Went with a friend to see the stage adaptation of Paula Hawkins' bestselling psychological thriller…read more"The Girl on the Train" at the Alley Theater. The story follows Rachel Watson, a woman battling dependency and fragmented memories as she becomes entangled in the disappearance of a young woman. It is interesting that I did not like the movie, but I loved this stage production. Easy to follow the story line that kept you on the edge of your seat. Loved the set design and our orchestra seats gave the best view. So interesting to see how they raised and lowered elements and created the illusion of a moving train. Sign up for their subscription information. Look for BOGO Theater Week Specials. Would definitely recommend seeing a production at Alley Theater.

A nice intimate theater perfect for an onstage performance. Watched The Girl on the Train, which…read morehad great acting! Would like to return.

New location for Riot! Right next to Julep, which is another favorite of ours…read more This location used to be a gym, and more recently a bar, so people might think this spot is cursed - but I am hopeful Riot will change that pattern. The cool thing about the location is they have their own coffee shop and bar and a few sitting areas so you can hang out before the show. The coffee shop also offer pastries and is open from 7 am! As far as the comedy part itself, we've been to a Monday open mic night - which I didn't expect to be great but we wanted to do something a little different for date night. The employees are nice and they even warned us that the talent might not be the best, but we still had a good time. The stage is nice and well lit and the seating areas all have good views of the stage. Overall I think its a nice addition to the neighborhood - something to do other than eating and drinking. Hopefully they bring in some good acts pretty soon!

Love this new location for The Riot. My beau and I have been to many shows at their previous…read morelocation above Rudyard's, but they now have their own digs right off lower Washington in the same small strip center where Julep is located. This new location has some parking, street parking, valet (shared w Julep?)... there's a bar and bar seating (wish the lighting was a bit dimmer and more comedy club vibes), but enter through the dark curtains and they have a nice setup! Seating, great sound and lighting, a Htown mural, and QR codes at each table to order drinks and bites.

I have seen quite a few shows here, from ballet recitals to musicals. The latest one I saw was The…read moreMoulin Rouge. It was such a fantastic show! I am always so fascinated how they can move the furniture so fast behind scenes. I think the theatre itself is really nice. A bit narrow though and everytime I go I am fearful of falling in someone haha. the ceiling has a beautiful star light. Not too big of a theatre or stage so it feels like a much more intimate experience. The valet service parking is always so convenient but it does get full pretty quickly !

I enjoy watching shows here. It has been years since I saw Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon…read more I'm so proud of childhood friends since intermediate school perform here for different touring shows such as Miss Saigon, Life of Pi and Beauty and the Beast. They were all in band but ended up in performing arts. I am excited for what's next for them. Our high school was big on theatre, so I've always enjoyed shows from early on. Recently, a few Yelp elite events and really great Broadway shows, musicals and singers have come through that brought me back. Sarofim Hall and Zilkha Hall are the main halls. Sarofim is bigger and grand with a beautiful starry ceiling. Zilkha is smaller and more intimate. There's a nearby parking garage and a cheap lot across that my friend recently told me about. I tend to Uber to avoid all that traffic, and it helps that I live 10 minutes away. There's a restaurant inside, but reservations are highly recommended. Otherwise, the lobby area and downstairs offer concessions for snacks and beverages. I love how they have themed drinks paired with the show. There's a couple mocktail options, as well. People line up for show souvenirs and photo op props. All the lines go fairly quickly. The staff is so friendly and helpful. When I won tickets to Hamilton and picked them up at the window, they congratulated me and were genuinely happy I got great seats. The staff handing Playbills and escorting or showing you your seats are so kind. When it's really busy at Sarofim, staff also help guide you to other restrooms on the Zilkha side to avoid crowds. Even while leaving late, there was a gentleman who told a group of young girls waiting for their Uber that they were guests of Hobby and would make sure their ride could drive in the driveway. He even opened the car door for me when I left. I've only waited at the Stage Door once because my friend told me to meet him there after Beauty and the Beast, but it was a cool experience. You can't miss it. There's barricades and a slight crowd. That was the first time I got my Playbill signed in Houston (I've waited in SF for Wicked and in NY for Anastasia.), and the cast came out ready with Sharpies! They were so appreciative of the guests who were waiting. I can't wait for the other shows or singers coming to Houston and will be coming to The Hobby Center for years to come!

