The mothership of LA's Center Theatre Group, this space has been staging legit theater for 40 years.

The Ahmanson presents a wide variety of dramas, musicals, comedies and classic revivals—and since its 1995 renovation, there's not a bad seat in the house. (Depending on the performance, 1,600 to 2,200 butts can be accommodated.) Besides being a hot spot for William Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Tom Stoppard, Arthur Miller and Tony Kushner, the Ahmanson has staged world premieres from Neil Simon, Wendy Wasserstein, August Wilson and Edward Albee. The Center Theatre Group is the home troupe at the Ahmanson as well as its sister/neighbor the Mark Taper Forum and its Culver City outpost the Kirk Douglas Theatre, but many popular touring shows play here as well. Patrons can see everything from Matthew Bourne's tutu-free ballet productions (his "Cinderella," "Swan Lake," "Car Man" and "Edward Scissorhands" have all played engagements at the theater) to world-renowned shows like "The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets." The Ahmanson's also where Hollywood's true thespians step off the silver screen to flex their drama muscles: Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Jack Lemmon, Charlton Heston and Angela Lansbury are just a handful who've graced the stage with their presence.