Stages is my favorite performing arts theater in Houston! Ever since I saw my first show here, The Heart 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! read more

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Wow I came to see a play at STAGES, based on the life of Lauren Anderson, the black prima ballerina! I had great seats right in center,but really the venue is so intimate there is not a bad seat in the house. The play Plumshuga: The Rise of Lauren Anderson. I believe this was the last performance of the show. Shes a Houston icon. It was a story of her life, told thru Houston Ballet dancers and other amazing actors. It was authentic, and showed a black woman's plight of becoming one of the best dancers in the US, her perilious journey through addiction, and her life now. It was centered and focused on her voice, and it was beautiful story that should be heard by many Americans, not just the black community. Bravo Lauren Anderson! read more

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Das BBQ-great actors/vocalists, cheesy script, silly story. We left at intermission-a first after years of attending excellent performances at Stages. Disappointing. read more

We went to a play recently after hearing some good reviews and it did not disappoint! The cast did an amazing job. They were able to take a very heavy topic and introduce lighthearted moments without sacrificing the message. I felt a whole range of emotion during a 2 hour performance. I was so impressed by the end. I also thought the bar was pretty reasonably priced for being at a theater and they had a cute assortment of snacks. We ate before so we didn't try any snacks but we got a few drinks at the bar over the course of the evening. I look forward to the next show and purchasing season tickets for the upcoming season! read more

The customer service phenomenal. The box office staff have always been attentive and have resolved any changes that I required. The performances are first class. I love the intimate setting of the Gordy read more

OMG! Do not miss Plumshuga at Stages! This was absolutely the best performance I have seen in a very long time. The dancing was incredible. A very sad story of the rise and fall of Lauren Anderson of the Houston ballet. Thank you Lauren for having the bravery to tell your story. This is a do not miss. read more

Came to watch Sister's Back to School Catechism. Denise Fennell was great and stayed in character the whole night. Loved that she was very engaged with her audience. Laughed a lot, enjoyed the intimate theater, and just had a great night of entertainment! This is such a great venue too! It was awesome that she also gives back to the Houston community. read more

Stages - Participation with audience was hilarious! - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Attended for 10-year old granddaughter's recital. Good. Covered Parking OK. But sound system not properly managed, a bit of tweaking needed. Bathrooms clean. Seating around stage excellent. read more

Went to Stages last night - our third visit. A really cosy, small theater where every seat (around 150 I think) has a great view. The last time we visited President Bush Senior was in the front row to our left for the Wonderettes Christmas show Last night we were front row right and watched Veronica's Room. Excellent show - the first commercial production of the 70's play since the 80's I think. From the same writer that bought us Rosemary's Baby and others. Maybe this one was ahead of it's time and never really made it big time. However the whole experience was awesome, the actors were great and we were right THERE - front row, doesn't get any better. As luck would have it (Halloween special) they gave out prizes and we won the grand prize - season tickets!! Woohoo. read more

The new Stages is nouveau $@$+^% and way too antiseptic. What was wrong with the old theater? If the wheel isn't broken it doesn't require fixing. I did not get a cool vibe at Stages. Aura is an important aesthetic as the theatrical experience begins the moment one walks into the venue. read more

I attended Hook's Tale. This was my second time at this theater. My first was several years ago and I had a terrible experience. I figured I would give them another try. What a mistake. This experience was just as bad I'd not worse than my first horrible experience here. As you can see in my picture I had basically no view. That picture was taken at a sharp angle to try to show the front of the stage. I basically stared at the side of the boat the entire play. It was a complete waste. No where on the website when I was purchasing tickets did it say obstructed, or better yet no view! The theater was extremely cold. The people around me and I were shivering the entire time. It was so cold and the view was so bad the people behind me left at intermission before sharing with me how disappointed they were. The line to get in was extremely long. Nothing like sweating in 92 degree weather heat. Then to go in and literally freeze. The line was so long because they were checking covid Vax cards or negative test results. No where did it say on the ticket info that you needed to provide that. Luckily, by chance I had mine. I usually don't carry it because I do not want to lose it. This theater definitely has to do a better job with communication. If seats have obstructed view...that should be made clear. If you require covid Vax cards or negative test results....that should be made clear also. The father and son in front of me were not admitted. The father had his Vax card but his son did not and he was told he needed negative test results. Again, communicate that. I absolutely will NEVER attend any performance at this theater again. Thankfully they don't often have shows I am interested in. I would stay away from this theater. There are plenty of phenomenal local theaters in Houston. Do not waste your time here. read more

