Theatre Under The Stars

Houston’s non-profit home for musical theatre, dedicated to enriching lives through innovative musical theatre, inclusive educational curriculums and dynamic community engagement.

In 1968, a handful of spirited performers led by Frank Young imagined what it would be like to make musical theatre accessible to all Houstonians. Theatre Under the Stars began on a stage under the stars at Miller Outdoor Theatre, but over the years the organization grew to become a fully professional theater with performances on a variety of stages all over the city of Houston and added educational programming for the community. Then in 2002 TUTS moved to the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in the Houston Theater District, becoming the new facility’s principal resident company. This city-owned and maintained complex features the 2,650-seat Sarofim Hall and 500-seat Zilkha Hall, three rehearsal studios, and an adjacent parking garage. Over the past two decades, appreciation and demand for high-quality musical theatre and our education and outreach programs have only continued to grow. We aspire to be recognized both locally and nationally as a top-tier arts organization, as a cultural destination for Houston and the surrounding region, and as a collaborative artistic force that values diversity and practices inclusion. Under the leadership of Executive Director Hillary Hart and Artistic Director Dan Knechtges, TUTS core values align with our commitment to enrich the Houston community through musical theatre. TUTS reaches more than 210,000 people each year through our Mainstage shows and our outstanding education programs and community initiatives. In addition to enhancing the quality of life, TUTS performances, events, and programs have a powerful economic impact. We employ more than 500 people to work on our productions, and we inject more than $47 million into the local economy every year. Through our two schools, The Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) and The River, and through our innovative Community Engagement division (which includes programs such as Public Works Houston, the Tommy Tune Awards college scholarship program, Musicals for Young Audiences student matinees, and our partnership with Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts), TUTS also serves an additional 55,000 students, families, and community members each year.


Category: Arts, Culture, Humanities

Cause: Performing Arts


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