the hobby center : sarofim hall
ABOUT: The ornate opulence of historic European and Broadway theatres is recalled in the handsome interior of the 2,650-seat Sarofim Hall. Hobby Center architect, Robert Stern was inspired by legendary theatre designers Herts and Tallant, architects of distinction who practiced in Manhattan during the early twentieth century.
Luxury and fantasy reign, as the Sarofim’s gilded interiors invoke a gazebo under a starry, starry night. Sumptuous golden latticework wraps around the hall, while multi-storied, gold-leaf columns contrast with dramatic midnight blue walls. The crowning touch is above - the Joe and Lee Jamail Celestial Dome Ceiling, a breathtaking ellipse featuring twinkling fiber optic stars that replicate the Texas night sky. (Watch for a shooting star that arrives every five minutes!)
Every interior appointment has been carefully considered, contributing to outstanding acoustics and amplified sound: the fabric in the seats, the materials on the walls, the ceiling’s configuration.
The theatre offers three tiers: orchestra, mezzanine, and upper gallery. In this setting, intimacy is heightened, as the farthest seat in the balcony is just 128 feet from the stage. Private boxes, nestled close to the curtain, provide a lovely nook for taking it all in.
Each behind-the-scenes element - orchestra pit for 60 players, mammoth stage traps with hydraulic lifts for hoisting scenery and performers - ensures that the most lavish productions can play Sarofim’s Ruth B. Bauer Stage. Sarofim Hall is home to the Hobby's two resident companies, Theatre Under The Stars and Broadway in Houston. Houston arts patrons can savor the best in musical theatre without leaving the Lone Star State.
Address:
Hobby Center - Sarofim Hall
800 Bagby
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 315-2400
Capacity: 2,650
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes - contact the Box Office
