My most recent visit was Jan 23rd for the Sunrise International Dance Company's Snow Queen's Frozen Journey performance. Zilkha Hall is a very small theatre, compared to Sarofim Hall. It was easy to find, and since it usually houses the smaller shows and many children's performances, it's so conveniently located with concessions, restrooms and water fountains nearby in the lobby. The lobby is small, but very open and spacious enough to enjoy during intermission or before/after the show. My seats were second row orchestra center, and it was an exceptional view. The seating is comfortable, and there is a lot of room between rows. My daughter and I had to switch seats so she could see, since there was an adult in front of her, so the seats don't raise from row to row a whole lot. If bringing small children, consider front row seat, aisle seats, or get the front row balcony. The parking is my only complaint. I'm rarely downtown anymore, so I'd recommend the valet parking if you are like me and get lost easily. I parked in the underground parking in front of the Hobby Center on this visit, and we walked upstairs from the stairwell. Our location was perfect, except for the fact that after the show, the stairwell was closed and we had to find another opening and then try and figure out how to get back to our car. Luckily I took a photo of the pole with the parking location and the employees in the parking garage gave me quick and easy directions to get to my car. I recommend you do this, or at least be sure you also take note of the color of the pole, not just the row and section numbers. read more

First time visiting the Hobby Center. I went to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular ft the Rockettes. The Hobby Center is a very nice venue. Parking was easy for me (I read the tip that Lexus owners get free valet parking). I got great seats near the front, so I am not sure if my experience would be the same if I got seat way on top in the back. But where I was seated, I had a great view of the stage and the sound system was good. I ate lunch there. They offered a decent selection of food.. But it was very pricey. So if you have time, eat elsewhere then come and watch your show. read more

The Hobby Center is a great venue, with comfortable seats, excellent service, and a spacious lobby to enjoy a cocktail and enjoy views of downtown while you wait for your show to begin. Our favorite seats have been in the front row of the Mezzanine level, but we have also enjoyed sitting in the Orchestra section for some of the more dance-themed shows like The Rockettes so you can really see how precise their skills are. If you are going to drink alcoholic beverages invest in the "adult sippy cup" with a lid so that you can take your beverage into the show. There are a few snack and candy options that you can purchase from the bars in the lobby areas, but if you are wanting a full meal, the only options are to dine at Artista or the Hobby Center buffet on the second level. We have never eaten at either, but heard great things about Artista. Cheers! read more

I had the privilege of seeing Thoroughly Modern Millie today at Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center. I had never been to a show at this location before and was thrilled to take myself on a date to the the-a-ter! The experience was just about everything I hoped for. I had free street parking a mere block away from the theater because it was Sunday. The smallness of the theater allowed for short lines at the restroom, quick ticket lines and yes, great acoustics. A nice added touch was the ability to order drinks and snacks before the show that you could pick up at intermission. The server places the items you order on your receipt at the end of the bar and you just self pick-up. It is a bit of an honors system since anyone could just take your order, but the theater-going crowd aren't usually the type for that type of thievery. The only downside of seeing the show on Sunday was that the restaurant (Artista, I believe), was closed and I was starving before the show... other than that, everything was great. The acting and dancing were top notch and I will certainly be back again! read more

The Hobby Center was great for seeing "Once!" I like that they have the option at the bar to buy an adult sippy cup so that you can enjoy a cocktail during the show. The prices however, were very steep. The seats in the venue were all relatively close, making it feel like most seats are good seats. Only negative is the same with every theatre, bathrooms couldn't accommodate the intermission rush. read more

Hobby Center - Such great music! - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

I admit I was very impressed last time I was there watching the Lion King. I thought it was amazing and I loved the play too!! However, there was no Yelp yet, so I didnt get to let the world know how much I like The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. My most recent visit reminded me of the beauty of this architectural masterpiece. That design is just so beautiful. Kind of reminds me of the gugenheim museum in Ny... maybe for it's "eccentric" look. I really would recommend you check out a play at the hobby center, or go eat at it's exclusive restaurant, either way you will enjoy the beauty of the structure. read more

