Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

This was my first time seeing a performance at the Hobby Center and it definitely won't be my last. While I don't love the location because parking downtown sucks, I think their $15 charge is pretty fair. The performance I saw was a dance performance called "as long as there is in me" and it was very emotional and experimental contemporary dance. I absolutely loved every second of it! Unfortunately they have moved on to other cities to perform but I highly recommend seeing it if you can travel there. The center itself is really nice and modern with a homey and ethereal vibe to it. Not to mention the service and staff were super helpful and friendly. Definitely going to be going to more performances and shows!

This is one of the best places in Houston to go see a show of any type, but they're obviously known for the various musicals hosted by Theater Under the Stars. I can't count the number of times I've been here, originally with minimal consent since my mother's company was a sponsor and she got free tickets, and eventually much more willingly as I took dates to see shows. The entire venue maintains an impressive flow of old-school appeal while also being well maintained and updated. I've sat on each of the three levels, but never on a balcony. There really isn't a bad view unless you happen to be at an awkward angle or near handrails, both of which I've been warned about but neither of which I've experienced. The performances are always spectacular. I've seen Camelot, Spamelot, Miss Saigon, The Lion King, and probably a half dozen other plays and musicals. You can really tell that Houston is a major city for the arts, as these are top tier performances that really live up to the billing of "Broadway Across America." There are bars on every level with drinks and snacks, which are predictably horribly overpriced and designed to lure in those looking to impress someone else or who just didn't plan well. Thankfully, there are plenty of other places nearby to grab a bite to eat or a drink before or after a show.

Houston is a great city for the arts and Hobby Center is a large part of that. I've seen various shows here over the years including musicals and plays. While valet parking is available, I've always been a ninja at street parking so that's always my go-to when parking in the theater district of downtown Houston. Like most venues for the performing arts, you can order drinks before the show and during intermission (plus some food options). The venue itself is comfortable with pretty good seats and good views (for a larger venue) pretty much anywhere in the house. Keep up-to-date on all of the various performances coming to town by visiting their website or subscribing to their email list.

Parking in the garage was super easy, food at the cafe was good, seating was easy, and it was a great show. Popped in for a matinee of &Juliet with super fair prices for really good seats. Easy in and easy out.

We sprung for the orchestra seats. Last time we were at the very top and it was huge improvement although the ones at the top are still ok (not like the theatre in London where I was literally looking on top of the actors heads and was eye level with the catwalks attached to the ceiling)

Going to the theater never disappoints!!! Box 10 on the right with great views of the stage. Easy valet or self parking, amazing seats, friendly staff and of course amazing productions. What's not to love?

I am a season ticket holder so come here often. The staff are friendly and very helpful. You can pre-order your drinks and snacks to be ready during intermission. The bistro sells snacks from candy and chips to meat and cheeses to French macaroons. There is a parking garage behind the theatre. If you have a Lexus, you get complimentary valet parking. I usually park on the street because the garage can be difficult to get out of after the show is over. There are usually police directing traffic before and after Broadway shows. TUFTS shows also use this theatre. There are entrances on the side and front of the building. The have metal detectors inside the entrances as well. They scan your tickets electronically when you enter. The restrooms are on the bottom floor. The lines are long but there are a ton of stalls so it moves really quickly. There are staff placed throughout the building to help direct traffic and ensure traffic flows smoothly.