This place was incredibly amazing! It was very cool inside and we came to see the Hunchback of…read moreNotre Dame. They have a wine bar and a build your own pasta pot plate area that would've been good to know about before we headed off to dinner. The production was incredible. We were sat very close to the production and it was so amazing to see all the actors so close! I will say that the staff was very efficient and amazing when we came into the facility. They will call window was quick and coming to check your ticket in was also very efficient. Definitely recommend as something new and cool to do if you are in the area.

Disappointing seating failure!…read more My family purchased tickets months in advance for ABRA Cadabra's ABBA tribute, specifically first row seats in the front section of the theater. We paid a premium for that location and planned the evening around it. When we arrived, a manager informed us that the entire section had been closed and we would be reseated farther back. No prior notice had been given by email, phone, or the ticketing platform. For a family night that had been scheduled and paid for well in advance, being moved from the seats we bought to a noticeably inferior location felt like a bait & switch. Front row tickets are not interchangeable with mid house seats; the difference in proximity, sightlines, and energy for a high-energy tribute show is substantial. The responsible course would have been to contact ticket holders days earlier, offer comparable or upgraded seats, or provide a partial refund or credit. None of that occurred.

So I was invited here as a Houston Insider and we had a marvelous experience. They catered to us…read moreand we're really friendly and kind we had a an assortment of candy all you can eat popcorn and drinks. I tried the fig drink... It was.. different. Very big heavy... Remind me a liquid fig newton. Not a fan but I did finish it just to make sure my thoughts and opinions. Other than that, the popcorn was nice. I actually haven't had popcorn in over a decade so that was lovely. The candy was a true tree because I don't ever eat candy. We saw Apollo 13 and, candidly, this is the first time I've ever seen this movie. Lol. It was a nice cool but not too cold atmosphere, the staff is kind, and our experience went off without a hitch, so this theater is definitely one I would visit again.

Sit in a seat that's on the very far left end of a row if you are tall and/or wide. The seats…read morerequire you to rise up and squeeze in between the trays attached to each seat, which makes the space you have to get up and sit down very narrow. Seats on the very left end of a row only have your own tray! Food is pricey but you will feel less remorse if you get something normal like a cheeseburger or chips+queso. I don't come here much because the seats just really are a pain but it's worth it in the end to support this local gem.

Wow so I finally bought some last minute tickets to see Life of Pi! The show and cast was amazing…read more The venue is located downtown and if you go see an evening event you'll get treated to a beautiful backdrop of a towering skyline full of twinkling lights. Parking in the adjacent garage is $15. Next time I will get there at least an hour prior to get lower level parking. We arrived 15 minutes prior to show time and it took us at least 10 minutes to park and walk into the performance center. And we waited for 25 minutes just to get out of the parking garage when the show was over. Lesson learned. Everyone was dressed from casual (boo) to dressy/business casual (ladies in sundresses and some had heels or little sandals and men were in slacks and dress shirts or polo shirts and some men had suits or jackets or just a buttoned down collared shirt and khakis.) Personally, I dont like to go see a performance and see people in shorts and t shirts especially on a Saturday night performance, It runs the gamut in case you're wondering "how should I dress?" Intermission offered a full bar and snacks and candy. Tickets for our seating area were $128 pp next time I'll sit closer and pay more. Overall we had a fun time!

I just went to see Beauty and the Beast Saturday evening, and it was amazing!! The musical was…read moresurreal and close to the original animation. My husband and I both cried because it was sentimental of how we related to the actual animated film. My only advice would be to NOT take babies or children who aren't capable of sitting still and listening to the show. The first half of the show was interrupted by a couple allowing their baby and toddler to continue to whine and repeatedly ask for her mama. After a while, the dad finally left with his baby. Naturally, it was only after attracting some attention from others that the situation became evident. We adore babies/children; however, this was not the place for them. I blame the parents for being self-centered and ignoring their baby by allowing her to whine and waiting until almost the end of the first half of the show to excuse themselves out. I wish the staff would have noticed and stepped in. They're usually vocal when it comes to food or pictures and should also pay attention to whining babies.

