Living In USA

The United States abounds in theater, music, and dance, both professional and amateur. Most large cities have their own symphony orchestras; there is a wealth of experimental music and drama being produced across the country in college theaters, community centers, and small neighborhood theaters. Traditional theater and music are also plentiful. Even if you do not live in New York City, you can see the Broadway favorites. Touring companies produce excellent, professional-quality performances in most large- and medium-sized cities throughout the country. For the fine arts, try to buy season tickets if you will be in the same town for a while. Not only will you save money, you will be sure to have a seat at even the most popular productions.

Tickets are often sold at the box office but also online and usually through agencies such as Ticketron and Ticketmaster. Beware of "scalpers" who sell tickets to sold-out events at inflated prices. Not only is the practice illegal, it often involves fake tickets. Imagine your disappointment when you come to an event, only to find that your tickets are no good! There are some legitimate ticket brokers, who advertise their services in the arts and leisure section of the newspaper. They get around scalping laws by operating in a state other than the one where the event is held. Prices are still inflated, but at least the tickets are genuine.

Movies, of course, are very popular in the United States, and there are many film festivals in medium and large cities. Many universities show foreign films, and this can be one of the few venues available for seeing them in a smaller town.