I love the performing arts and have attended numerous shows at The Hobby Center. Hobby hosts a variety of productions including musicals, plays, dance, music, etc. The majority of shows that I've attended have been Broadway shows. Parking: Nearby garages are $15 for self park. The Hobby Center garage takes cash or credit while the underground garages are card only. If parking in the Hobby Garage, the first 3 levels are reserved for valet (which is $25). If you drive a Lexus, you get complimentary valet parking! It takes awhile to get out of the Hobby garage so be patient. You can also park on the street or the City Hall Annex parking lot across the street. Be sure to read the signs so you don't get a ticket. Security: They have body scanners which expedites the process. They will not search your bag unless the scanner detects something (similar to the scanners at Minute Maid Park). Theaters: I've been going to Hobby for years and never realized that they have two theaters until about a month ago. Sarofim Hall is the large theater where the major Broadway shows are performed. I've sat in each level (orchestra, mezzanine, gallery, theater boxes). Personally I prefer mid orch or front mezz. The theater boxes are nice, but the view is obstructed. There are also some side seats in the orchestra that are obstructed. Zilkha Hall is the small theater. It seats about 500 people and has a more intimate feel. The sound quality is great and I enjoyed the show I saw there last month. Food & Drinks: There's a restaurant inside of the theater called Diana American Grill. I've only eaten at the restaurant once (at the time, it was called Artista). There's also the Grand Lobby Bistro that offers grab and go items. They have a good number of bars/concession stands throughout the theater that sell drinks and snacks. I like that they feature specialty cocktails for each show. I also like that you can preorder your drink so that it is waiting for you at intermission. Drinks are allowed in the theater. If you arrive early, grab a drink, go out on the terrace, and enjoy the view of downtown. Staff: The staff is always very friendly and helpful. I have never had any issues with any of the employees. The Hobby Center is a beautiful theater and Houstonians are very fortunate to have the opportunity to see so many amazing performances.

Came here on a Tuesday night to watch Shucked. The venue itself was nice, though parking was a bit confusing (I was also running late so felt more of a time crunch). With most shows starting around 7:30PM, you can find street parking for free which is nice. I think the area around Hobby Center is also pretty nice so could be a good spot to come early to and walk around (weather permitting) so you don't feel rushed for the show. I sat way in the back and thought the view and audio were still pretty great so good option for a fun night on a budget! Also, sitting in the back, I was able to see the projected star/night/light thing on the ceiling and caught a "shooting star" which was kind of fun!

I'm so glad to have the Hobby Center! I love musicals and the performing arts in general and the fact that major productions come to Houston and I'm able to see them is amazing! From Hamilton to Wicked to the Phantom of the Opera (favorite!) the experience has been great. Ticket prices are reasonable if you're early enough, though seating viewed vary. Most of the time it's unobstructed (though can be far). The acoustics are great though! And the actual room is large and regal-perfect for the performances it houses.

FOUNDER'S CLUB REVIEW: What a great idea! I enjoyed a lovely evening in the Founder's Club inside the Hobby Center. This venue within a venue afforded an intimate setting for a performance that easily felt like we were friends gathered in someone's large, elegant living room. I ordered the Mustang Martini, chicken biscuits, and pumpkin cheesecake. The drink was deliciously tart, the chicken was impossibly crispy, and the dessert, with its decadent pecan praline sauce, was wickedly indulgent. Best of all, the performers, Katie Rose Clarke and Steven Jamail, were outstanding! The audience was treated to stunning renditions of soprano show tunes, and I was even brought to tears a few times.

Parking garage is sufficient. Wish there was a tunnel entrance from the parking garage behind the building especially in the summer. The staff are always pleasant and helpful. The bar areas were clean, organized, and efficient. They offer a new perk - prepay/preorder drinks, food, and snacks for intermission. I preordered and paid and my order was labeled and ready when I came out from intermission. Perfect! They also have some accessibility perks for anyone interested. They have 2 albeit small screens on the left side of Seraphim/Sarophim(?) hall that offer closed captioning. Then they offer binoculars. And also have headphones and a small device to turn on and adjust volume in order to hear things better during the show. The first device I got was staticky, but the 2nd device I switched out to was great! No static. No issues. Really enjoyed that option as I do use a hearing aid for my right side. Overall, great experience! The staff also help to redirect restroom traffic during intermission and are very patient while providing directions or instructions. Excited to return for another show.

Great venue and you can catch dinner before your show. Recommended making dinner reservations.