Houston has a great theater district and I have always enjoyed this venue. I've attended several musicals, smaller orchestral and dance performances, special events, and even a wedding here. The seats are comfortable, the bar service during intermissions moves pretty quickly, and there are quite a few restrooms (there's still a line of course). The starry sky in the main hall is a nice touch too. Having Artista restaurant attached is a plus if you want to get some classy dining in before your show. The valet is a little pricey and I did get my car broken into once in their parking garage. These days, I opt for the regular underground parking which is less expensive and I can leave the car there longer in case post-show partying commences as usual ;) read more

I enjoy coming to the Hobby Center for shows, and it was my first time to the TUTS Underground theater. It's smaller but you have a great view, even from the back of the 2nd floor. Parking is easy, and it's even easier to get nearby cheaper parking if you choose not to park in the Hobby Center garage. read more

Hobby Center - Heather's TUTS Underground (This is the view from the last row on the 2nd floor, not a bad view at all) - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

The halls here are very nice. Pricing varies depending on the performance and seats, but on average they are very high. The restaurant is decent but again overpriced. You are certainly paying for on-site convenience and would be better off at another nearby restaurant. It can get crowded because of the capacity of the hall, and parking is limited. The garage and valet will quickly fill up. Try the garage under bayou center and walk in the tunnel. Only $10 and you can always find a space. The one thing I really don't like is their ticket system. Ticketmaster is a complete ripoff. Say you are on a budget and buying cheap seats, Ticketmaster will charge you up to 50% in fees. So a pair of $50 tickets will total $150. That's robbery. You can buy them at the door but there is still a $4.50 fee per ticket (however they will quote you the fee-included price when you are trying to find a seat, so at least the staff isn't playing the game). Essentially the advertised price for tickets is false as unlike other venues, there is no way to avoid all these fees. It is sad and deceptive. read more

I went to see Lion King. The performance was amazing! It is 5 stars all the way. This rating is for the Hobby Center. The floor attendants allowed late comers to find seats 30 minutes into the show and the show started 10 minutes than the ticket time to allow everyone in the lobby to get to their seats at show time. We had 2 sets of late comers. One set left I believe they weren't in the right section. The 2nd set was on the right side of the section and walk almost across the whole row to the left side of the section. Also the late comers had their phone flash light on to find their seats. I think Hobby Center should do 2 intermissions like the ballet to be fair to the patrons who come on time and those who come late since Houston's traffic is unpredictable. read more

Just saw the Book of Mormon. Saw it in London in March and it was spectacular. Here at the Hobby Center, not so great. Not the performance - that was still spectacular. It was the sound. We sat in row P and couldn't understand what the people were singing/saying over the music. And it was not just us. The people around us were complaining too. For example, during the section where the village performs for the Mormon leadership, we could barely make out what they were saying. All around us, we heard other people asking "what are they saying?". Really ruined the fantastic performance for us read more

The Hobby Center is a sleek-looking place and it's kept up very well. I sat in the Center Mezzanine and I couldn't see the actors' faces super clearly, but mostly clear. Those were $90 tickets though so I guess I expected a little bit more. Next time I'll probably spring for orchestra seats if I can. I do not like that all the bathrooms are on that bottom floor, but I have to admit there are a ton of stalls and the attendants had that line moving like clockwork. Hats off to you, ladies! read more

Great place for a little arts/culture in Downtown Houston. We went to see Wicked last night and were in a mad dash because downtown traffic was horrible as usual. Parking options are in the garage with self-park for $12 (they take credit card) or valet for $25. If you have a Lexus apparently valet is free currently. We do not so we parked with the other commonfolk. Both the husband and I got off a little late from work so we were frantic trying to find something to eat before hand. Unfortunately, there's not that many choices that are right next to or in Hobby Center. Their on-site resto Artista was completely booked. Thank goodness there's a small grab and go area in the lobby. They serve salads, paninis, "the hot entree of the day", pastas, and concession foods prior to curtain call. Close call - because it would have been a loooong 3 hours if we didn't get to eat before the show. I got a turkey BLT panini with a side of plantain chips for $13... definitely nothing to write home about but I was not going to be picky. You're paying for the convenience. Hubbie got the side salad which was $5 and he seemed pretty happy with it. We had center orchestra tickets in row HH (which provides a lot of extra leg room) and had a great view of the show and also gave us quick access to getting out after the show. Overall, great venue but needs more dining options on-site. read more

