Studio RED has been busy this past year, playing a vital role in designing three of Houston’s new or newly renovated theaters, including The Alley Theatre, Main Street Theater and Midtown Arts & Theatre Center Houston. We invite you to take in a performance or stop by just to see some of the gorgeous architecture at any one of these beautiful theaters.
The Alley Theatre
Some of the stunning renovations include doubling the size of the Patricia Peckinpaugh Hubbard Stage, removing viewing obstructions and adding a large four-story fly loft. Additional improvements include adding a fully trapped area below the stage floor, and associated grid, rigging, lighting, sound system and seating renovations. Sixty percent of the seating used to be further than 40 feet from the stage, however the new design allows for 60 percent of the audience to sit within 40 feet of the stage. The new larger thrust stage and additional radial seating also provide the audience with a more intimate experience and the lobby space now includes a skyline view and expanded restrooms.
“The Alley is the foundation of Houston’s theater scene, and this renovation ensures it will continue to attract top talent and engage patrons,” said Pete Ed Garrett, Studio RED partner. The Alley Theatre recently opened after Studio RED and Bellows Construction completed the $46.5 million makeover.
Main Street Theater: Rice Village
Renovations for the Main Street Theater include 99 seats with a flexible configuration, support and gathering space, and a rehearsal hall on the second floor to be used for summer camps and classrooms. This unique theater will also have the capability to move from an area stage to a thrust stage, corner stage, end stage and grandstand stage. Other improvements include the expansion of the current theater space into a full-height theater with lighting grid, additional stage support areas, an elevator and renovated public restrooms.
Garrett notes that “the project team worked hard to expose the existing structure, and salvage as many walls as possible to keep the history of the space alive and intact.” Studio RED worked with Arch Con to renovate this new landmark in the Houston Arts Community.
Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston
Studio RED and project lead Lake | Flato recently completed the 46,000 square foot Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH). This new theater includes a multi-tenant exhibition space, rehearsal halls, black box spaces, galleries, office spaces and 350-person theater. MATCH’s mission is to develop an accessible, centralized hub that will bring together an array of artists across Houston’s diverse communities.
