What Price Independence? . . . A Look at L.A. Rents

If you’re an independent producer and looking for a home for your play, the search can be long and frustrating. And expensive--as some of the examples below indicate.

The theaters listed below vary in price (usually negotiable), location--and perks.

Some, such as the Callboard, offer “four walls” only; everything else must be provided by the production. Others, such as the Matrix and the Tiffany, offer marquees on busy streets and high-quality technical facilities. The choices are often dizzying, but bargains are becoming rare.

Al’s Bar (rent: free; 40-50 seats; location: downtown loft district.)

Olio (rent: $750, four nights; 70-80 seats; location: Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake).

Eagle Theatre (rent: $800, four nights; 53 seats; location: Beverly Hills).

Beverly Hills Playhouse (rent: $1,400, three nights; 99 seats; location: Beverly Hills).

Cast Theatre (rent: $1,400 a week; 65 seats; location: Hollywood).

Cast-at-the-Circle (rent: $1,650 a week; 99 seats; location: Hollywood).

Callboard Theatre (rent: $1,300, four nights; 99 seats; location: La Cienega area).

Matrix Theatre ($2,250 a week; 99 seats; location: Melrose).

Tiffany Theatres, North and South stages ($2,400 a week each; 99 seats each; location: Sunset Strip).