Went to go see A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and LOVED it! Very funny, fast moving, great songs and choreography! We sat in Box 4 which has a partially obstructed view - can't see the right side of the stage, and a significant part of the play took place there - we couldn't see the character, but we could hear - so no seeing him writing at a desk during the first part of the play wasn't that important to us, but it might be frustrating for some. The actors from our seats were close enough to see expressions on their faces (which I believe is important). Great play, great venue, very good value for less than $100 p/p. oh, and if you can drive a Lexus to Seraphim Hall, you receive complementary valet parking - a $25 value - definitely worth it. Pick up took less than 15 minutes! read more

Hobby Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This review is for $39 tickets that morphed into $47 tickets. I'm used to the "service charge," annoying as I find it (it was $4 in this case), but $2 more to print the ticket myself? $4 for will call? I like the venue better than I expected to when it was new. (I expected it to get run-down looking real fast, but it didn't, much.) Zilkha Hall is a gorgeous little space. But this service charge on top of the service charge is the sort of thing that causes me to cut off my nose to spite my face. Oh well, "Hands on a Hardbody"...... read more

Went to see the Rocketts last evening and what a performances!!!! We were only disappointed the crowd did not give them the Texas hospitality by gracefully showing their appreciation with a standing oviation. Beautiful dancers, costume and regal pageantry, I especially loved the dancing panda bears which will tap into your childhood memories of a simpler and carefree times and the spirit and joys of Christmas. Thank you for a beautiful show. read more

Went to the Hobby Center for The Book of Mormon. Parking wasn't bad at all for $10 and we parked in the theater district underground parking.. Park towards the rusk ave exit and you'll be walking about 2 blocks to the venue. Line for valet at the hobby center can be long, also cost $20. We sat in the gallery, row C. I heard everything just fine but wish I was closer to see better but you get what you pay for. Next time, I'd dish out extra money to sit by the mezzanine or orchestra area. As for the show, it was freakin hilarious! Would definitely go back for more broadway shows.. This was my first! read more

Short version: I'm already planning a return trip to Houston to see Hamilton at the Hobby Center when it's touring season starts! Seeing a national touring cast of a Broadway musical for the first time with my nearly teenage daughter was a real treat at the Hobby Center. The venue is intimate and allows the audience to enjoy the physical characteristics and facial expressions of performers, and the more quiet and expressive vocal moments are easily translated in the space. It is also large enough to resonate well when the full cast and orchestra is at play. This makes the experience fairly fantastic. Parking is fairly easy and not incredibly pricey - $12 is very reasonable for downtown theater parking. We arrived 25 minutes before showtime and found a spot very easily. My main complaint is not about Hobby Center, but about Ticketmaster. I'm assuming that if I could purchase tickets in advance in person at the box office, I would save a great deal of money. It would be worth it to avoid the internet highway robbery... I mean "service" fees that Ticketmaster charges. I opted for fairly expensive seats because it was a special day for my kiddo and I, and I paid an additional 50% above advertised ticket price per ticket. Ridiculous! read more

Caught the performance of Cats last night in my first time at this theater, and I was floored by just how amazing this venue is. Staff is everywhere and very friendly, it was easy to get around, and the sound and lighting of the production itself were absolutely stellar. The little bistro by the doors leading into the theater was definitely a nice touch. I had seen reviews on here complaining about parking and leaving the show, but I found no issues myself. Parking in the Hobby Center garage was straight forward and easy, and when it came to leaving I had the sense to avoid the mad rush and hang out by the stage door for a bit. So, not only did I get a chance to meet some of the actors and get a couple signatures, but by the time I headed back to the car the garage had more or less completely cleared and getting out took maybe a minute tops. (Seriously, I'm not sure why more people don't have the sense to do this. It's basically a win-win.) read more

