The Miller Outdoor Theatre is a Houston landmark that showcases cultural diversity and free professional entertainment. From a Zydeco festival to Shakespeare, this world-class proscenium theater has something for everyone.
Relax in the covered seating area or spread out a blanket on the hillside to watch shows from March through October. Bring your own food and drink but no glass containers. Arrive at least 10 minutes before showtime to get the best seats; unoccupied seats are released five minutes before performances start.
Free Concerts and Performances
Miller Outdoor Theatre offers free performances from March through October. The venue hosts a diverse range of professional entertainment, including classical music, jazz, ethnic music and dance, Shakespeare, musical theater, and classic films. Guests can relax in covered seating or enjoy a pre-performance picnic on the hillside.
A number of popular musical acts perform at the venue, including singers George Ducas and Luna Li as well as the band Dengue Fever. You can also catch a variety of performances by the Houston Symphony Orchestra in Houston, TX.
You can experience the city’s most popular orchestra during its free summer concert series, which builds to a spectacular Independence Day extravaganza that includes a fireworks show. Other highlights include piano virtuoso Michelle Cann (“a compelling, sparkling virtuoso” – Boston Music Intelligencer) performing Beethoven’s beloved Piano Concerto, as well as Ravel’s crowd-pleasing Tzigane and Bloch’s Nigun from Baal Shem.
Movies in the Park
During the day, Miller is filled with people taking walks around Hermann Park, picnicking under its shade trees, and enjoying its many pathways. At night, the sloping lawn fills up with visitors to the theater for free concerts and performances and the annual Fourth of July fireworks show.
The non-ticketed hillside seating area has space for 1,705 patrons, 20 wheelchair spaces, and 4,500 additional guests on blankets and lawn chairs. All events are held rain or shine.
For an easy and fun way to visit Miller Outdoor Theatre, take METRORail, especially on weekends when parking is limited. Exit at the Hermann Park/Rice U station and walk five minutes to the theatre. Parking is also available at Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza garage for a fee.
Family-Friendly Events
Miller Outdoor Theatre hosts a diverse season of professional entertainment among the beautiful scenery of Hermann Park. Patrons can sit in the covered seating or picnic on the sloping lawn surrounding the 1,700-seat open theater.
Throughout the summer, locals enjoy Music in the Park with Houston Symphony. The free concerts feature popular classical works accompanied by rising stars of the musical world.
Another highlight of the summer is Motown Revue, a celebration of African American performance art. The concert showcases talented vocalists and dancers.
The 2023 season at the venue includes a performance of Pippin, the Houston Shakespeare Festival, and events for Cinco de Mayo and Juneteenth. Other notable performances include Classic Albums Live performing Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band with the Houston Symphony and a tribute to Nat King Cole. A Steampunk Spectacular and a celebration of Earth Day are also on the schedule. Ticketing for the venue’s shows is free, and both covered and hillside seating are available.
Historical Highlights
For a century, the Miller Outdoor Theatre has showcased top-tier performing arts in Houston’s Hermann Park. The unique theater’s eight-month season remains free of charge. Today, the venue’s repertoire features classical music, ballet and dance, world music, jazz, Shakespearean comedy and drama, and film screenings.
Founded in 1919, the theater was built on land left to the city by cotton broker and mining engineer Jesse Wright Miller. The property was sold to his sister, Alma Miller Womack, who used $50,000 of the proceeds to build a permanent bandstand on the site. The original structure was designed by William Ward Watkin as an amphitheater surrounded by ten Corinthian-style limestone columns and two oak trees that bookended the stage.
The new theatre, which opened in 1968, was redesigned by Eugene Werlin to accommodate larger productions. The modern facility features a 64-by-41-foot stage, 54 line sets for hanging lights, curtains, and scenery, an orchestra pit that can be raised or lowered, dressing rooms, and offices. A 110-ton air conditioning system keeps the theatre cool during performances.
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Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston is an amazing open-air performing arts venue located in Hermann Park. With its hillside seating, state-of-the-art sound and lighting, and breathtaking city views, Miller Outdoor Theatre has been providing free entertainment to the Houston community for decades. This beloved cultural treasure brings art to the public.
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