Wortham Theater Center

The Wortham Theater Center is a performing arts center in Houston, Texas. The building houses two theaters and is home to the Houston Grand Opera and the Houston Ballet. The Wortham Theater Center was built entirely with private funds and officially opened on May 9, 1987.

Funding

Although the building was constructed at the height of the Texas real estate, banking and oil recession in the 1980's, the Wortham Theater Center's $66 million cost was funded entirely by the private sector. More than 3,500 donors committed funds for the new facility despite the difficult economic times. The funding for building was a community effort. Nearly 2,200 individuals donated $100 or less to the capitol campaign.

Major Donors

The building is named for and is the legacy of the late Gus S. Wortham (1891-1976), a local philanthropist and founder of American General Insurance Company. The Wortham Foundation contributed $20 million for the construction of the new theater center. Additionally The Cullen Foundation contributed $7.5 million and the Brown Foundation gave $6 million to the building fund. In return the two theaters in the building were named the Lillie and Roy Cullen Theater and the Alice and George Brown Theater.

First Performances

• First performances in the building were of Society for the Performing Arts' Robert Wilson's "Knee Plays" in the Cullen Theater and a modern dance program entitled "Tango Argentino" in the Brown Theater.

• The Houston Ballet began its first season at Wortham Center on September 2, 1987 with Janie Parker and Li Cunxin staring in the world premiere of Ben Stevenson's new production of "Romeo and Juliet."

• Houston Grand Opera started its first season in its new home on October 15, 1987 with Plácido Domingo and Mirella Freni in a new production of Verdi's "Aida."

• Da Camera of Houston made its first presentation at the Wortham Center on October 1, 1988 with violinist Uri Pianka as one of the performers in a chamber music concert.

Building Facts

• The Brown Theater with 2,363-seats is primarily used for opera and large ballet productions.
• The Cullen Theater with 1,065 seats is used for smaller ballet productions and other events.
• The grand staircase, which is actually a bank of escalators, is surrounded by a site specific installation by renown New York sculptor Albert Paley.
• The glass entry arch is 88 feet tall.
• The Helen Hayes Chandelier installed in the Green Room was originally installed in New York City's Fulton Theater (renamed Helen Hayes Theater in 1955) in 1911. During the demolition of the theater the chandelier was purchased by Houstonians Billy and Janie Price who donated it to Wortham Center.
• Eugene Aubrey of Morris Architects designed the building.

External links

• Official Website of the Wortham Theater Center
• Houston Grand Opera's website
• Houston Ballet's website
• Albert Paley Official Website