April 23, 2003

By Amir Baghdachi

WITH ARTS ORGANIZATIONS struggling to survive, you can't blame them for keeping ticket prices high. Or maybe you can. At any rate, volunteering to usher is a brilliant way to get a seat at nearly any kind of performing arts show without paying a penny. Most of the places listed below ask that you call at least a week in advance, and some require a commitment of several shows. Be sure to check with the house manager. Dress codes vary, but crisp black and whites will do for most venues, and most places want you there 90 minutes before the curtain goes up.

San Francisco

American Conservatory Theater is the grand pooh-bah of the city's theater companies, with national recognition for productions of classics and premieres. Be sure to call at least 10 days in advance. Geary Theater, 415 Geary, S.F. Usher hotline (415) 439-2349, www.act-sf.org.

Brava Theatre took over the historic York Theatre space, which was abandoned until Brava! for Women in the Arts reclaimed it. The company is distinctive in its mission to produce premieres by women of color and lesbian playwrights. Contact the box-office manager (e-mail is preferable) at least a week in advance, specifying which show you'd like to work. Ushers arrive two hours prior to show time. 2781 24th St., S.F. Box-office manager (415) 641-7657, e-mail dawn@brava.org.

Dance Mission Theatre is the Mission District's mecca for dance classes and a hot spot for every kind of dance performance. Most shows are on the weekend; call a week in advance. 3316 24th St., S.F. House manager (415) 826-4401.

Intersection for the Arts can boast of being the city's oldest alternative arts space, where music, theater, dance, and literature meet in experimental hybrids. E-mail two weeks to a month in advance. Ushers arrive an hour prior to the show. 446 Valencia, S.F. Main office (415) 626-2787, info@theintersection.org.

Lorraine Hansberry Theatre showcases the works of African American playwrights and artists in its downtown venue. Call at least a week in advance. 620 Sutter, S.F. Business office (415) 288-0336.

The Magic Theatre leads all the rest in staging new American plays. Call two to three weeks in advance. Fort Mason Center, Bldg. D, Marina at Laguna, S.F. Box office (415) 441-8822, www.magictheatre.org.

Marines Memorial Theatre is the star in the regional theater scene, bringing in the best plays from New York and elsewhere. Call to arrange a week in advance. 609 Sutter, S.F. Box office (415) 771-6900, www.marinesmemorialtheatre.com.

The Marsh, a nonprofit organization, is all about developing grassroots Bay Area theater. You can see a show here for free by volunteering to sell concessions. Call two to three weeks in advance. 1062 Valencia, S.F. Main office (415) 641-0235, www.themarsh.org.

New Conservatory Theatre Center is unique in producing plays for all ages and seeking to reflect in its work the texture of city life. The best way to get on the ushering list is to e-mail the house manager and list the show you want to see and the dates you can volunteer. 25 Van Ness, S.F. Information line (415) 861-8972, housemanager@nctcsf.org.

ODC Theater features some of the best dance in the area and also plays host to a variety of theatrical and music events. Call the box office (open Wed.-Sat., 2-5 p.m.) a week in advance. 3153 17th St., S.F. Box office (415) 863-9834, www.odctheater.org.

The Phoenix Arts Association Theatre offers diverse programming in the lap of the city's theater district. Leave a message with the box office as soon you know what show you'd like to see. 414 Mason, S.F. Box office (415) 989-0023.

The San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center puts on some of the biggest shows and charges the biggest ticket prices to match. But each venue in this sprawling Civic Center complex lets you slip in free by ushering. The War Memorial Opera House is home to the S.F. Ballet and the S.F. Opera, which are wonderful to see regularly if you happen to have suitcases of cash. If you don't, apply to usher by writing or telephoning the house manager. 301 Van Ness, S.F., CA 94102; house manager (415) 552-4003, www.sfwmpac.org. Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall might just let you hear the S.F. Symphony for free by ushering. Write or telephone the house manager. The volunteer line tells you what's available and when. 201 Van Ness, S.F., CA 94102; volunteer hotline (415) 503-5325, www.sfwmpac.org. Herbst Theatre isn't just the swankiest venue in town. It can also claim the coolest ushering policy: just arrive, looking sharp and waggling your flashlight (check Web site for details), an hour and a half prior to curtain time. War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness, S.F. www.sfwmpac.org.

Theatre of Yugen will sate your craving for Noh theater and Japanese aesthetics. E-mail at least two weeks in advance. 2840 Mariposa, S.F. Box office (415) 621-7978, stephen@theatreofyugen.org.

Theatre Rhinoceros is the superhip place to catch LGBT theater. Call one to two weeks in advance, and show up an hour prior to the show. 2926 16th St., S.F. Box office (415) 861-5079.

Venue 9 is home to the Women's Work series and features some of the best new talent in theater, dance, and comedy. Call one to two weeks in advance. Ushers show up an hour before the show. 252 Ninth St., S.F. Main office (415) 626-2169.

Historic Victoria Theatre is currently home to the equally historic Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Ushering opportunities are posted on Craigslist, but you can also telephone for details. 2961 16th St., S.F. Box office (415) 863-7576, info@victoriatheatre.org.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is upscale but experimental, multidisciplinary but sporting the best in specialties. Featuring the Bay Area and hosting the world, the center has it all but could still use a few good ushers. Use the volunteer hotline to register by phone; on the third week of each month, registration begins for the next month of programming. 701 Mission, S.F. Volunteer hotline (415) 978-2710, ext. 200.

East Bay

Aurora Theatre Company, with its brand-new theater in downtown Berkeley, is one of the big players in Berkeley's recent theater boom. Visit the Web site for a calendar and drop a line to the house manager to announce your arrival. 2081 Addison, Berk. House manager (510) 843-4042, ext. 302, housemgr@auroratheatre.org.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has a loyal audience and national recognition, so it's serious about ushers: be ready to commit yourself to between five and seven shows. 2025 Addison, Berk. Box office (510) 647-2949, ushers@berkeleyrep.org.

Julia Morgan Center for the Arts is a gorgeous place to catch a show, especially when you get in free as a volunteer usher. Go to the Web site and fill out the query form, which asks for your interests and available times. 2640 College, Berk. (510) 845-8542, www.juliamorgan.org.

The Paramount Theatre, Oakland's neon marvel, is home to the Oakland Ballet and the Oakland Symphony. Call the hotline for the programming schedule. Ushers must establish themselves by volunteering for three shows, showing up for each an hour and 15 minutes prior. 2025 Broadway, Oakl. Usher hotline (510) 893-2300, ext. 804, www.paramounttheatre.com.

Transparent Theater is just in its second season but has already had a civilizing influence on the nearby Ashby BART station. In addition to volunteering to help on the set, you can see a show free by ushering and selling concessions. E-mail the theater with your request as soon as you can. Ushers arrive 45 minutes prior to the show. 1901 Ashby, Berk. Box office (510) 883-0305, info@transparenttheater.org.