Beyond the bright lights of Geary and Market Streets in San Francisco lie any number of tiny up-and-coming (or down-and-going, depending) theaters, many of which produce new plays by local playwrights.

One of the best known of the “small” theaters, the Magic Theatre (Fort Mason Center, Bldg. D, 415/441-8822, www.magictheatre.org, $25–75) produced Sam Shepard’s new works back before he was anyone special. They’re still committed to new works, so when you go to a show at the Magic you’re taking a chance or having an adventure, depending on how you look at it. For some of the cheapest seats in the City, show up at the box office on a Wednesday for same-day, cash-only, sliding scale $5–25 tickets to the current show.

At the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre (3301 Lyon St., 415/567-6642, www.palaceoffinearts.org, $25–100) you’ll find accessible avant-garde performing arts pieces, live music performance, dance recitals, and the occasional children’s musical recital or black-and-white film.