Empire Stage

If you don't get lost looking for Empire Stage for the first time, then congratulations: You'd be the first. But this playhouse's locational obscurity is actually part of its charm; just as with Sol Theatre, the building's previous occupant, Empire Stage remains the best-kept secret in the South Florida theater scene. Artistic director David Gordon specializes in offbeat comedies with an LGBT slant, but even when his company isn't producing anything, he lends out the space to other producers to help keep the threadbare operation in business. Even when the plays occasionally crater, the funky, DIY interior design and free wine make it a fun place to visit.