Houston Theater District is located in downtown Houston. It attracts more than two million visitors annually and has nearly 15,000 seats for live performances and movie goers. The Theater District ranks second to New York City's theaterland, and is one of the top five cities in the U.S. that have resident companies performing opera, ballet, music and theater.
There are nine companies operating from five performance venues. Many have won prestigious awards - The Alley Theater awarded a Tony award for best regional theater, and the Houston Grand Opera has had the honor of being awarded a Grammy, Tony and Emmy.
The Theater District has its origins in buildings that have been used for live performance since the 1920s. The Hobby Center for Performing Arts opened its door in 2003, and stands on the site of the Sam Houston Coliseum built in 1928 for the Houston Huskies ice-hockey team, and later used for performances with Elvis and The Beatles on the billing. The Hobby Center is now home to the 'Theatre Under The Stars.' Houston Grand Opera founded in 1955 is housed in the Wortham Center along with the Houston Ballet, the 4th largest ballet troupe in the U.S. The Wortham Center was built on the site of the City Auditorium built in 1910.
The Bayou Place Complex is an entertainment complex which includes the Angelika Film Theater and Verizon Wireless Theater. The Theater District has convenient parking lots, and is served by the METRO light rail system. There are over 30 restaurants featuring the best in American and international cuisine and hotels nearby.
