Massive Houston Theater District Benefit For Harvey Heroes Is Set

Grab you opera glasses, culture vultures. All seven of the Houston Theater District resident companies are lining up a single night of performance pleasures that will honor local heroes and benefit the city’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. “Houston Strong: A Theater District Benefit” takes place Wednesday, September 27 at Miller Outdoor Theatre and it’s free.

You will recall that every performance hall in the Theater District was touched, if not heavily damaged, by Harvey floodwaters and arts groups have been scrambling ever since to relocate until the damage, estimated at $35 million, is repaired. On this evening, the Alley Theatre, Da Camera of Houston, Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Symphony, Society for the Performing Arts, and Theatre Under The Stars will come together in a salute to the city. The program starts at 8 p.m.

“In the face of this adversity, the resident companies are coming together,” Theater District CEO Kathryn McNiel said in a statement “to celebrate the resilience of the city and its performing arts scene, and to honor community heroes that emerged in the storm.”

The wide-ranging program will include the Houston Ballet performing George Balanchine’s Symphony in C; a special appearance by native Houstonian jazz pianist Jason Moran presented by Da Camera, and a Houston Grand Opera presentation of “Make Our Garden Grow” from Candide. Consider it something of a substitute for the Theater District Open House that was scheduled for Sunday, August 27 but was cancelled due to the 1,000 year flood.

While the evening is free, donations to the hurricane relief fund are encouraged and will be accepted on site during the evening as well as on line at www.ghcf.org and by texting HARVEY2017 at 91999.