During the course of the past century, Houston gained a formidable reputation as a world-class center for the arts. It is one of the few cities with its own resident professional companies in ballet, opera and theater. If you enjoy theatrical performances, you won’t lack for entertainment during a visit to the city. The 17-block Theater District is home to over 200 performing arts organizations and houses some very prestigious theaters and performance halls. You can catch first-rate Broadway and off-Broadway productions at the Alley Theater, or opt for incredible opera performed by the Tony, Grammy and Emmy-winning Houston Grand Opera. Bayou Place is the hottest new addition to the downtown entertainment scene. It features theaters, concert houses, nightclubs and restaurants all under one roof. The Aerial Theater is the resident theater at Bayou Place and offers a broad range of productions, including comedies and concerts.
Outside of the Theater District, you will also find excellent productions in other parts of the city. Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park offers free performances of dramas, comedies and musicals. Main Street Theater has two Houston locations that offer an assortment of productions. Cutting-edge, modern plays are the specialty at Stages Repertory Theater, while Playhouse 1960 specializes in old comedies and mysteries. If you enjoy dinner theater, definitely reserve a table at Great Caruso. The performances are typically comedies or musicals, the ambiance is elegant Victorian, and the food is delicious.
Verizon Theater
(713) 693-8600
Texas Avenue at Smith Street
Houston, TX
Alley Theatre
(713) 228-8421
615 Texas Avenue
The home to Houston’s major repertory company and the recipient of the 1996 Special Tony Award for outstanding regional theater. The Alley produces ground breaking works such as Jekyll & Hyde (now on Broadway) and the world premiere of Tennessee Williams early play Not About Nightingales. The Alley typically stages 11 major productions per season.
Houston Ballet
(713) 227-ARTS
1921 W. Bell
Houston, TX
The Ensemble Theater
(713) 520-0055
35385 Main Street
Houston, TX
The Great Caruso Dinner Theater
(713) 780-4900
10001 Westheimer
Houston, TX
Theatre Under The Stars (713) 558-8881
Performances at Wortham, Arena and Miller Outdoor Theaters
The largest nonprofit producer of musical theater in the country, averaging 200 performances annually. The company features Broadway classics, premieres new musicals and organizes national and international tours. The summer productions are typically held outdoors in the Miller Theatre.
The opportunities to enjoy dancing in Houston are two-fold. First, you can experience the beauty and splendor of ballet performances by purchasing tickets to the Houston Ballet. Since its creation in 1955, the company has become a top troupe with an international reputation. More than 80 performances occur annually in Houston, and the troupe also tours and performs in other cities. An evening at the ballet is a truly magical experience. Other types of modern dance performances also occur throughout the year. Watch the Local Events section for information about upcoming performances.
The other dance option is obviously to dance the night away yourself, and several choices exist for this purpose. Nightclubs featuring dance floors are popular in Houston. City Streets features seven first-rate nightclubs under one gigantic roof and always attracts an impressive crowd. The types of clubs include a 1970s pop disco, a piano bar, a jazz club, a Top 40 dance hall and a huge country & western dance hall. As you would expect, country twostepping and line dancing are popular in Houston, and country nightclubs like Wild West and Bushwacker’s are always hopping. So mosey on in and boot-scoot the night away!
If you enjoy the sounds of live music, you will have ample opportunity to satisfy your desires. Houston offers an abundance of live music of all types. Some bars and nightclubs showcase live bands on weekends or specific nights, while others like the Fabulous Satellite Lounge feature live bands every night of the week. The Lounge is located in the historic Heights area and has been honored several times by the Houston Press as one of the city’s best venues for live music. Popular bands play rock, blues, country and folk music to entertain sizable crowds. Billy Blues Bar & Grill is another popular nightspot that features live blues performances every night. This bar also has a full-service restaurant, where you can nibble on some tasty barbecue while you enjoy the music. If your preference is jazz and seafood, head downtown to Sambuca Jazz Cafe for nightly performances. The management at this ritzy club books at least one national act a month.
Experience a little Irish culture several times a month at The Claddagh. This bar also features authentic Irish cuisine and an open mike on Wednesday nights. The Hop books popular sock-hop entertainers to croon tunes from the 50s and 60s several times a month. Older crowds, as well as young swingers, find this nightclub very appealing. Live Latino music is a hit at Ruggles Bistro Latino on the weekends. Head downtown early and enjoy an assortment of Latin cuisines before settling in for the show. The Copacabana style and elegance of the 1940s is the main attraction at the Mercury Room, a popular hangout among a distinguished, older crowd. Swing and blues feature heavily at this downtown nightclub.
Karaoke, that modern art form where the average citizen jumps on stage and belts out the lyrics of popular tunes, has become a popular pastime in Houston. You will find that many nightclubs and bars offer karaoke and open-mike nights on a regular basis. Even if you are not tempted to try it yourself, watching the antics of others can be tremendously entertaining. Miller’s Cave features karaoke three nights a week in addition to live rock & roll bands on Friday evenings. Dave & Buster’s is popular on the Strip for its unique approach to entertainment. A karaoke bar is part of its charm, along with high-tech virtual reality and video games, numerous pool tables and a full-service restaurant.
In a completely different respect, live concerts and classical performances are equally popular and entertaining. Jones Hall is home to the critically acclaimed Houston Symphony and features numerous classical concerts every month. Other artistic musical presentations also take place in this downtown music hall from time to time. Toyota Center, the Astrodome and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion all play host for famous concert tours featuring the hottest performers. If these types of live music are the ones you prefer, keep an eye on the Local Events section for upcoming performance dates and ticket information.
The Houston Symphony
(713) 227-ARTS
Jones Hall,615 Louisiana
Houston, TX
Houston Grand Opera
(713) 546-0200
Wortham Theater Center
The nations fifth largest Opera Company and the only one in the country to win a Grammy, a Tony and an Emmy award. Known worldwide for balance between contemporary works and classics in its standard repertoire. The Opera tours extensively and enjoys a reputation for commissioning and producing new works in 24 world premieres and six U.S. premieres since 1973.
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