Home, sweet home. It’s great to get mail and read all the news and gossip from home. As you’re reading, are you listening to a favorite CD from the library? Are you thinking about how nice it would be to hear a concert in person? It’s not hard to do. There are plenty of opportunities to hear live music, and many of them are right in the neighborhood. Are you interested in the arts? Pick up a copy of the local newspaper. The Arts and Entertainment section will have a full list of all the cultural activities going on in the area. There are activities to make every culture vulture happy. If you do some research, you can find out what days are “pay what you wish” at some famous museums. Instead of a pricey ticket, you can give what you feel you can afford that day. (Remember that museums are not open every day, and if you’re hoping to see that special exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, make sure it’s open on the day you plan to go. And be sure to check the hours!)

In the newspaper, you’ll be able to find theater reviews, movie times, and reviews of new music releases. Look for a section called Community Events. You’ll find that most communities have arts groups that perform locally. There are plays, classical concerts, and popular music. Even the local high schools and colleges put on plays and concerts. Ticket prices for these local performances are usually very low, and the performers are often very talented, so you can bring the whole family. In fact, you can even audition to become part of an orchestra, amateur theater group, or dance troupe. Are you wondering what it would be like to be a star? Imagine having the paparazzi follow you all day! Wouldn’t your neighbors love to see you performing onstage? We sure would!

If you live in the city or the suburbs, you’re always pretty close to a live professional performance, too. Don’t be discouraged if it seems that the tickets for these events are very expensive. Costs for professional orchestras and musicians are pretty high. But we have the inside scoop for you. You may not have to pay full price for those fancy tickets! Check to see if you can subscribe to a half-price ticket newsletter. This is a weekly listing of the plays, museums, and concerts that are offering half-price tickets. In our town, the list is delivered every week right to our e-mail box. You can get a great bargain without ever leaving your couch! But if you’re out and about and visiting the city, places like New York City often have a special kiosk where you can buy these half-price tickets. Often, they’re good only on the day of the performance, so get to the city early. Be sure to check for the hours of the ticket booths, too. And don’t forget to check at the theater box office the day of the show. You can sometimes get a great deal there, too.

You’ve probably noticed that we use the word theater in a lot of different ways. For a special night out, someone may “go to the theater.” This always means that they’re going to see a play, and it usually means a Broadway show. This is not a TV show! A Broadway show is a play that is acted out by professional actors. It’s professional theater. A Broadway show can also be a musical. That’s a play that has lots of songs and many dance numbers. Theater also refers to the building. So theater can mean the show and the place where the show is performed!

But we’re not finished yet! A theater can also refer to the place where you go to see a movie. So you go to your favorite movie theater to see a movie. Film buffs may say they’re going to the cinema. They’re talking about the movies in a fancy way. Film buffs often call movies films. You probably know that the film industry in the United States is mostly located in Hollywood, California. But did you know some people call Hollywood the “City of Broken Dreams”? Can you guess why? Imagine all the people who travel to Hollywood hoping to become rich movie stars. Only a very few ever become famous film stars. The rest live with their broken dreams . . .

ALAN: Hi, Lia. What’s happening?

LIA: Not much, Alan. But my cousin Bevin’s coming to town this week, so I’m pretty excited.

ALAN: Cool. Are you planning to stay home and catch up, or are you going into the city? Is she staying for a while?

LIA: Well, she’s not staying very long. But I really want to show her around, so I’m looking to see what’s happening in the city this week. I know she’d like to see a show, so I’m hoping to get two-fers; you know . . . two tickets for the price of one . . . for a musical on Broadway. We’re not worrying about which musical—any one will do!

ALAN: Are you thinking about eating in a restaurant, too? I think I have twofers for a great Italian restaurant right near the theater district. I’m not going into the city for a while, so I’d be happy to give them to you.

LIA: Wow, that’s pretty nice of you! I wanted to treat Bevin to a nice dinner, but I know those restaurants are pricey. But if we have a coupon to get two dinners for the price of one, I’m in! And I think I know the place you mean. I read a review of Luigi’s Restaurant in Sunday’s paper; the food critic said that it’s excellent.

ALAN: Yeah, you’ll have to make reservations before you go. Dinner and a show! Your cousin will have a great time.

LIA: I’ll have a great time, too! I can’t wait!

Pronunciation Pointer

Fun Fact!

VOCABULARY