Houston Theater District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Theater District
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Marker indicating the Theater district
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 Theater District
Location in Houston Downtown
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Harris County |
| City | Houston |
| ZIP Code |
77002
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| Area code(s) | 713 |
The Houston Theater District is a special area in downtown Houston, Texas. It covers 17 blocks and is a hub for amazing live performances. Here, you'll find nine professional performing arts groups. It also has the huge 130,000-square-foot (12,000 m2) Bayou Place entertainment complex. Many restaurants, movie theaters, and parks are also part of this lively district. More than two million people visit the Houston Theater District every year.
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Why Houston's Theater District is Special
The Houston Theater District is truly unique. It has 19,341 seats for live shows. There are also 1,580 seats for watching movies. Houston is one of only five cities in America with permanent professional groups for all major performing arts. These include the Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and the Houston Ballet. Also, there's Theatre Under the Stars and The Alley Theatre.
Houston is also known for its modern visual arts. Many touring shows from Broadway stop here. You can see concerts from famous bands like The Rolling Stones. Even amazing shows like Cirque du Soleil come to Houston. The city also hosts big exhibitions. These range from the nation's largest quilting show to car and boat shows.
The Houston Grand Opera is very special. It's the only opera company in the U.S. to win a Grammy, a Tony, and an Emmy award. In 2007, Da Camera of Houston won the CMAcclaim Award. This award recognized its important contribution to the region's culture.
The Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre was started in 1947. It is Texas’ oldest professional theater company. The Alley is also the third oldest theater in the United States that has been open continuously. Many people consider it one of the best theater companies outside of New York City. It was a leader in starting the regional theater movement.
Main Performance Venues
The Theater District is home to several important venues where shows happen:
- Alley Theatre
- Hubbard Stage
- Neuhaus Stage
- Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
- Sarofim Hall
- Zilkha Hall
- Jones Hall
- Bayou Place
- Wortham Theater Center
- Brown Theater
- Cullen Theater
Fun Attractions to Visit
One of the most popular places in the district is the Bayou Place Entertainment Complex. This is a large building with many levels. Inside, you'll find restaurants, bars, and places for live music. You can also play billiards or watch art house films. The Revention Music Center (formerly Houston Bayou Music Center) hosts many live concerts. The Sundance Theatre (formerly the Angelika Theatre) shows the newest art, foreign, and independent films.
A Look at History
In the early days, some of the first performance places in the district were the Sam Houston Coliseum and the Houston Music Hall. These venues helped set the stage for the vibrant Theater District we know today.
Green Spaces and Parks
Jones Plaza is a park located within the district. In 2019, it was announced that the plaza would be renamed Lynn Wyatt Square For The Performing Arts. This change came after Lynn Wyatt donated $10 million to help renovate the space.
Getting Around the District
You can easily reach the Theater District using METRORail light rail service. The Theater District Station is right in the heart of the area.