We attended Rick James Live at The Hobby Center on Thursday. Pro tip: if you are going during the week, look for a spot downtown at a meter. Make sure to read but most times they are free after 6pm and all day on Saturday. We found one within a 5 minute walk. Hobby Center was buzzing with activity. Our bags were checked and we walked through the scanner. Lots of ushers were there to give directions. We were seated in the second level Orchestra section. The seats gave us a good view of the stage. Since we didn't want to be in the crowds we got there around 6pm for the 730 showing. The food at the bistro was good, we had grilled chicken breast and Swiss sandwiches. They were good and flavorful but cold. They were advertised as cold and they were. They had a selection of cold sandwiches, salads and chips. The drink selection was good. We spent 33.00 for two sandwiches and 2 bags of chips. The wine was 16.00 for 9 ounces for a sav Blanc and they had Pinot and other red wines along with a big variety of mixed drinks. The only complaint is there are no restrooms at that level. The restroom is well monitored though, it goes fast but you have to walk. Exiting was a breeze because we didn't have to wait for elevators or crowds in the parking garage.

Came here for the first time to see MJ the broadway show. The staff was wonderful. Seating does not open half an hour prior to the show, and there is a restaurant right inside the Hobby Center. There is Valet Parking, but if you have a Lexus, there is complimentary valet parking. I was seated as far away from the show as possible, but even so, the view was still pretty good, and I was able to see each of the characters. Unfortunately, there was a very rude attendee sitting near me, and when I brought it up to the staff, they helped me move to a different seat without giving me any pushback! It definitely took a while to get my car back after the show from valet, but there were a lot of cars who did the valet parking, and the staff was doing their utmost best to get people's cars as quickly as possible. I will definitely come again to see other shows in the near future.

Nice, intimate venue. There's not a bad seat in the house. I will mention that the seats are very close together. So you either need to be sitting next to someone that you know, or be ok bumping elbows with your neighbor. Inner doors open about 30 minutes before showtime. There's not really anywhere to sit, so be prepared to stand or walk around to kill time if you arrive early. There is a bar that serves a small variety of concessions. Although I did not partake in the bar, I did observe that you can pre-order drinks to be ready for you at intermission so you don't have to wait in line.

We came here from Austin to see Christopher Titus on his new tour, we had previously seen him in Houston a few year ago at another location, he sadly does not come to Austin. The place is very nice, we took an Uber/Lyft so I don't have any information on parking but the employees were all very friendly and helpful, getting in was fast even with only two doors and metal detectors. There are a few benches and some stand alone tables you can, well stand at, in the lobby area, it is not huge but it had a small concession window you could get snacks and drinks at. Unlike most of the places in Austin that do this, they didn't allow the snacks in the theater area, I think because this is usually used for musicals or plays. No biggie, we got a couple of drinks, Shana trying the themed cocktail, they had a small TV that was showing upcoming events. Now the one gripe I had and I heard from several people in the lobby, the website and tickets all tell you to get their 45 minutes early. We got there a bit earlier then that due to our driver being well versed in the city. But I don't know if this is normal for this place, they did not let anyone in until the show was about the start, the show was at 8, I think we found our set at 7:58, maybe even after 8. I don't mind last minute seating even if it seems like a bad idea but don't push us to be there early, warning us several times if we just have to stand around for no reason whatsoever. It really soured the experience and no one told us why or gave updates. Beyond that, the seats were good, if really close together, the place is nice, and the show was great. The only other bad experience was due to people. Example, Cap City and other venues for comedy only tell you don't speak, don't heckle. You shouldn't have to say that but this night proved you should. There were so many people who thought they were funny or friends to Christopher and Rachel. They both handled it differently but effectively but couldn't stop everyone. One guy near us just kept yelling out weird things like I agree or Welcome to the family? We didn't pay to hear you dude. STFU. I know it is a lot of complaining and some of it not the fault of the place, though kicking out people who won't shut up should be a rule. The positives really did outweigh the negatives, the bathrooms were nice, the staff was friendly, the place was big and the show was excellent. I get the feeling this would be better if we came for a play or musical. Unless the dire warning to get there early but don't be seated until right as play starts or even after are a normal thing. That took a lot of enjoyment out for me, That kind of delay or rudeness when you strongly request or require us to be early never sits well with me. Its rude and it causes even more delays as now you have to sit all the people just milling around in a rush.

