Gus S. Wortham . Theater Center

Gus S. Wortham Theater Center (Centre Wortham) was designed by American architect Eugene Aubry famous for public buildings. The center was built by a significant contribution from the private community of up to $66 million. Mr. Gus S. Wortham - the founder of General Insurance Company of America contributed $20 million to the fundraising campaign, the Cullen Foundation and the Brown Foundation donated $7.5 million and $6 million respectively in addition to real efforts. of 2,200 individuals.

Wortham Center was built in the midst of an economic downturn, so it's a real miracle. Moreover, the theater with more than 133,000 square meters was completed 4 months ahead of schedule and 5 million dollars left over the construction budget. At the time, the Wortham Center was the first major opera house built in America in more than 25 years. The theater is built with a 27m-high glass dome entrance and the main staircase is really a highlight of the design of the most influential metal sculptor Albert Paley. A unique acoustic feature of the theater are the specially designed chambers, accessible via the aisle behind the orchestra seats. This structure allows music to flow between chambers and into areas of the opera room that are traditionally not considered good listening areas. Since opening in 1987, Wortham has served more than 8 million people.

Wortham was built with two theaters, the Alice and George Brown Theater and the Lillie and Roy Cullen Theatre.

With 2,405 seats, Brown is the larger theater with a 5,000 square meter stage used mainly for large performances by Wortham's resident companies. Despite its large size, there are no seats more than 42m from the stage.

The 1,100-seat Cullen Theater hosts smaller operas and ballets and caters to other arts groups. Its intimate size is ideal for performances by soloists, chamber music and soloists.

The Wortham Theater Center is also a regular venue for the Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera.

Houston Ballet is the 4th professional ballet company in the United States. As of 2017, the company's $73 million grant is considered the largest grant ever held for a dance troupe in the United States. The Houston Ballet hosts more than 85 performances each year including 59 dancers.

Houston Grand Opera is a non-profit organization founded in 1955 with an operating budget of $27 million and introducing 6-8 new productions per season. The company has received one Tony Award, two Grammy Awards, and three Emmy Awards, and is the only opera company in the world to have won all three of these prestigious awards.

Website : www.visithoustontexas.com/theater/venues/wortham-center

Phone : +1 832-487-7000

Box office hours :

Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:00