get you huge discounts. Call them now and by the time you’re a senior, you’ll only have spent $70 in dues, and gotten loads more in cultural enrichment. Take that to the bank!
332 Congress St., Boston, MBTA: Red Line to South Station. 617.338.1111.

• Group Sales

Anonymously get your R.A. to organize a dorm field trip. If he knows it was you, that meathead roommate of yours might call you a wuss, and you don’t want to have to fight him yet. Anyway, many of the theaters offer group discounts when you have 20 or more people. Call each venue for specifics. Actors’ Shakespeare Project don’t need no stinkin’ stages. This pic is from this past spring’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost.”