PSA on parking: Do not buy parking passes via StubHub or Ticketmaster, etc. There is plenty of surface or garage parking around for $20 or less that you can access day of event. TLDR = Don't pre-buy parking passes and if you do, don't pay more than $15-20. Lot C is a good parking alternative ($5) to attached garages. Les mis was fantastic. It was stuffy/hot inside so I would wear less next time. Center orchestra row NN seats were just fine. Bottled water costs $5. Can take drinks in as well as candy that's not loud (ie crinkly wrappers). I am woefully unfamiliar with downtown and the parking situation and bought a parking pass for C lot surface parking for $40 thinking better to have a pass than fight for parking. Do not make the same mistake as I did. For one, the price to park in that lot is $5. There were 5 cars there in a lot that fits probably 100. There is also attached garage parking for $15. Now, unless you are in a group or feel safe walking alone, would not park in C lot at night. It's only a 3-5 min walk to Hobby Center, but it's one of those lots under the highway and you have to pass a somewhat sketchy area to get to the block where Hobby Center is. However, this is a fantastic option for access as there is no line to get in or out as you can imagine there would be for a garage full of people trying to escape at the same time. For an additional 2 min walk and only $5, it's a solid parking option. Now for the venue itself - it was very well organized and the ushers were super nice and helpful. Minus one star is because it was so stuffy/hot inside. And we went when it was 65 outside mid January so it wasn't exactly a hot summer day. We jokingly wondered if the a/c was reserved for the VIP folks. After we sat down inside, it felt a little better, but I'd probably say don't overdress - wear something breathable or dress in layers for optionally. We sat in central orchestra NN 01 and 02. The view was just fine. I couldn't see their faces too clearly but not sure I needed to see detailed facial features to enjoy the show. I could see enough of their features and the sound was fantastic. Pro tip - buy your snacks/water before you go in so you don't have to fight the crowd at intermission. The stage management / organization was brilliant. For such a small stage, they were able to do so much for Les Miserables - it was quite impressive! And of course the actors and actresses were superb. The show itself was 5/5.

Visited the Sarofim Hall Hobby Center to see Wicked and had a pretty good experience. First things first - parking. They offer $25 valet and a self park garage. We opted for street parking as there were plenty when we went on Tuesday - it's free after 6 pm! Entering the building was smooth - security and the ushers were all polite. They have your usual theater concessions with drinks, snacks etc. There is also a grill and a cafe inside which is a plus if you're trying to grab a proper meal before the show. We sat at the center gallery and honestly thought the view was not too bad - I've heard people say there's not a bad seat here any they might be right. The temperature inside the hall was perfect. Overall enjoyed our experience, and wouldn't mind seeing another show or two here. Also, my wife got our tickets in the box office which saves some money off the fees so I recommend doing that!

Why 5 stars? Because this is the nicest theater I've been to. --- --- --- I certainly have not been to countless theaters, but it's definitely my favorite of any that I've visited. It has all of the beauty of a traditional theater, but with all of the modern amenities and a sleek design. We were here for a kid's show (Paw Patrol) and I was really impressed with it from start to finish. Parking in the garage was super easy and every corner of the facility was top notch. Well done, Hobby Center. This Hobby guy sure seems pretty important in Houston.

We saw SHUCKED at the Hobby Center in Sarofim Hall on 11/23/24. It was a good musical with a "heehaw"-type comedy. The show is 3.5 Star and the Venue 1 Star. This was my first time there, and I will NEVER attend another show in Sarofim Hall again, even if it is free. The seats were the worst of any theatre seats anywhere, including nine different Broadway shows in NYC, SF, and London. The Hobby venue is lovely except for the seating comfort and the 30-minute wait to exit the garage. Also try to avoid TicketMaster for tickets.

I'm not big on musicals but my girlfriend and her friends love them...so I agreed to come watch Moulin Rouge. This show was absolutely amazing! Such a talented cast of performers, with awesome set pieces, and one of a kind music mashups you've never heard anywhere else. The venue itself is super nice. Huge ceilings and spiral staircases. No dress codes but you'll get people in flip flops and shirts all the way to ballroom dresses. We like any occasion to dress up so we did just that. The only negative is that the lines during the 20 minute intermissions are terrible. If you have to go to the bathroom AND want to get a drink/snack...good luck doing both and making it back in before the close the doors for the second act. Parking can also be a pain. $15. If you don't get there early you'll be near the roof and have to wait awhile to get out after the show ends. Uber/Lyft is the best move but there are even big lines for that too.

