Houston, TX

Alley Theatre
DESCRIPTION: One of the oldest professional theater companies in the country, and as its names implies, began in an alley over 60 years ago; no longer roughing it, the theatre has long since moved to this post-modernist structure; brutish on the outside, but it deserves rousing cheers on the inside housing its two stages; the resident theatrical troupe was awarded a Tony Award as an outstanding regional theater; Hubbard Stage seats 824 and Neuhaus Stage seats 310

BOX OFFICE: Mon-Sat 10a-6p, Sun Noon-6p

ADDRESS: 615 Texas Avenue  MAP
PARKING: Alley Theatre paid parking on premises

PHONE: 713-228-8421

WEBSITE: http://www.alleytheatre.org

Jones Hall
DESCRIPTION: Since opening in 1966, and still stunning to look at day or night; entering the venue, visitors will notice the "Gemini II" sculpture hovering from the ceiling and curved marble walls – timeless taste; home of the Houston Symphony and Society for the Performing Arts; a 2,745-seat "shoe-box shape", multi-mezzanine venue for international solo artists, orchestras and dance companies

BOX OFFICE: Mon-Sat 9a-6p, Sat 10a-5p

ADDRESS: 615 Louisiana Ave  MAP

PARKING: garage under Theatre District Plaza

PHONE: 713-224-7575

WEBSITE: http://www.joneshall.org

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
DESCRIPTION: This iconic structure features a sweeping glass facade that faces the downtown skyline; exquisite detail abound from the creamy limestone throughout to the transcendental gold leaf of the Grand Lobby ceiling; the 2,650-seat Sarafim auditorium with a star-studded ceiling, an appropriate home for touring Broadway plays; the popular Theatre Under The Stars troupe playing in the 500-seat Zilkha Hall; touring R&B, Reggae and many Jazz artists also perform here

BOX OFFICE: Mon-Fri 10a-6p, Sat-Sun 11a-4p

ADDRESS: 800 Bagby Street  MAP

PARKING: a 7-level, 800-car garage avaiable for $7 per vehicle behind the complex

PHONE: 713-678-5440

WEBSITE: http://www.thehobbycenter.org

Verizon Wireless Theater
DESCRIPTION: An anchor venue of Bayou Place, this Live Nation venue has been voted best "Best Live Music Venue" for 3 years running by the Houston Press; many Jazz, Country, R&B, Rock and Hip-Hop groups perform at this 2,933-seat, "shoe box shape" theater where fans get a close view of top national performers and nice acoustics

BOX OFFICE: Mon-Fri 10a-6p, Sat 10a-2p

ADDRESS: 520 Texas Street  MAP

PARKING: Evenings (5p-7a) and weekends parking is $5 in the Theater District Underground Parking Garage; Weekday parking (7a-5p) is $9

PHONE: 713-230-1666

WEBSITE: http://www.livenation.com/venue/verizon-wireless-theater-tickets

Theatre District Plaza
DESCRIPTION: An open-air plaza for free performances to host several hundred people downtown; kids will enjoy the over-sized chess board and pieces; a glue-like location that unifies Houston’s Theatre District between Bayou Place, Verizon Wireless Theater, Alley Theatre, Jones Hall and Wortham Center; better yet, it sits over a large (mostly) secured garage

ADDRESS: surrounded by Texas, Smith, Capitol, and Louisiana  MAP
PARKING: under the plaza

Wortham Center
DESCRIPTION: A grand performing arts venue from the outside with its over-sized balls and flashy billboard guiding you to the entrance; once inside, the dramatic Grand Foyer lets you choose between the elegant 1,100-seat Cullen Theater or the larger and equally polished the 2,254-seat Brown Theater; the beloved, privately-funded Wortham Center is home of the Houston Grand Opera, Society for the Performing Arts, and Houston Ballet

BOX OFFICE: Mon-Fri 9a-5p, Sat 11a-5p

ADDRESS: 550 Prairie Street  MAP

PARKING: under Theatre District Plaza

PHONE: 713-237-1439

WEBSITE: http://www.worthamcenter.org
 
Miller Outdoor Theatre
DESCRIPTION: Offers the most diverse season of professional entertainment of any Houston performance venue, and it's all FREE; Classical, Jazz, Ballet, Afrocentric dance, Shakespeare, musical theatre, classic films, and more; relax in the covered seating area or enjoy a pre-performance picnic on the hillside; all performances at Miller are family-friendly; hillside seating is not reserved, blankets and lawn chairs are welcome; NO glass containers are allowed; tickets are available at the Box Office on first-come first-serve basis between 11:30a-1p on the day of the performance, remaining tickets are given out one hour before curtain; there's a METRORail station near the Miller

BOX OFFICE: Free

ADDRESS: 100 Concert Drive in Hermann Park  MAP

PARKING: Miller lot behind the theatre

PHONE: 713-533-3276

WEBSITE: http://www.milleroutdoortheatre.com

Arena Theatre
DESCRIPTION: one of Houston’s oldest and most successful concert venues; a theatre in the round design With no seat more than sixty feet from the stage provides guests with an intimate evening with their favorite entertainer; this 2,750-seat live theatre has presented legendary artists such as BB King, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Howard Hewett, Kirk Whalum, and Smokey Robinson

BOX OFFICE: Mon–Fri 10:30a–6p; Sat-Sun open at Noon ONLY if an event is scheduled

ADDRESS: 7322 Southwest Freeway  MAP

PARKING: between the two tower buildings, turn into driveway, proceed to parking garage and please have cash ready for parking fee

PHONE: 713-772-5900

WEBSITE: http://www.arenahouston.com

Da Camera of Houston

DESCRIPTION: one of America’s leading presenters and producers of ensemble music, as such it it is a nice venue for chamber music and jazz
BOX OFFICE: Mon-Fri 9a-5p, day; Tickets may also be purchased at Wortham Center 90 minutes before the performance

ADDRESS: Wortham Theater Center  MAP

and another venue at The Menil Collection  MAP

PARKING: when at Wortham Center park under Theatre District Plaza; when at the Menil Collection park on West Alabama Street at Mulberry Street
PHONE: 713-524-5050
WEBSITE: http://www.dacamera.com