The theater and performing arts in downtown Houston is growing in size each successive year.  Civic and cultural (including educational) facilities downtown include the Heritage Society Museum, Houston Public Library, City Hall, University of Houston-Downtown, Jones Hall, Wortham Theater, Alley Theatre, Bayou Place, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts and numerous squares and plazas that together work to create an impressive and highly visual civic and cultural gateway to downtown Houston from the western and northern sections of the City.

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

In 2000, Jones Hall hosted 255 events and drew 414,225 visitors to the performance center.  Events included the Broadway series Caberet and Ragtime, Houston Symphony’s Pop series concerts, and a lecture series by Gloria Steinem among others.  Total revenues for 2000 were $1,825,084.  The Wortham Theater drew 364,051 people in 2000 to 363 events.  These included the ballet Cleopatra, the opera Aida, and the Mayoral Inauguration among others.  Total revenues for 2000 were $2,743,879.  The Alley Theatre held 350 events and attracted over 300,000 people.  Total revenues were over $4,000,000 .

The addition of the $85 million Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in 2002, the redevelopment of Jones Plaza into an outdoor entertainment venue, and the Downtown Aquarium Restaurant and entertainment facility in February 2003 are reinforcing this area as a cultural destination.  In addition, there is the long term possibility of the U.S. Post Office site becoming available for alternative uses.  Other positive notes benefiting this area include the $2.7 million redevelopment of Allen’s Landing and the $4 million infrastructure pathway connecting it to Sesquicentennial Park.  The addition of more housing in the area and nearby will add to the attractiveness of the district. 

Downtown Houston boasts eight stages located in five performance venues, and one movie theater.   The total number of seats is more than 16,000 .

The following is a list of performance venues and attendance levels for downtown Houston both present and in the future.

Downtown Entertainment Venues
Attendance Levels, Actual and Projected

Source: Houston Downtown Management District, 2001

[1] Source: Houston Theater District Study
[2] Excludes Landry’s Aquarium.
[3] Including the Angelika film center.

Between 2000 and 2005 the number of attendees visiting downtown Houston for a theatrical/movie experience will increase by 725,000 visits, or 43%.  The new performance spaces and the increased usage will create the critical mass of nighttime theatrical performances throughout the week and the year to ensure downtown Houston has a consistent supply of theater-goers.