This is a great theater! The seating is intimate, and the one performance I've been to so far (Come…read moreFrom Away) was excellent. I will definitely be back, and I would highly recommend trying to see a play here to anyone who might be considering it!

Stages is my favorite performing arts theater in Houston! Ever since I saw my first show here, The…read moreHeart Sellers, I knew I had found something wonderful and was hooked. Since then I've gone on to see The ripple, the wave that carried me home, and the latest show, The Lehman Trilogy. Each show Ive watched here has been wonderfully well crafted in storytelling, acting, and have been very immersive to the audience. You can definitely feel the love that was put into each production. I've been enjoying going to opening preview night of each of these shows, there's something really different about seeing the first live performance for each production. Seeing the directors and producers all watching their hard work come to life, the roaring standing ovation. It's a great place to be at! I fully recommend people to check out their productions as they're never a disappointment to me!

I saw a ballet in Saturday night. Their website suggests nearby lots and makes you aware of pricing…read moresurges. I was able to find street parking two blocks away and walk up. I arrived just at starting time so I wasn't shown directly to my seat but found it without issue. I was in the orchestra which did not have great elevation so it was hard to see over the head of the person in front of me. The curtain faced technical difficulties during the opening act which caused a 5 or so minute delay, confusion, and laughter. The opening scene was to be very dramatic and mesmerizing but this dampened it. During intermission the lines for the restroom were very long as there is only one set of restrooms for the whole place as far as I could tell. It did move quickly. There are a couple of bars with reasonably priced drinks. It seems they are planning renovations and of the list I think more restrooms are the main thing that's needed. All in all it's a pleasant venue with reasonably priced tickets/sales.

The pros: Great acoustics with an excellent orchestra…read more Appreciative audience. The cons: Poor design that forces people to go up and down stairs for the restroom and drinks. The worst: No security for reserved drinks and tables. How do I know? Someone stole my prepaid drink and table. By the time I searched every table, weaving through the crowd, it was time to go back for the second half. So I couldn't stand in line and ask what the hell happened. No way to prove I didn't get what I paid for so no way to recoup my money. First time to this venue and first time something like this has happened. Too bad. Doubt I will be back. I know it shouldn't be a deal-breaker, but the carelessness with people's time and money is ridiculous.

Great for a cute couple date night or a a girls night out. Well organized. Although the bartender…read morewas a bit of a duche .

The Burly Q Lounge is SO MUCH FUN!!!!! A wonderful show to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, date…read morenight, or just a fun night out with friends! There is something for everyone! Kiki is hilarious and sexy, and the Qutie showgirls are sassy! I look forward to the Burly Q Lounge every month for good music, laughs and beautiful burlesque performances!! Always an amazing night in store for all!

This is a really nice outdoor theater/part to bring your friends and have a picnic or maybe take…read morethe kids to roll down the hill.. you can even do workouts out there. I had so much fun doing a picnic with my friends. Make sure you bring water in bug spray!!!!!! and if you have allergies, please bring Benadryl or any allergy pills because there's tons of grass and trees!

Parking: Lot E is a gamble about 30-40 minutes from showtime, but you can get lucky…read more Seriously one of the bastions of Houston. It's a miracle that they're still able to provide high quality, free entertainment in this day and age. The booking process is a bit random - for extremely popular shows, there's a lottery, but otherwise you refresh during the ticket drop and get into a queue and can pick up to four tickets in the covered seating area (which also has huge ceiling fans. Huge plus.) or just hang out on the hill. Digital tickets are a huge upgrade where you don't have to wait at will call anymore. Seating is fantastic - plenty of walking space, seats have cupholders, and pretty much every seat has a clear view of the stage at a different angle for adults of all heights. There is difficulty in seeing ground level acts like the contortionist. (The interpretation of Da Vinci was phenomenal though, you can imagine). I always try to make it to at least one Cirque show every year and it's always a blast. Cheers to what they do here.