Today I was able to watch the last showing of Marvelous Wonderettes!!! First off this is a hidden gem of a theatre. It's small but very intimate. Holds about 150 people. The parking is plentiful along the street and there is a paid lot directly across from the entrance. As far as the seating situation is, since it's very small even the back rows are close to the performers. The only grievance is the side aisle seats are a bit obstructed since there is 2 giant pillars on the sides. 80% of the show as right in the middle of the stage so you don't miss everything but depending on the show the side seats might not be a place you want to sit. The tickets are very affordable compared to other live performances in Houston. The show was simple spectacular. It was a great mixture of singing, dancing, and lots of comedy. The costumes were eye catching. Cute venue, to see some interesting acts. read more

Every single performance here has been amazing - the singing is phenomenal! I've seen Xanadu, Panto, and just saw Girl's Night in the last few months alone, not to mention all the other performances from prior months/years. Never have I seen a bad play or musical here, the performers are the BEST! Girl's Night was one of the best times, I would love to see that one again. read more

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The Great American Trailer Park Musical!! Phenomenal performance in an intimate setting. Great stage set up!! No bad seat in the house! read more

Stages - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

Went to see Speech and Debate on 4/3 and it was hilarious! I highly recommend this theater and actors to anyone who is looking for a little culture and entertainment. We are already booked to go see the next play, Late Night Catchecism, which is going to include some sort of Newlywed game with the audience. read more

Stages - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

Have a wonderful time tonight. Was our first time and definitely not our last. If anyone is thinking about doing something outside of the box this is the perfect place to go. And then you will be hooked. Very friendly people, wonderful staff And great show read more

Stages - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

My friend Leah and I saw the one woman play Ann, about former governor Ann Richards. So funny and still so timely. We received special attention from the box office staff, Mark (aka Obie Wan Kanobie) and Ebony on the exchange of our tickets for a different showtime. They we so friendly and professional. I would definitely go to this venue again. read more

The arts scene in Houston is alive and thriving. Stages Repertory Theatre offers a wonderful theater experience that is the perfect complement to the big Broadway shows you can see at the Hobby Center or the outstanding productions at Alley Theatre. Much more intimate than the other two venues, Stages features edgier and more avant-garde productions than you'll find elsewhere in town. It has two stages at its facility: the Arena Stage (a theater in the round configuration that seats 230) and the Thrust Stage (a more intimate setting with only 175 seats that surround three sides of the stage). My wife and I attended a production at the smaller Thrust Stage this past weekend. It was the first time we'd been there. I missed the Waugh exit off of Allen Parkway the first time I drove by and had to double back. Right across the street from the theater entrance is a pay parking lot that you should resist unless you really can't or don't wish to walk an additional 100 meters or so. On the South side of the theater on D'Amico there is a city lot which is free for the use of theater patrons. The only problem is that it's marked as a $2 pay lot and many of the theater goers were unnecessarily stuffing bills into the pay panel. The play was a delight. It was a two-person show called "Souvenir" which dramatized the meteoric rise to infamy of Florence Foster Jenkins, a socialite who couldn't sing a note yet performed a sold-out concert in Carnegie Hall in 1944. I had tears streaming from my eyes because I was laughing so hard. The production values were high, the acting outstanding and the intimate venue perfect. We'll be back. read more

I've enjoyed everything I've seen at Stages. I probably only attend a couple of shows each season. Altar Boyz and The Great American Trailer Park Musical were hilarious . The miking/sound is sometimes an issue, but that would be my only criticism. Like Main Street Theater, be sure to purchase tickets in the center section. The sides are too extreme and severely limit your view. I also advise buying tickets in person at the Stages box office. If you buy tickets online, you cannot exchange them for another performance if you have a conflict. You will need to have $3 to park in the city lot across the street. Have exact change as there is not an attendant. read more

This was my first time. I am super impressed. I never knew it existed until I happened to find it out of the blue searching for something else. The show I watched was amazingly well done. The script was well written and the performers were phenomenal. For a small production, it really blew me away. The prices for tickets were extremely good. We were able to find a deal and got one ticket for free. The place is clean and the staff are friendly. I highly recommend going on a weekday. The theaters are small and pack up quick. I went on a Wednesday and it was nearly full. read more