I have eaten at the bistro in the Grand Lobby prior to many performances but the food quality has definitely declined while prices have risen. The lines can get long and there is very limited seating making it a little frustrating once you get your food. read more

Acoustics were not that great. Parking was nearby $7. Did a backstage tour for Miss Saigon last year. Overall a nice location and venue and it's nice that our restaurant we ate at was built within the venue. read more

Been here twice, once to watched Wicked and the other time the Book of Mormon. I love the covered walkway from the parking garage to the center. I also love that they organize the walkway out having an elevator/ or no elevator line. Love the restrooms as well plenty and we are in and out especially during intermission. Service crew were friendly and courteous. Showed us where we needed to be. The only complaint that I have is we ordered Margarita and the lime that was in our drink was brown and looked old. We should not have that especially paying top dollars for a drink. Bartenders need to smile, they looked like they did not wanna be there, won't even say your welcome or thank you. read more

I am complaining about the poor quality of the sound system in the Sarofim Theatre. In a musical one can hear the sounds but the words of the singers can't be understood. I'm not a sound engineer but they should be able to get rid of the distortion. I'm not the only one who sees this as an issue that detracts from enjoying a performance. read more

I really enjoy going to the Hobby Center - such a classy venue. I've seen The Lion King, Les Miserables, and most recently Ars Lyrica on NYE. All great events! Parking is usually not an issue in the evenings or on the weekends, but they do offer valet, if you want to make your life extremely easy. Overall, a pretty, clean venue with nice-enough staff. read more

Hobby Center - NYE Gala - a Spanish theme. - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

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We came here for a Fundraiser Kick-off Dinner for my husband's college. The Hobby Center was amazing as an event location! The cocktail area is in the foyer, where they served these fantastic appetizers, and plantain chips to munch on. The actual fundraising campaign part is on the Hobby Center stage. They actually hung chandeliers over the tables and had waiters for each table. It was really classy. There was plenty of room for a large stage and about 30 tables. The restrooms were a bit odd because we had to go back stage and use the dressing room restrooms. But it was kind of neat to go back stage and see what it's like. Great place for events! read more

What can I say, great venue for shows. I've seen symphonies, ballets, and of course musicals here. Acoustics are great no matter where you sit and the size is just right so that you're never too far and can't see anything and wonder why the place sells tickets back there to rip you off. You could sit in the back row of the gallery and still have a good view, although the closer is always better right? I'm typically here to see musicals and my favorite seat is lower center mezz or gallery. I find sitting in orch I some times have problems seeing over people's heads (I'm 5'10") or are looking up at the action. Being a level up or 2 and in center assures equal quality sound and a view of everything going on, kinda like super duper high def tv or something. So why am I giving this place a 5 star? Cause (a) they have free valet for Lexus cars (and I drive one) and (b) you can go to the box office and bypass the ridiculous ticketmaster service fees. Warning about (a) is that when leaving, it can take a while to get your car so if you can find close street parking, I'd go for it. As for (b), this is like the best kept "secret" and hate to share it but there is a facility fee still ($3). So don't be stealing my tickets unless you're really wanting to see the show. Seriously... don't steal.... read more

This is a great space with that often serves as a host for traveling companies such as Broadway Across America and local companies like TUTS. These companies are excellent because they bring high quality shows such as The Lion King, Spamolot, and Beauty and the Beast to Houston without the high expensive of New York theatre. They also have some really great promotions and charities to support their shows, especially TUTS. Another gem the Hobby Center hosts includes a local company entitled Masquerade Theatre. This company of local actors produces and builds all their shows in Houston. They typically have an interesting season of quality shows. It also hosts a beautiful view of Downtown Houston. read more

My family and I came here for an international holiday concert, which was every bit as inspiring as it promised to be. The Center itself is beautiful, with gorgeous tinted windows at a slant and what appear to be mod "buttresses" (I wasn't an architecture major but I do appreciate it!) However, access from the highway and parking were very confusing. Then again, this is Houston, not New York. I did notice they have valet parking---only for Lexus car owners. The apparrent elitism cost it one star from me. As long as someone else is driving, I wouldn't mind returning here for more shows. read more

