Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (Banquet Hall, Loft)

Sarofim Hall

Consider Sarofim Hall for your theatrical event.

Sarofim Hall mirrors elegant and legendary European and Broadway theaters, providing an exceptional entertainment and cultural environment for patrons and performers.

Inspired by early twentieth-century theater designers Herts and Tallant, architect Robert A. M. Stern created his own 2,650-seat theatrical masterpiece. Sarofim Hall showcases:

• Rich midnight blue walls, soaring multi-story gold leaf columns and intricate latticework throughout
• The Joe and Lee Jamail Celestial Dome Ceiling, with more than 2,000 fiber-optic stars that replicate the Texas summer night sky – and a shooting star every five minutes

Stern and theater consultants Fisher Dachs took great care to ensure outstanding acoustics and amplified sound through their selection of seat fabric, wall coverings and ceiling configuration.

Sarofim Hall includes orchestra, mezzanine and upper gallery seating, with the farthest seat in the balcony only 128 feet from the stage. Private boxes also provide an excellent view of each performance.

The theater, including the Ruth B. Bauer Stage, was designed and equipped to accommodate the most complex and elaborate performances with:

• An orchestra pit for 60 musicians
• Comfortable dressing rooms and a sizeable loading dock

Sarofim Hall is home to two of the Hobby Center's Broadway theater resident series: Theatre Under the Stars and Broadway at the Hobby Center presented by Bank of America Series.

Zilkha Hall

This beautiful jewel-box theater provides an intimate setting for a variety of performances and cultural events. With excellent acoustics, warm deep rose tones and walnut wood accents, Zilkha Hall seats 500 on two levels.

Originally planned as a black box theater, Zilkha Hall is a proscenium theater with full orchestra pit and backstage features similar to Sarofim Hall, although on a smaller scale.

Zilkha Hall is home to Uniquely Houston®, an innovative community-based program that showcases the talent of emerging nonprofit performing arts organizations.