The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (The Hobby Center) is a state-of-the art complex located in the Theater District in the heart of downtown Houston. Located across from Tranquility Park and City Hall, The Hobby Center offers breath-taking panoramic views of downtown, two magnificent performance halls, and an award-winning restaurant. The Hobby Center is a city-owned facility and operated by The Hobby Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of The Hobby Center is to expand Houston’s reputation as a world-class cultural center by providing a premier performing arts facility, fostering accessibility to the performing arts, and promoting arts education, with an emphasis on musical theater. As it emerges from the pandemic, programming is back in high swing with upcoming productions that include Hamilton, Come From Away, Fiddler on the Roof, Jersey Boys, Beautiful, Frozen, Mean Girls, and Wicked.

The Hobby Center was designed by Robert A. M. Stern and opened in 2002. Its purpose was to bring the best of musical theater and Broadway to the city of Houston. Today, The Hobby Center includes two theaters, including Sarofim Hall, seating 2,650 on three levels, which was built with touring music theater in mind. Zilkha Hall, is a jewel-box theater with seating for 500 on two levels and provides an intimate setting for performances and events. These distinct spaces allow for flexibility in performances and events both large and small, including resident organizations Broadway Across America, Theatre Under the Stars, Ars Lyrica Houston, and Texas Medical Center Orchestra, as well as other concerts, receptions, weddings, and corporate events.

The Hobby Center has a robust arts education and community engagement program. Its Discovery Series is a dynamic arts education community partnership and a successful affiliation with regional school districts and local performing arts groups. It addresses an important need in local schools, providing an opportunity for teachers and students to experience arts outside of the classroom in a downtown Theater District venue. The series reaches thousands of Houston-area students annually, many from Title I schools, and helps cultivate an appreciation for the arts in today’s students and tomorrow’s performers and audience members. Many of these students would not have the opportunity to attend an educational theatrical performance without this program. The free performances and support materials provide teachers with connections that integrate the learning experience from the theater back into the classroom. The Discovery Series is offered free of charge to the students and the participating schools, including the reimbursement of school bus transportation for those that take advantage of it. For each season, the Foundation subsidizes the majority of the costs associated with presenting the programming.

The Hobby Center is also known for its programs with continual growth in offerings for patrons with accessibility needs. These programs include the ongoing training and activation of a team of volunteers, known as the Access Team, who aid patrons with mobility needs. The Hobby Center also works closely with Broadway Across America and Theatre Under the Stars to coordinate American Sign Language interpreted, open captioning, and audio described performances along with backstage “touch tours” for patrons with low or limited vision. Braille and large print Playbills are also made available for Broadway series performances. The Hobby Center’s Autism Theatre initiative provides sensory friendly performances in both its Discovery Series and for the Broadway series of performances when the opportunity arises. To date these have included sensory friendly presentations of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and Disney’s Aladdin. Houston, through The Hobby Center, was the first city to provide an autism friendly performance of a national touring production with the presentation of The Lion King. These performance experiences are specifically tailored for those with sensory sensitivities and their families to create a welcoming and supportive environment which allows for a more relaxed and inclusive experience.

The Hobby Center is governed by the 15-member Hobby Center Foundation Board of Directors, led by Rob Doty, Chairman. The staff includes approximately 28 full-time and 60 part-time staff members, as well as numerous independent contractors and almost 375 volunteers. For the pre-pandemic fiscal year ending August 31, 2019, The Hobby Center reported total revenue of $31.5 million, with $20 million from ticket sales, $9 million from theater operations and parking fees; $1.4 million contributions and grants, and the remainder from restaurant rental and investment income. The Hobby Center’s August 31, 2022, total revenue is budgeted at $35.6 million, with $21 million from ticket sales, $9.4 million from theater operations and parking fees, $4.7 million in sponsorship, contributions and grants, and the remainder from restaurant rental and investment income.