"Jelly's Last Jam," "Children of a Lesser God" and "Angels in America" were all born and bred on Broadway, right? Think again: They got their start right here.

Opened in 1967, the 745-seat Mark Taper Forum is one of America's top regional showcases for innovative, cutting-edge theater, and was the first New York outsider to have a production honored with a Tony. The theater resurrects classic pieces from Chekhov and song-and-dance staples from Rodgers and Hammerstein, but it also makes room for contemporary playwrights like Davids Mamet, Henry Hwang and Hare. In addition to its regular slate of thought-provoking productions and world premieres (the season usually runs from September to August and includes five or six plays), the Mark Taper offers many special programs that help to promote theater. The "Young Audiences" Program brings students to the theater for mainstage productions; Target Family Performances are discounted and include special post-play events.