Great venue. ...be sure to try America's Restaurant. And...don't forget to visit The Tut's Gift Shop! Also...I love that the have Sippy Cups for your drinks! IF they had box seats that were in the center. ..they'd have my 5 stars! read more

Hobby Center - Love the themed food! - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

I have visited the Hobby Center twice now. I saw The Rockettes on a Saturday afternoon. We sat up high, but had a great view of the stage. I saw Book of Mormon on a Friday night. It was packed, but they had lots of bars set up. You could even PRE-ORDER/ pre pay for your drinks to be picked up during intermission!!! Great time saver! I think it's easy to get turned around here because there are so many levels. The restrooms are all downstairs, but they have plenty of staff and stalls to help move everyone along. They have lots of bars set up in various places upstairs and downstairs. Be prepared to stand in line, but it moves quickly. Some bars are cash only. You can also purchase the "sippy cups" to avoid spilling in the dark theater. read more

Came to see Wicked the show was AMAZING!!! So why the 2 stars??? First of all our usher was an idiot!! Going into the gallery 2 guys where allowed to move a head of us as they where a group seating together. Ok cool no big deal! But my issue was they gave out the last playbill to the ppl in front of us....sooo had those two still been behind us I would of gotten my playbill!! Now on to the idiot.. She didn't know what rows where what! She stopped us right when the show started and we missed the first 10 minutes (well I heard it smh). Then she seated us and put us in the wrong freaking seats! Another usher comes to tell us and I asked a very simple question and I got a smart ass answer (shout out to my fiancé for putting him in his place!) Very unorganized! My first theater experience was just ok...guess ill just have to go to Broadway!!! read more

I just love being a season ticket holder and being able to attend great shows at this great venue several times a year. The set-up of the theater offers very few bad seats. I love that there are now refreshments available on all levels of seating and that you can pre-order your beverage & snack for intermission before the show even starts! Pure simplicity and no lines!!!! The reusable tumblers are a great thing too. They allow you to take those non-water beverages it to the show with you with the accompaniment of that spill proof lid. No matter how many times I go two of my favorite things to do is to people watch from the upper balcony while waiting for the door to open and then to take in the great ceiling of lights set to the stars. It just always feels magical to me to gaze upon them just before the curtain goes up. The valet parking option is great for those days when I am running late and no time to park before the show. They are very quick to get the vehicles in and out, even when there is a line that seems to never end...after the show of course. They have a little short off to the side of the theater also. It offers a wide array of items from many of the shows on that season's line-up. The best part is the music selections. Being able to relive those songs on your ride home! read more

This theatre is beautiful! The acoustics are great and I think it's small enough that any seat would be a good seat. We recently saw Wicked there and sat gallery center, 3 rows up and had a great view. Everything is clean, well maintained and looks new while still having the traditional theatre feel. There's also an awesome mural on the domed ceiling that's lit up to look like the night sky. We'll definitely be back! read more

I have never had a truly bad experience at hobby. They always have a nice spread of food and wine before the show, the restaurant is expensive but on point! The staff is always over the top helpful and attentive. read more

Hobby Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

Broadway Across America shows are great. The way things as far food and the way that they parade you through the bathrooms is horrible. The atmosphere has really gone down hill. read more

Hobby Center is such a great place to see the Broadway shows that come on tour in Houston. They usually have about 7-8 shows each season. each running about 2 weeks at a time. Recently I've come to see Wicked and The Book of Mormon and haven't had a bad experience. I've sat in both the center mezzanine and the center orchestra. Mezzanine wasn't bad seating at all, but the Center Orchestra was definitely better. Honestly I don't think there is a bad seat in the house! I have only used an Uber to get to and from Hobby so I can't speak on the valet or parking garage, but I hear it's relatively easy to get out after the shows. Worth checking to see if what's showing at the Hobby Center peaks your interest every once in a while! read more

