Sunday, June 18, 2006

Here's a roundup of Web sites where you can keep up with openings and closings, buy tickets, see what the critics are saying, find out where the discounts are and sign up for e-mail newsletters that will keep you in the know.

· Whatsonstage (http://www.whatsonstage.com). A reliable source of theater news with a free weekly e-letter and lots of discount offers, Whatsonstage recently added a review roundup section to its site along with a radio show and podcasts of London critics discussing the latest shows. Visitors bound for Stratford can find a useful planning guide to the RSC's "Complete Works" festival.

· Theatremonkey.com (http://www.theatremonkey.com). This independent Web site, known for its theater seating guides and ratings, also has individual show-by-show rundowns on who's selling tickets at what prices. The Monkey will link you to a partner agency that sells tickets, if you insist, but not before telling you where you might get them for less. Also check the site's "Tips, Hints & Features" for first-time and overseas visitors.

· Good Show (http://www.goodshow.com). This California-based London theater Web site, written for an American audience, is packed with useful info for first-time visitors. Its free semiweekly e-letter reports what the critics are saying about the new shows and tells you what's coming soon. The site sells tickets using an unusual per-show fee system that can be a money-saver when you're buying three or more seats.

· Albemarle of London (http://www.albemarle-london.com). Albemarle is one of the few members of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers that never discounts, and its booking fees are among the highest (about 20 percent). But it remains a great resource for hot seats to hard-to-get shows and all-around excellent service. The newly redesigned Web site gives more space to glitz and graphics, and the tiny type may prove headache-inducing for older eyes.

· Society of London Theater (http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk). Use this site to check on what's selling today at the TKTS half-price booths. This is the theater owners' site, and while it offers a good primer on ticketing, it keeps mum on discount sources other than TKTS. It sells tickets through Ticketmaster but may not mention discount offers that could be found on Ticketmaster's own site (http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk). Its weekly e-letter may list discount deals not found on its Web site, though.

· Theaterguide.London (http://www.theatreguidelondon.co.uk). This is an independent review site by two veteran professional critics who supplement their review pages with listings of the latest discount offers they've found, box-office phone numbers, a calendar of upcoming productions and ticket-buying tips. They also invite questions . . . and actually answer them.

-- Sharon Isch