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Gabah (Map; 323-664-8913; 4658 Melrose Ave, Hollywood; Wed-Sun) It’s a gabah (jungle in Arabic) out there but you and your posse will be shaking your booties to the latest in hip-hop and R&B at this edgy club on a skanky stretch of Melrose Ave. Cash only.

Other places to live it up:

Rhythm Club (off Map; 310-606-5606; http://rustyfrank.com/rhythmclub; 8025 W Manchester Blvd, Playa del Rey; 8-11:30pm; cover DJ/band $8/12; ) Jump jivin’ weekly swing club with DJs and live bands in a former Elk’s Club near LAX.

Dragonfly (Map; 323-466-6111; 6510 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood) Hardcore party chamber with theme nights ranging from laid-back reggae to sexy sounds for the fetish set.

Classical Music & Opera

Los Angeles Philharmonic ( 323-850-2000; www.laphil.org; 111 S Grand Ave, Downtown; ) The world-class LA Phil performs classics and cutting-edge works at the Walt Disney Concert Hall from October to June and at the Hollywood Bowl in summer. In 2009, music director Esa-Pekka Salonen will be handing the baton to Venezuelan wunderkind Gustavo Dudamel. For some Disney concerts, ‘choral bench’ tickets behind the orchestra are available for $15. They are released at noon on the Tuesday two weeks before the concert and are available in person at the box office or by phone. Student and senior rush tickets for $10 go on sale two hours before showtime.

Los Angeles Opera ( 213-972-8001; www.laopera.com; 135 N Grand Ave, Downtown; ) Helmed by Plácido Domingo, this renowned opera ensemble plays it pretty safe with such sonic crowd-pleasers as Carmen and Aida, although lesser known works such as Leos Janácek’s Jenufa also are part of the repertory. Performances take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Los Angeles Master Chorale ( 800-787-5262, 213-972-7282; www.lamc.org) It may lack the glamour of the Phil or Opera, but this 120-voice choir gives consistently strong recitals infused with vigor and lyrical sensibility. Performances are from October to June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra ( 213-622-7001, ext 215; www.laco.org) LA’s top chamber ensemble specializes in a wide repertory of music from the 17th century to the present. Performances take place at UCLA’s Royce Hall (Map; 405 Hilgard Ave, Westwood), the Alex Theater (off Map; 216 N Brand Blvd) in Glendale, west of Pasadena, and the Zipper Concert Hall (Map) at the Colburn School of Performing Arts.

Also recommended:

Da Camera Society ( 310-440-1351; www.dacamera.org) Chamber music in historic venues around town. Check the website.

Pasadena Symphony ( 626-584-8833; www.pasadenasymphony.org; 300 E Green St, Pasadena; ) Concerts at the historic Pasadena Civic Auditorium (Map).

Theater

From glitzy Broadway shows to gritty one-act dramas, live theater is thriving in LA, thanks to a limitless talent pool and a willingness to push the creative envelope. On dozens of stages you can watch budding talent hamming it up or seasoned thespians such as Annette Bening or Richard Dreyfuss getting back to their roots.

Except for Highways Performance Space & Gallery and Redcat, venues listed below have resident ensembles. Touring musicals often set up at the Pantages Theatre.

Many theaters now sell tickets through their websites. Half-price tickets to selected shows are available online through LAStageTIX (www.theatrela.org) or in person at the visitors centers in Hollywood and Downtown LA Click here. Tickets are released on Tuesdays for up to 100 shows during the remainder of the week.

In summer check the listings mags for performances by Shakespeare Festival LA (www.shakespearefestivalla.org) and Shakespeare by the Sea (www.shakespearebythesea.org), which present the best of the Bard in changing venues around town. Tickets are free with a canned-food donation for charity. See the websites for full details. Check out www.seatadvisor.com for seating charts and www.los-angeles-theatre.com for current shows.

LARGER STAGES

Mark Taper Forum (Map; 213-628-2772; www.taperahmanson.com; Music Center,