Loading customer reviews…
Customer reviews could not be loaded. Please try again later.
A circular, drum-shaped theater on The Music Center plaza in Downtown Los Angeles, Mark Taper Forum brings audiences close to new American plays, dramas, musicals, readings, talks, and special theatrical events in an intimate thrust-stage setting. Mark Taper Forum tickets connect theatergoers with one of Los Angeles's most prestigious stages, a Center Theatre Group home known for developing major works that have traveled far beyond Bunker Hill.
This page covers everything you need to know before you go — from finding the right seats to getting there, navigating the venue, and buying with confidence.
Mark Taper Forum opened in 1967 as part of The Music Center complex at 135 North Grand Avenue in Los Angeles. Owned by the County of Los Angeles and operated/programmed by Center Theatre Group, it seats approximately 700–750 guests, creating a compact theater experience on the Bunker Hill/Civic Center side of Downtown LA.
Also known as The Taper, Mark Taper Forum is the flagship intimate house of Center Theatre Group and a nationally significant launching pad for new American plays. Its programming centers on plays and musicals, with an emphasis on new works, dramas, contemporary theater, and occasional readings, talks, and special theatrical events.
The theater's reputation comes from decades of new-play development, including the original pre-Broadway development of Angels in America by Tony Kushner, and from its signature thrust stage, which projects into the audience and wraps seating around three sides for a close actor-to-audience relationship.
Mark Taper Forum is located at 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012 — on The Music Center plaza in Downtown Los Angeles's Bunker Hill/Civic Center district.
Transit: Mark Taper Forum is well served by Metro, with the Civic Center/Grand Park station on the B and D subway lines a short walk away. Extensive Metro bus service also runs throughout downtown, making transit a practical option for performances at The Music Center.
Driving and Parking: On-site parking is available in The Music Center's underground garage, accessed from Grand Avenue and Hope Street. Additional downtown lots and garages are nearby. Arriving early before curtain is wise, because garage queues can build as performance time approaches.
Rideshare: Rideshare drop-off and pickup are straightforward in the Downtown core. After performances, expect brief waits and some congestion along Grand Avenue as audiences leave the Music Center area.
Nearby Accommodation: Downtown Los Angeles offers ample lodging, including hotels near the Financial District, Bunker Hill, and the convention-center area. These areas are within a short drive or rideshare of The Music Center.
Mark Taper Forum has an intimate, single-house layout built around a thrust stage, so understanding the room helps you choose the seat angle and proximity that fit your theatergoing style. The circular building sits on The Music Center plaza, alongside the Ahmanson Theatre and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Entrances and Access: The main entrance is on The Music Center plaza level off North Grand Avenue. Patrons enter the circular theater building from the plaza, which also connects the broader Music Center complex.
Seating Levels: Seating is arranged in a continental-style bowl around the thrust stage, with the audience wrapping the stage on multiple sides. The theater does not use stacked multi-tier concourses; instead, the room is compact and focused on the stage.
Accessibility: Accessible seating and services are available through The Music Center's ADA accommodations, including accessible restrooms and assisted-listening options.
Getting to Your Section: Ushers direct patrons to seats, and the intimate single-level thrust layout makes most seats easy to reach from the main entrance. Because the room wraps around the stage, seat angle matters as much as distance.
Lobby bar and concession service is typically available for drinks before performances and at intermission. Since Mark Taper Forum is a theater setting with timed acts and intermissions, planning any lobby stop before curtain or during the break helps keep the experience smooth.
Downtown LA offers abundant pre-theater dining near The Music Center. Grand Central Market, the restaurants of Grand Avenue and Bunker Hill, and the nearby Walt Disney Concert Hall and Grand Park area provide numerous options within the downtown arts and civic district.
Mark Taper Forum maintains security and venue policies that are updated regularly and may vary by event. Before attending, reviewing the current policy on the venue's official website is strongly recommended.
Bag Policy: Bags may be subject to inspection, and oversized bags and luggage are generally discouraged under Music Center policy. Bringing only what you need can help make entry easier.
Commonly Prohibited Items: Commonly restricted items include outside food and drink, weapons, and recording devices during performances. Photography and video are generally prohibited inside the auditorium.
Entry Procedures: Entry typically includes digital or printed ticket verification and security screening consistent with The Music Center's standard procedures. Latecomers are typically seated at a suitable break at house management's discretion, so arriving before curtain is important.
Mark Taper Forum is part of Downtown Los Angeles's performing-arts core, with major theaters, concert halls, arenas, ballparks, and live-event spaces nearby. The broader Los Angeles area offers everything from intimate theater and historic movie palaces to major league sports and large-scale touring entertainment.
Mark Taper Forum ticket prices vary significantly depending on the type of event, the production, seating section, and demand — which is what you'd expect from a venue that hosts everything from standard plays and musicals to premium center seating for high-demand productions.
For standard plays and musicals, rear and side sections can typically range from approximately $40–$80. These seats often provide the most accessible way to experience Center Theatre Group productions in the intimate Taper setting.
Premium center seating and high-demand productions can typically range from approximately $90–$150 or more. Prices are driven by production popularity, star casting, seat location relative to the thrust stage, performance date, and demand near opening or closing runs, with weekend evenings often commanding more.
Buying earlier generally secures better seat locations and pricing, particularly for acclaimed or limited-run productions. As inventory shrinks and the performance date approaches, the best remaining seats can become more competitive.
> No hidden fees. At Box Office Ticket Sales, the price you see is the price you pay. All fees are shown before checkout — no surprise charges when you reach the final step.
Getting your tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com is fast and secure. Here's how the process works:
Every order is backed by our 100% verified ticket guarantee and on-time delivery promise. Once your order is confirmed, you'll receive an email with your invoice and all event details you need before show night.
Mark Taper Forum's seating layout is worth understanding because the thrust stage places audience members around three sides of the performance. Nearly every seat is close to the action, but the best choice depends on whether you prefer a head-on view, a closer side angle, or a more budget-friendly rear location.
You can view an interactive seating map for Mark Taper Forum events directly on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com while browsing available listings. The map lets you compare sections side by side, check row depth and distance from the stage, and see real-time pricing for what's currently available — all before committing to a purchase.
Yes. The interactive seat map on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com shows your exact section and row placement before you buy. Use it to understand your position in the venue, your distance from the stage, and whether you're in a center section facing the thrust, along a side angle, or toward the rear of the house — so the tickets you choose match exactly what you're looking for on event night.
Once your tickets are confirmed, a few practical steps make the night run significantly smoother — especially at a Downtown Los Angeles theater where parking, plaza access, and curtain time all matter.
Yes — Box Office Ticket Sales is a fully verified, secure ticketing platform that has served over 1 million customers since 2012. When you buy Mark Taper Forum tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com, here's what backs every purchase:
Mark Taper Forum events — particularly acclaimed productions, limited-run performances, and weekend shows — move fast. The best-value listings disappear well before event night, and inventory for popular events tightens quickly once demand builds. If you have a specific event in mind, acting sooner gets you better seats at better prices. Browse Mark Taper Forum tickets now and lock in your spot before inventory moves.
Our support team is available before, during, and after your purchase. Reach us through any of these channels: