Presented By:

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Theater District Open House

The stage is calling.

We’re putting fun back in the spotlight this Spring Break!
Mark your calendars for a day of family-friendly performances, arts and crafts, workshops and more. 

March 9, 2026 | 11–4pm | FREE to guests of all ages
Rain or Shine!

Register Here

About Open House

What is Theater District Open House?

Houston Theater District is excited to welcome the return of the ExxonMobil Theater District Open House. Since 1993, the Houston Theater District has opened its doors, raised its curtains and welcomed children of all ages behind the scenes to explore the diverse and exciting world of the arts. 

Generously sponsored by ExxonMobil, this beloved community event celebrates the heart of Houston’s performing arts scene and the rich cultural diversity that makes our city shine.

Bring the whole family for a FREE day of live performances featuring theater, music, and more – plus hands-on activities and behind-the-scenes experiences for guests of all ages. Brought to you by the performing arts companies and venues of the district, everyone is invited to discover, play, and experience the joy of the performing arts in a fun, welcoming environment.

Venues open to the public: 

Download Parking Map

2026 Theater District
Open House Schedule

Monday, March 9, 2026 | 11:00am – 4:00pm

  • Alley Theater

    • Backstage Tours – Main Lobby 

    • Craft Zone & Educational Program Info – Mitchell Lobby  

    • Photo Booth – Long Lobby  

    • Artisan Excellence Displays, Costume Try-On – Lily Pad 

    • Make-Up Artist Stations, Balloon Artists, Water Giveaway – Front Steps 

    • Yard Games – Chao Balcony 

    • Discounted Ticket Sales – Guest Services

    • Concessions – Skyline Bar 

    • Venue Designated Quiet Room – The Gallery

    Center for Dance

    • Backstage Tours – Meet in Studio 190

    • Boutique Sales – 1st Floor Lobby

    • Venue Designated Quiet Room – 1st Floor Loading Dock 

    Hobby Center

    • Backstage and Onstage Tours – Sarofim Lobby

    • Venue Designated Quiet Room – Founders Club

    Theatre Under The Stars

    • Costume Exhibit – Grand Lobby 

    • Flash Mob Performance – Outside Sarofim Entrance during transition times

    • Info Tables: Season ticket purchasing, summer camp registration, Education Spring musical tickets, sim. – Grand Lobby

    Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

    • Arts and Crafts – Founders Club

    • DJ and Food Truck – Zilkha Patio 

    • Ticket Information Tables, Photo Opportunities and Giveaways – Sarofim Lobby

    Jones Hall

    • Step into the Spotlight! (on stage, ends at 2:30pm)

    • Backstage Tours (ends at 2:40pm)

    • Informational Tables -  Main Lobby

    • Venue Designated Quiet Room – Texas Lounge 

    Performing Arts Houston 

    • Visual Art Activation – Outside Patio

    • Face Painter, Student Art Exhibit – Main Lobby

    • Ticket Sales – Main Lobby 

    Houston Symphony 

    • Find Your Place in the Orchestra: Create a character, pick an instrument, and add yourself to the orchestra wall – Main Lobby 

    • Instrument Petting Zoo – Mezzanine Lobby 

    • Craft Cardboard Violins; Community Embedded Musicians – Round Bar 

    • Ticket Raffle & Concert Info; Guest Experience Table – Main Lobby 

    Lynn Wyatt Square

    • Downtown Houston+, Market and Information Tent 

    • Houston Theater District, Information Table with ExxonMobil Theater District Open House programs

    Wortham Theater Center

    • Backstage Tours – Check in at the Founders Club Entrance 

    • Venue Designated Quiet Room – Grand Foyer level in the Brown Theater Hallway (located on the 3rd floor) 

    DACAMERA

    • Musical Caricatures - Grand Foyer

    • Discount Ticket Sales

    Performing Arts Houston

    • Photo Booth

    • Information Table and Ticket Sales 

    Houston Ballet

    • Archival Exhibit and Educational Boards

    Houston Grand Opera

    • Information Table, Raffle, Merchandise, and more!

    Houston Theater District

    • Balloon Sculpture Photo Spot

    • Information Tent and Raffle 

    • Face Painting  

    • Jumbo Games (Jenga, Chess, Connect 4) 

    • Giant Interactive Bubbles 

    • Stilt Walkers

  • 11:00am (1 hour)

    • Lynn Wyatt Square: Kick-off Celebration featuring Houston Theater District Resident Organizations; short performances and highlights of venue activities.

  • 12:00pm (1 hour)

    • Lynn Wyatt Square: Ailey Arts in Education Revelations Workshop, Led by Ailey Arts in Education Teaching Artists and Musicians and presented by Performing Arts Houston

    12:00pm (30 minutes)

    • Alley Theater, Hubbard Stage: Ruben Moreno & Zydeco Re-Evolution performance

    • Center for Dance, Dance Lab: Young Artists: Tomorrow’s Stars, Today; DACAMERA Young Artists perform Jessie Montgomery’s Strum. Houston Ballet II present excerpts from Sleeping Beauty and Stanton Welch’s Fingerprints

    • Hobby Center, Grand Lobby: TUTS Create and Explore, Family-friendly inclusive session brings Broadway magic to life with singing and dancing

    • Hobby Center, Zilkha Hall: Ars Lyrica Houston performs excerpts from Origenes

    • Wortham Theater Center, Grand Foyer: AFA Performance

    12:15pm (30 minutes)

    • Center for Dance, Meet in Studio 190: Houston Ballet Multi-Generational Creative Dance Class

    • Center for Dance, Meet in Studio 190: Houston Ballet Movement Class

    12:30pm (30 minutes)

    • Alley Theater, Hubbard Stage: Spoken Word Poets

    • Hobby Center, Grand Lobby: Body by Broadway. In this lively, movement-focused session, TUTS teaching artists lead upbeat routines set to classic Disney-inspired songs

    • Hobby Center, Zilkha Hall: Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective present excerpts from The Fairytale Project

    • Wortham Theater Center, Grand Foyer: Mercury Quartet performs selections from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

  • 1:00pm (1 hour)

    • Lynn Wyatt Square: DACAMERA Jazz: Tasiah Rodgers, voice; Brooke Wyatt, piano; Marwan Ghonima, bass; and Gavin Moolchan, drums

    • Wortham Theater Center, Grand Foyer: Houston Grand Opera, Music-Stories-OPERA!

    1:00pm (30 minutes)

    • Alley Theater, Hubbard Stage: Stage Combat Demonstration 

    • Center for Dance, Dance Lab: Young Artists: Tomorrow’s Stars, Today; DACAMERA Young Artists perform Jessie Montgomery’s Strum. Houston Ballet II present excerpts from Sleeping Beauty and Stanton Welch’s Fingerprints

    • Hobby Center, Grand Lobby: TUTS Create and Explore: Family-friendly inclusive session brings Broadway magic to life with singing and dancing

    • Hobby Center, Zilkha Hall: Ensemble Theater present excerpts from Don’t Worry Willy

    • Wortham Theater, Fish Plaza: Performing Arts Houston Prelude Artist: OAEC Performance

    1:15pm (30 minutes)

    • Center for Dance, Meet in Studio 190: Houston Ballet Multi-Generational Creative Dance Class

    • Center for Dance, Meet in Studio 190: Houston Ballet Movement Class

    1:30pm (30 minutes)

    • Alley Theater, Hubbard Stage: Stage Combat Demonstration

    • Hobby Center, Grand Lobby: Body by Broadway. In this lively, movement-focused session, TUTS teaching artists lead upbeat routines set to classic Disney-inspired songs

    • Hobby Center, Zilkha Hall: Houston Contemporary Dance Company

    • Wortham Theater, Fish Plaza: Performing Arts Houston Prelude Artist: Cypress Winds Clarinet Quartet

  • 2:00pm (1 hour)

    • Lynn Wyatt Square: Theatre Under The Stars presents The Academy Company’s Create & Explore program and student artists

    2:00pm (30 minutes)