"Recording represents the future. The concert hall represents the past." -- Glenn Gould (1932-1982) Thankfully, Gould's vision of the future has not come to pass. This prodigiously talented but infamously eccentric pianist (who stopped concertizing when he was in his early thirties) got it all wrong. The real appeal of music and other performance art can only be viscerally felt in a live show. When commenting on the venues in which we experience these shows, it is often difficult to separate the merits of the production from the hall itself. They really are intrinsically linked. I'll try to do so, regardless. In Houston, if you want to see a big Broadway show, you will most likely watch a production by Theater Under The Stars (TUTS) or Broadway Across America. Both of these companies call Hobby's Sarophim Hall with its 2650 seats home. Sarofim was built specifically to do this and has great sight lines, a beautiful ceiling replete with sparkling lights that look like stars and relies on electronic amplification to augment the acoustics. It's very fit for purpose and a significant upgrade from Jones Hall which used to host these big shows before Hobby was built. The Hobby Center website is currently shamelessly lobbying folks to vote for Sarophim as the "Best Theater in Houston" in KPRC Channel 2's online poll. I find this sort of self-promotion over a meaningless popularity contest a bit off-putting, so I went to the site, registered and voted for the Wortham Center on basic principles (it's a moot point because Miller Outdoor Theater is "winning" this contest by a landslide). Hobby's real gem is actually the 500 seat Zilkha Hall. Its natural acoustics are great and it represents (along with Wortham's Cullen Theater) a fantastic place in the CBD to appreciate chamber music and smaller scale productions. Its intimacy really enhances the visceral aspect of live performance. Houston is a hotbed for the arts in the South and there are all sorts of smaller groups that benefit from being able to perform in Zilkha. Included amongst them are Ars Lyrica, the Houston Chamber Symphony, Cantare and Houston Ebony Opera. The Hobby lobby (no pun intended), in spite of its glass front and cool view of downtown, can't compare with Wortham's Grand Foyer and the lobby of Jones Hall for splendor and beauty. It does boast Artista, a restaurant creation of Michael Cordúa who brought Houston Churrascos. You can certainly get a better meal at Hobby than any other theater venue in town. The massive mural, "Wall Drawing 2002", always promises to be a good conversation-starter since patrons tend to either love it or hate it. The parking situation is basically the same as all the other theaters in the district. The subterranean parking is a labyrinth that can tax the directional acuity of the most sophisticated concert-goer. Hobby also has a parking lot behind it that can ease the pain, but for the big productions, it only can handle a fraction of the volume. You can go the valet route for a steep $15. read more

Saw Lion king the show was AWESOME!!!! however i was unhappy that the floor captains allowed people to enter after the show had started very rude and a distraction... the show gets 500+stars, the floor captains 3. Our volunteer was very pleasant and apologetic he had to do as instructed. read more

This is easily my favorite theater downtown. Yes, it's easy to be blinded by the stunning contemporary architecture and the fact that it's a new venue, but what makes this theater so great is that there is literally not a bad seat in the house. For those who go to musicals in other cities, know that the "cheap seats" are often cheap seats for a reason. Either there is something obstructing your view or the audio doesn't carry all the way to the top and back. Not so at the Hobby Center. I love musicals, but I'm also a recent college graduate, which means purchasing Orchestra seats on a regular basis is simply out of the question. However, the back Gallery is definately much more affordable, and guess what, you can see perfectly, too. Granted, you're not going to be able to see the people's faces in detail, but in a musical, it's the music and choreography that's important, unlike in plays where it's good to be able to see facial nuances. In terms of acoustics, naturally the Orchestra is going to provide the best experience, but I can always hear every word of every song when I'm in the Gallery. Usually, when the sound gets muffled, it's when a heavily produced number is going on. When it's just the actor's voice and the orchesta, everything's pitch perfect. Sarafim Hall isn't the only beautiful space at the Hobby Center. Zilkha Hall, a secondary performance hall to the right, also provides a great overall experience. We may not have Broadway here in Houston, but between Broadway in Houston, Theatre Under the Stars, and the Masquerade Theatre, it's possible to enjoy the best of classic and contemporary musical theater all year-round thanks to the Hobby Center. read more

Went to a fine production of South Pacific in the Hobby center's Sarofim Hall recently. The sound was great, and the view (even though we were on the mezzanine and off to one side) was just fine. Parking wasn't as much of a hassle as you sometimes get at these behemoth entertainment complexes. read more