Unless, that is, you like mountain climbing, and have the eyesight of an eagle and the hearing of a cat. But if you consider that the Loeb Drama Center for the American Repertory Theatre doesn't have a bad seat and that most small theaters are invitingly intimate, BosTix is very rewarding. Associated with BosTix is ArtsMail, which is a free subscriber newsletter that allows you to buy tickets for shows and some classical music concerts at up to a 40 percent discount. Box office opens at 10 a.m., line starts forming at 9. If you're a student, discounted rush tickets are sold at most theaters.
Tickets are available about an hour before showtime.
Many theaters also offer this discount to senior citizens. For the industrious, you may call some of the fledgling companies about ushering, but this can be a long-term commitment and you may end up reciting Willy Loman lines for the rest of the spring. Finally, at smaller venues like the Theater Cooperative in Somerville, the Portal Theater in Davis Square, the Boston Center for the Arts in the South End, and the Boston Theater Works, regular prices can compete with a movie ticket. They've broken the psychological barrier, and there's no doubt that the tickets in Boston will head up this summer also. The films are shown at the Rabb Lecture Hall and while the sound is not always laser sharp, the prints are pretty good.