Went here for HAIRSPRAY on June 6. It was a touring event from their Broadway cast. Such a lovely evening with these great talents. Hobby Center is located in Downtown Houston, so driving around is a bit chaos. Parking also isn't cheap. But I did enjoyed the performance. Bravo to the cast members

Attended the Broadway Play Ain't Too Proud about the life and times of The Temptations. What a great play. Wonderful memories of music I grew up with. The Hobby Center was very organized from the time we walked to the front doors till we made it to our seats. We saw our friend, Cheryl Roquemore Smith's daughter Brittany Davis play Mary Wilson of the Supremes, and Johnnie Mae their manager. She was Awesome!!! Very impressed with her performance! Ten Stars.

We saw Dog Man the musical and my son loved it. The place is clean and friendly staff. We went on a Saturday morning and there are plenty of parking in the garage.

It was a greeeeat show! They had a signature drink, very tasty. Most of the staff was super friendly...except ironically one employee at the info table. But, I'll definitely be back for another show. I learned what the gallery is on this show. If you can't see distance well, don't book this section. An immediate insight was they rent opera glasses at this level. Hobby center Gallery M 117/118 - Tiny seats stiff backs on these chairs, can't see if you can't see long distances.

Fairly large theatre. Definitely not intimate. If you aren't seated in the lower orchestra, the view won't be that great depending on the show. The theatre itself has nice amenities. I particularly appreciate that they allow you to bring in drinks inside the theatre. There is also a bistro that has a decent selection and a restaurant with balcony seating. The location is great for street parking. There are a few streets close to the theatre so if you allow enough time, snagging street parking is not a hassle. Gorgeous and welcoming on the outside. There are two halls that show different performances.

I came here for the first time to see pretty woman and it was fantastic. I love the way the venue is set up and even if your seats are pretty far up you can still see and enjoy the show. Tip Get there at least 15 minutes before the show because parking can be a pain. Be on time because they will not let you in after the show starts. be aware that if you are parked in the garage, leaving the show will take you at least 20 min just to get out of the garage.

Hobby is not very welcoming. The people who work there are lovely. However, I drive a far distance and tonight was again frustrated by the imperious and very important people which work at Diana where I again can't even get something to drink. They are much too busy.

So far I enjoyed coming to the Hobby Center, the staff has been decent, good shows and good food options but I had kind of a negative experience the last time. When I went to a show in early August, I had my phone out at one point. An older woman in a yellow shirt on the 6th floor came right next to me almost screaming in my ear saying not to have my phone out, to delete what I had on my phone and that she was going to tell on me. Had me feeling like I was about to get kicked out. Another worker was nicer in her approach to me. Even if I was not supposed to be taking a pic or video, her reaction was a bit much. There were other people pointing their phone to the stage but I guess she was focused on me.

Waited 3 years, paid $300 to see "The Lion King Musical". Four different parties were seated AFTER the show started, each requiring the rows in front of us to stand while people blinded us with their cell phone lights as they scanned the seats. So many years, so much money...and I had to watch the opening "Circle of Life" scene--breathtaking--on Youtube. I wouldn't risk the cost of tickets again knowing that their seating policy is so disastrous. Going to drive to Austin or San Antonio for future shows.

I came here to watch new jack city, and I was blown away because I had no expectations, and I was thoroughly entertained. The hobby center is clean, has excellent staff, and has an open bar on each floor. Felt I was in a safe environment because of the security detail when coming into the building also. I can't wait to patronize this place again and watch another outstanding play.

