Spectacular evening at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston – Pic courtesy of Miller Outdoor Theatre
Houston is known for its arts and culture and attracts some of the biggest names in music and theater thanks to the many world-class venues it has. One of them is the Miller Outdoor Theatre, a covered amphitheater venue offering free performances to the public from March to November. We have had some beautiful weather in the past few weeks and there’s no better place to enjoy a concert or performance than the great outdoors!
The Miller Outdoor Theatre first opened in 1923 and was later rebuilt in 1968. The theater can seat over 1,700 patrons with 20 wheelchair accessible spaces, and around 4,500 more patrons can enjoy the 80,000-square-foot sloping lawn offering a perfect view of the stage. Hundreds of thousands of people flock to the Miller Outdoor Theatre each year to enjoy the great outdoors and take in the many diverse performances it hosts among a gorgeous setting in Hermann Park.
The Miller Outdoor Theatre is unique in the United States in that it offers eight full months of professional entertainment acts for free, making it the largest “always free” arts program and venue in the country. The theatre is funded with a combination of public and private donations and is overseen by the Miller Theatre Advisory Board (MTAB) which aims to ensure the cultural enrichment of Houston’s diverse communities.
MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE HOUSTON – 2021 SEASON
The Miller Outdoor Theatre offers a wide range of entertainment including classical music concerts, jazz, world music, musical theatre, ballet, Shakespeare, classic cinema, and more. All performances are family-friendly and always completely free for audiences.
The 2021 season was recently announced, and it features a number of can’t miss shows. Highlights include Philly Soul Sound by the Community Music Center of Houston, Lush Life and Latin Beats by Aperio, A Gulf Coast Juneteenth featuring Bobby Rush, the popular Summer Symphony Nights series, An Evening with Christina Wells and more.
A full calendar of performances can be found online at the theatre’s website.
MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE – TIPS
- Dress comfortably–While you’ll be able to enjoy world-class entertainment, you don’t have to get all dressed up. The atmosphere is relaxed, so dress comfortably.
- Covered seating tickets can go fast–Now you can get your Miller tickets online and on your smart phone! Limit 4 per person. Seating will be socially distanced. Masks are required in all City of Houston facilities and buildings. Miller Outdoor Theatre is owned by the City of Houston.
- Hillside seating tickets – No tickets are necessary for the Hill! The Hill will be sectioned into pods with a maximum of 10 adults per pod. Masks are required to be worn at all times.
- Bring just about anything but glass–You can pack your own picnic dinner and even bring alcohol, but glass containers are prohibited. There’s also a concession stand on site, and purchases made there help support the free performances at this great outdoor theatre.
Great venue to enjoy any show. Pic courtesy – Miller Outdoor Theatre
MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE PARKING, LOCATION & CONTACT INFO
The Miller Outdoor Theatre is located in Houston’s own Hermann Park at 6000 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030. For more information and performance updates, call 281-FREE-FUN (281-373-3386).
FREE PARKING
Free parking is available at the large central parking lot in front of the Houston Zoo, near Miller Outdoor Theatre, and at the McGovern Centennial Gardens. Free parking is also available at the golf course clubhouse located at the corner of Almeda and MacGregor and at the Bayou Parkland Pavilion.
PAID PARKING
A for-fee parking garage is available at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. In addition, On weekends, visitors may park in the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza Garage at the corner of Cambridge and Fannin across from the Park for a flat rate of $6 per day (subject to change by Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza Garage).
HANDICAP PARKING
The Miller Outdoor Theatre has a drop-off lane for handicapped patrons on Hermann Park Drive across the McGovern Centennial Gardens. Limited handicapped parking is available on the Miller lot behind the theatre.
