We must be obsessed if we can support more than 400 theater companies—more per capita than anyplace else in the country outside of New York City. Some are old, a bunch are new—and here are the ones that consistently produce the most innovative work.

Following years of neglect, SoMa’s Climate Theater is back in the spotlight, under the auspices of artistic director Jessica Heidt. The programming is as unpredictable as its name: It includes ex–Cirque du Soleil clown cabarets, gigs by members of Tom Waits’s horn section, and theatrical soirées based on YouTube videos. climatetheater.com

The mother of San Fran­cisco’s underground theater scene, The Exit, turns 25 this year. Founder Christina Augello still rescues local theatergoers from the clutches of hackneyed Broadway musicals and stolid repertory fare with experiences like magic shows and experimental productions of Wozzeck. sffringe.org

Located behind an unmarked red door on a seedy stretch of Howard Street, the former brothel and illegal garage the Garage now hosts theater, including chamber plays by Per­formers Under Stress, dance pieces by Aura Fischbeck, and Banana Bag & Bodice’s steam punk–infused The Sewers. 975howard.com

Six-year-old Counter­PULSE excels at incubating the work of countless artists. It first made its name by presenting cutting-edge dance and physical theater (butoh performances, discussions about dance and politics), and is now known for the sheer variety of “hey, try this” solo shows, musical events, talks, and book launches it hosts. counterpulse.org

Up six flights of stairs in the downtown historic Native Sons Building, the theatrical refuge Phoenix Theatre sits high above honking cabs and Ruby Skye’s pumping bassline below. The creative play­house presents its own productions and welcomes nomadic companies to its two stages. The repertoire runs the gamut: Athol Fugard dramas are staged alongside show-tune revues. phoenixtheatresf.org

A gem in the heart of the Mission, black-box space the Darkroom premieres smart and inspir­ing live performances and shamelessly upholds the­atrical kitsch by reworking pop-culture chestnuts into audacious new shows. Batman has never been the same since it was transformed into Batman!!! The TV Show: The Play. darkroomsf.com