I do recommend this place for great musicals and Broadway, but one thing I don't like is that the seats are too high up that when you look down, there are no bar handles for the people to cross over because some people would have phobias to thinking that they were going to fall down I had this And breath problems because I had to walk so many stairs that had my breath. I would recommend people to reserve seats on the first floor because you won't be able to see a great view of the Broadway from the top you'll only be looking at the wall or roof not at the people

We came to see The Golden Girls for an afternoon performance. We arrived an hour early as recommended but the parking garage was already full so we were directed to the city underground parking garage on a rainy day in Houston! Unfortunately there were no handicap parking spots close to the tunnel to the theater so we had to hike a distance. When we got to the theater lobby is was very small and tightly packed with people waiting for the theater to open. Even though we were told venue would open 90 minutes before curtain it was closer to 15 minutes. Seating was comfortable. Acoustics were good and the sight lines were good. The show was good but not nearly worth the ticket price. When the show was over, there was a mad dash back thru the tunnel to the parking garage. And a traffic jam to get out. And we were told event parking would be $15 but turns out it was over $20. Don't waste your time or money at this venue. The Wortham Theatre, The Alley and Jones Hall also in Houston are far superior facilities.

Funny thing - Houston is a world class arts center! The Hobby Center is part of the proof. Understated yet, Broadway comes to us. The facility is beautiful. If you're in the Mezzanine, the steps are a little much though. The acoustics are astounding, yet it feels like a small venue. It's mid-sized though. All in all, worth the price of admission.

We saw new Jack city here. It was amazing. The theater staff are so nice and friendly. They do offer a full bar as well. A beautiful night out with your friends or your partner. Go see a performance here!!

Really enjoyed the performance, Wicked. We sat in the balcony and could still see just fine. At intermission there was an attendant that helped us through the bathroom fast enough to get back in time for the show.

It had been many years since I attended an event at Hobby Center. My youngest daughter treated me to a live performance of the Houston Orchestra with Star War, A New Hope movie. The center and performing theater were still functional and beautiful. There were many ushers helping with the seating. My daughter said that were even ushers in the lady's restrooms to keep the line organized. Our two aside seats in the right orchestra box were perfect. There were no seats in front of us to block sight lines and plenty of room to stretch our legs. These two seats were not cheap but well worth the cost. The orchestra performed wonderfully and the live music brought the old movie to live. When leaving after the performance, there were attendants in the parking garage to prevent chaos. Parking garage was next to Hobby Center and the cost was $15. We will check out the 23-24 year schedule and see what musical we like to see.

The location was easy to get to for us to see Moulin Rouge. We accessed Valet an hour prior to show and had no issues (valet took maybe 10 minutes or so when show ended, so no complaints here). Only thing I would let people know is for my people with the bad hips and knees out there you do have to fight stairs to get to right orchestra on the bottom floor it was more then I thought. Also, the seats are NOT meant for the big bottoms girls. I found it hard to get comfortable, and I'm not really that heavy. Plus, having heels on, I kept hitting the cup holders on the seats. I think the seats could use a bit of an upgrade for sure. The sound and lighting were great throughout the show, and MAJOR shouted out the way they organized the restrooms during intermission. It was such a quick and flawless process that I was amazed at how well it went.

Incredible night. I got to see New Jack City as a play. One of my favorite movies growing up. The theater is absolutely beautiful and clean. I believe they have valet parking but I was lucky and found a great parking spot and walked right into the theater. Seats are comfortable. I sat in the front row... that was a little to close for me but an experience. Seems like every seat in the theater is a good seat!

Great stage, accessible parking, comfortable seating. The show was not my favorite, but I enjoyed the event at Hobby Center. I really appreciated the ladies' room attendants as they kept the line in order and everyone moving along.

Had a great time. The only issue that we had was there were two other shows going on and their staff were sending us back and forth to wrong doors. Others than that. It was great.

Beautiful theater with great acoustics. We have attended several Broadway at the Hobby productions. If you arrive at 6:00 pm for a 7:30 pm show, you have time to relax and grab a drink and a bite to eat from the Grand Lobby Bistro, which offers sandwiches, salads and other nosh. I had been paying $15 to park in the garage until I noticed that Lexus drivers have courtesy valet service - thank you, Lexus dealers of Houston! One criticism - the posted wifi password does not work.

Not a bad seat in this place. Very intimate setting and very clean. A decent variety of adult drinks available at the concession stand. The line for the restroom was crazy long but they manage to run it faster than the chick Fila drive thru.