    • Alley Theater, Hubbard Stage: Creating The Importance of Being Earnest

    • Hobby Center, Grand Lobby: TUTS Create and Explore: Family-friendly inclusive session brings Broadway magic to life with singing and dancing

    • Hobby Center, Zilkha Hall: [Jk]creativ performs excerpts from Our Road Home

    • Center for Dance, Dance Lab: Young Artists: Tomorrow’s Stars, Today; DACAMERA Young Artists perform Jessie Montgomery’s Strum. Houston Ballet II present excerpts from Sleeping Beauty and Stanton Welch’s Fingerprints

    • Wortham Theater Center, Fish Plaza: Performing Arts Houston Prelude Artist: Cypress Winds Clarinet Quartet

    • Wortham Theater Center, Grand Foyer: HSPVA Classical Performance

    2:15pm (30 minutes)

    • Center for Dance, Meet in Studio 190: Houston Ballet Multi-Generational Creative Dance Class

    • Center for Dance, Meet in Studio 190: Houston ballet Movement Class

    2:30pm (30 minutes)

    • Alley Theater, Hubbard Stage: Artistic Staff Highlights, Season 80 

    • Hobby Center, Grand Lobby:‍ Body by Broadway. In this lively, movement-focused session, TUTS teaching artists lead upbeat routines set to classic Disney-inspired songs

    • Hobby Center, Zilkha Hall: Urban Souls Dance Company

    • Wortham Theater Center, Grand Foyer: HSPVA Jazz Performance

  • 3:00pm (1 hour)

    • Jones Hall: Houston Symphony Closing Concert featuring music by John Williams, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gioachino Rossini, and more!

Download Full Schedule

Open House FAQ’s & Event Disclosure

  • Parking is available at a number of convenient locations including: 

    • The Hobby Center for the PerformingArts

    • The Lyric Garage

    • Theater District Garages

    Download Parking Map

  • Theater District Open House kick-off ceremony is scheduled at 11:00am in Lynn Wyatt Square (600 Louisiana Street – The park is across Louisiana Street from Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts (commonly known as Jones Hall) 

  • Ride share drop-off and pick-up are easily accessible throughout the area. 

  • Guests may arrive at Lynn Wyatt Square beginning at 10:30 a.m.  Doors will open at all other venues immediately following the kick-off ceremony.  This includes Jones Hall, Alley Theatre, Wortham Theater, Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance, and The Hobby Center.

  • Located in the heart of Downtown Houston, the Theater District’s central location makes it easy for visitors to ride, drive, bike or walk to access. Public transportation routes via Metro and Metrorail are available.

  • No ticket is required to attend the activities planned as part of Theater District Open House.  A full schedule of free performances and family events is included on the website.  We’ll share updates to the event listing as we get closer to the Open House, so stay tuned! 

  • Let us know that you’re coming by registering here

  • Yes!  Guests are invited to join the kick-off at Lynn Wyatt Square from 11:00-11:45am, then are encouraged to create their own arts adventure through each of the Theater District venues beginning at 12:00pm. At 3:00pm, we’ll invite everyone to join us at Jones Hall for the return of the concluding Houston Symphony concert!

  • Food trucks will be available throughout the District and concessions are available for purchase at The Hobby Center, Wortham Theater Center, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Lynn Wyatt Square, and Alley Theatre Skylight Lounge.  Event programs will be distributed at each of the venues with additional information. 

  • Should a guest need a calm space free from excessive noise and activity, there will be a Quiet Zones available throughout the District.  We will share additional information about the locations of each zone before the event. 

  • Public restrooms are accessible at each venue: The Hobby Center, Wortham Theater Center, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Lynn Wyatt. Square, and Alley Theatre, and Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance.

  • The show will go on! Outdoor activities will move inside and we’ll continue with performances and workshops as scheduled. With covered parking and bus transportation between venues, Open House is the perfect rainy day activity.

Event Disclosure

Please note, event attendees may be photographed or recorded for promotional use by Houston Theater District and Open House participating partners.

Connect with us

Send us a message at info@houstontheaterdistrict.org