Stages - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I went here on Sunday to see the Hank Williams: Lost Highway show. I wasn't sure what to expect because I had never even seen this theatre before. The parking lot on D'Amico was huge and really close. I loved how quick and painless it was to park. As soon as we walked up to this building, I felt like it was something from a movie. The fountain and the ivy growing in the little patio was adorable. The inside is cozy and cute. The little red velvet and wooden antique seats were beautiful, although I will say it's a pretty snug fit in there. I didn't know the lady next to me but we quick became friends with how close we were sitting to one another. The show was so entertaining. The lighting is wonderful, the acoustics were unparalleled. I felt like it was a private showing for just us. After the show, I got to meet the stars of the show. They were out front behind a counter selling things and shaking hands. I am easily star struck so it was really neat for me. When I was there, there were so many senior citizens. I thought it was cool that they took a bus from all over the city, got discounted rates and were really enjoying themselves. Probably because it was a Hank Williams show, I was the youngest person in the theatre. Anyway, I can't wait to see something else here! read more

Love this theater! Tiny, cozy one. Stage is in the center with seating all around it. I actually performed here for a month and loved it! I want to go back and actually watch a performance. P.S. After you see a show, walk over to Guava Lamp. Awesome bar! read more

This is a wonderful theater and I am so excited that it is growing. I enjoyed several performances when they were just a small theater but now they are at another level. In the new theater they opened with one of my favorites, "The Fantasticks", and it is indeed fantastic! The theater is phenomenal and the staging is fabulous. I sat in the front center but there seems to be no bad seats. The acoustics are great and the seats are comfortable. If you enjoy live theater, Stages is not to be missed! read more

Eight years ago I swore by Stages, then the Artistic Director changed and the plays changed with him so I went on a hiatus. Over the past three seasons I have noticed they are going back to their older formula- edgy plays, intermixed with plays about dead country singers of course. The ticket prices are reasonable and you don't ACTUALLy have to pay for parking...shhh..... don't tell. I would definitely recommend checking out the season for a show you are into. It is a lovely, intimate space that allows nice bond with the actors. The box office people are really great too. read more

To give a review on the theatre itself, rather than just a specific show seems difficult to do, so please read with consideration that I've only seen Marie Antoinette here at Stages: It's a thrust stage (audience on three sides with a backdrop) and an intimate setting of only 5 or so rows per side. For larger donations, the theater hosts earlier previews of the play with snacks/drinks with the actors to get more in depth into the plot/story/show. It's a wonderful experience to see the actor's emotional connection to their characters (and occasionally even be hit by a ridiculously large skirt or two from an entering actress)! The company was able to pull together remarkable talent even though the stageplay choice was an interesting one. read more

"...take your VIP seat right in Diana's spectacular apartment." (Blurb for _Full Gallop_.) I think a reasonable person would translate that to "within the set." I know I did. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight....... They really need to put more thought into how they phrase things. The" seats in the apartment" were just chairs put in front of the regular seats. And there were two rows.....! I don't call the second row anything like being "in the apartment" - they were just, well, second row seats. The first row was just, well, the first row. Only two of the front row seats could be said to be integrated into the set in the slightest - all the rest had the backs of the set's furniture right in front of them, not exactly a normal furniture arrangement if you're "in the apartment." I don't feel I'm being unreasonable to expect the seats to be as described - I've been actually on the stage here before, for _Hank Williams: Lost Highway_. And also at Zilka Hall for _Dixie's Tupperware Party_. So what I expected does exist. These supposed "seats in the apartment" were the only thing that got me to go back after dealing with the parking stooges, so I was a bit disappointed. Especially since I had unknowingly gotten a second-row seat. (How can you be "in the apartment" in the second row????) I watched the parking lot for a while before I went in, and that situation seems to have been straightened out - there was one guy in the booth who was taking money and giving tickets in an expeditious and consistent manner. You know, like parking lots normally work. There was nobody in the booth when I got there (I walked down the street and had lunch before the show), and I wasn't sure if it was OK to park there at that time, so I parked on the street, which I'd been planning on doing - reluctantly - anyway. Turns out there's lots of easily accessible street parking, at least if you are there early. I still don't like street parking, though, so I'm glad the city has apparently straightened out the two stooges issue. I just need to find out if it's OK to park there before the attendant arrives. Oh, the show - it was OK. I wasn't bowled over, I wasn't so bored I wished I could leave. read more

The Great American Trailer Park Musical, loved it! What a fun show, definitely worth seeing. Runs through July 22 - Shows Wednesday-Sunday Call the box office or buy tickets online. read more