Such a beautiful theatre! My girlfriends and I came to this location on March 2, 2022 to see my gf's favorite Broadway show of all time, Hamilton! When we arrived, we were amazed by how nice this theatre is! The outside was lit up beautifully! When we walk in, the inside is just as beautiful! The staff working was great! They got us through security with no issues! The ushers escorted us to our seats and over all, the atmosphere was amazing! I also appreciate that they were being careful with the pandemic and had all the safety protocols in place! We can't wait to come back in the future for more shows!!

The theater is amazing and is a reasonable size not big not small the one in NY is way bigger but I enjoyed the show Wicked with my family and friends my only concerns are the serving area they serve alcohol and is very dangerous because people can have problems and distractions sad to see that they don't sell actual meals for the people only chips, candy or drinks of course it's expensive but movie meals are better but hey, if you are looking for broadways to see with the family this is the place

Hobby center sucks. I went out of my way to buy excellent seats in center mezzanine, front row. But watch where you pick your tickets, as the seating is reversed from the "seating chart" to where you actually pick yoiur seats. Why the hell do I want to purposely choose two seats at $144 each right in front of the sound room, at the very back of center mezzanine?? Very disappointed!!

This is one of our favorite place to go to to watch musical or theatrical shows. The place is well kept and organized. We have seen all the best shows here. I'm glad that we have Hobby Center in our Houston downtown.

I ordered a season subscription. I received my tickets to find that one of the shows I selected, Griswold's Broadway Vacation, had been replaced by another show, without any prior notice of the change. I was not interested in seeing the new show so I contacted guest services and asked for a refund for that show. They responded and said that all sales were final. I replied back and said that I can understand that all sales are final on the shows that I selected and purchased. I should not have been randomly given a ticket to a show that I did not wish to see. They again snapped back and said all sales were final and they had a right to give me tickets to any show they felt I would enjoy. What?!?!? I purchased tickets to specific shows. What right do they have not to honor my purchase and to give me tickets to shows THEY feel I would enjoy??? I went back and forth for a few days and they continued to dismiss my concern and said they would not refund me. They finally came back and said that they would release the ticket to the show I did not choose and give me a $32 credit. The ticket I paid for was $91.50. Again, this did not make sense. This nonsense with them continued for several days. I called to try to speak to someone and explained what happened. She said that it did not sound right and I should receive a refund. She said someone would call me the next day. No one ever called. It wasn't until I filed a complaint with the Attorney General's office for consumer fraud that they replied. Now they said that they would release my ticket and that I would have to pay an increased price for the other tickets since they were not a package subscription anymore. What?!?!??! This is getting even crazier. So now you are canceling the ticket, not refunding me AND charging me additional money...? It gets better... they then said I would lose my subscription "benefits" (Worthless benefits I wouldn't use anyway). I told them if they are canceling my subscription, then they needed to refund my $25 subscription fee they charged and the full $91.50, for the ticket to the show I did not select and were releasing. Their response was...guess...."all sales are final." So you are releasing my ticket I paid $91.50 for, canceling my subscription and not refunding me for any of it, but yet trying to charge me more money?!?!?! I eventually had to call my bank and open up a fraud dispute. The bank investigated and sided in my favor. I received a FULL refund for $299.50. After this was done, I got an email the next day from TUTS guest services saying that they have made an exception and they would refund me my money but that they have blocked my account from doing further business with them. Um...1. You did not do me a favor and make an exception. The BANK refunded me due to TUTS fraudulent activity. 2. The bank already blocked TUTS from continuing to charge my card, so I did not need TUTS to block my account, as it was already determined by ME that I would not be doing business with them based on their poor customer service and fraudulent activity. This was not my first poor experience with TUTS. Several years ago I had purchased a season subscription. My tickets did not arrive before my first show. I had ordered the tickets so many months in advance that the first show came and went and I had forgotten. I got an email asking how I enjoyed my show (as if they cared) and I contacted them and said that I missed the show because I never received my ticket. They told me it was MY fault (of course). I don't know why I even bothered trying to do business with them again. I hope these two bad experiences will be enough to deter you from doing business with these unprofessional crooks. There are sooooo many amazing local community theaters in Houston. Please support them rather than going to the overpriced shows at TUTS and risk having a horrible experience as I did. I would hate for anyone to have to deal with their poor customer service. It's a shame they are so corrupt.