One of the most personal forms of entertainment is a live play. From the tangible connection between the cast and audience to the dreaded possibility of someone forgetting his lines or missing his mark, the experience is uniquely different from just another night at the movies. The true artistic nature of a live play lies in the fact that it is fluid. Each performance is different from the one before and the one after. For some, this fact is the reason the play is appealing. The actors have only one chance to get it right or get it wrong. So the next time you're in the mood for some "real" excitement, why not enjoy a local theater production? Here are a few websites to help you find the action, and don't worry, "break a leg" just means good luck.

Le Chat Noir
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This upscale theater provides a very comfortable experience for enjoying productions. Candle-lit tables, cocktail servers, and a modern stage all contribute to your ability to concentrate on the play. Even parking is free. A calendar of events lists upcoming shows.

Docsnews.com-The Magazine
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Aside from describing the historic Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, located in the French Quarter, this website mentions many of the other venues in the city for enjoying live theater.

The Gambit
Theater Listings: http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/current/thea_art_bks-lists.html link removed
Theater Reviews: http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/current/thea_review.html link removed
Theater productions are regularly listed in the Gambit for your convenience. There are also reviews to help in your decision-making process. Just remember that theater critics are about as accurate as movie critics are, sometimes even less so since each theater performance is slightly different from the one before, so keep an open mind.

NOLA.com with the Times Picayune
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This comprehensive site gives the times, locations, and brief descriptions of plays in the local area. As if that isn't enough, it also provides a map and the prices of the tickets. A great first stop to see what fits your tastes and your budget.

Southern Rep
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This professional theater company is committed to making theater accessible to young people through education. Upcoming events are also listed on the site as well as a request form so you can be added to their mailing list for your theater-going convenience.

Theatre Louisiane
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This enthusiastic company makes up for its small budget productions with fine acting and an imaginative use of the available resources. For a glimpse of what live theater is all about catch one of their upcoming performances listed in the website.

-- David Wolff
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