I am not a frequent "theater goer". My mom went with a friend and loved it so I bought her tickets to a different performance for Mother's Day. We saw Mack and Mabel. I'm not the biggest fan of musicals but I actually loved it, maybe it was the atmosphere. Very small, intimate theater. Seriously, 3 sections. 1 section per side of stage. You could see everything. Every working there was very nice and accommodating. They do sell wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages along with a couple snacks. All in all I was very impressed and will be back! read more

We had no idea this theater even existed until I saw one of the plays listed under Goldstar's discount tickets list. It is on a side street that you'd never know when driving down Waugh and they have a parking lot around the corner for $5. This theater was really cute. It's like a big theater in a miniature version. They have a concessions stand with snacks that looked like someone put them together (e.g. trail mix, mixed nuts) in bags with labels which was cute. Theater patrons are allowed to bring their drinks but the seating is tight so it's probably not a good idea. We sat in the back row but because the theater is small, the seats were still fantastic. The play we saw was WHO AM I THIS TIME and it was extremely funny, heartwarming and so well acted. The actors were phenomenal -- so much so that we just had to read the Playbill to find out what else they were in because it was obvious they were extremely experienced and skilled at their craft. The website states it is cold and to bring a jacket but I didn't find it to be cold at all. I really love this theater but the seats are a bit tight especially if you have long legs. That is the only reason I'm deducting one star otherwise it's perfect. Highly recommend. read more

I really love small, intimate theatres and going to see a stage play is definitely a lost art in this country. I've been here a few times and I've had a fantastic experience each time. It doesn't seat multitudes, so every seat in the place is a good one with a great view. It's small enough that you actually feel a part of the actors' performance. It's also very reasonably priced. Even the most expensive seats arent honestly expensive. The sorts of plays they produce are varied, so there's something for everybody, but a lot of what they present is very edgy and avant garde and I really like that. Definitely go experience this little gem. Might wanna avoid the overpriced drinks in the lobby though read more

I love this place. We try and see a show here every few months. The last show we saw was the Winter Wonderettes, and it was hilarious. My only request--- can we please drink in the theatre?! That would make this place perfect. read more

I had the best time at Stages yesterday. I always wanted to see Little Shop of Horror. It was great to see and hear the songs I love performed live in front of me by excellent actors/singers. Definitely coming back. read more

This place is a hidden gem. The theater is small but intimate, there is no bad seat in the house. Performance was wonderful, beautiful singing. They pay attention to every little thing from costume to furniture and settling of the stage. Price is very affordable. Highly recommended! read more

Srages has been a wonderful place for us to visit for years now. It always has a variety of different performances and we just love this place. read more

Most HYSTERICAL play!! EVER! "The Ultimate Christmas Show". Belly laughs! Seriously! Everyone was laughing, all ages, cracking up together. Our faces hurt from smiling, gut busting, laughing OUT LOUD fun! THANX Virginia Marie Bates and ITex limo awesomeness for the best evening ever!! https://www.stagestheatre.com/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=CB92774E-9322-40D6-BE0D-123CC2374117 read more

Today was a high and low. The play was amazing. A thousand ovations wouldn't have been enough. After the production the actors usually come out and greet the audience. This time not at all. I brought my granddaughters who patiently awaited their moment to meet the cast. That was not to be so. They greeted their friends and ignored the 12 and 8 year olds waiting for a chance to meet the cast. It was very sad for them and for my own expectations. read more

Stages is a great place to see live theater in a small, more intimate environment. The ticket prices are more reasonable than other local establishments as well. I have been here 3 times and have enjoyed every minute! The acting is superb and the comic timing of this crew is fabulous. I have laughed my butt off time and time again. read more

I absolutely love Stages. It's a smaller theatre, but big on talent. I've seen about 5 plays now and have enjoyed each one. The volunteers couldn't be more friendly. Over all I can't say anything negative about them. If you want a inexpensive evening of entertainment I highly recommend attending one of their shows. I am formerly of Chicago and now a proud resident of Houston. I had wondered if the entertainment in the smaller theatres would be as good as Chicago. It is as good if not better! read more

Went to see The Great American Trailer Park Musical on a Saturday afternoon. It was the best performance I have seen anywhere, in a long time. The theater is small and intimate. The performers enter from numerous corners of the room. Their voices and acting skills were impeccable. Better than most anything I've seen at the Hobby Center. These people are genius and the show was sooooo funny. I still laugh when I think about their facial expressions. Can't wait to see something else here!! read more

What a great theatre! Every production I have seen at Stages has been nothing less than fabulous. The intimate space makes you feel like part of the action! Thank you for so many wonderful memories! read more