Houston Area Community Theaters

Houston has more than it's share of community theaters, ranging from small to loosely organized companies. These theater companies have no permanent space for established theater which routinely churns out big budget productions of professional, or near professional quality.

Theatre Suburbia, slightly north of the north loop at 1410 W 43rd St., succeeds at being both unpretentious and producing high quality work. Suburbia is an all-volunteer theater. This is somewhat rare—most local theaters have at least one or two paid employees (at artistic director, etc. Suburbia also charges less for admission than other local theaters and usually does a "benefit" performance for each show, with all the proceeds going to charity. And, anyone can work here. Show up someday and they will probably put you to work building sets, or anything else you are interested in doing, and invite you to audition.

However, this lack of revenue and apparent selectivity (or rather snobbery)is rarely evident in the quality of the productions. Although it must be said that while abundant effort and sufficient expenses are put into the productions themselves, the building is in a sketchy part of down in a building that ought to be condemned If you are new to Houston Community Theatre remember to wear a jacket in winter because most of the buildings are not heated.

Usually the theater companies try to use less familiar material: newer plays, local playwrights, and lesser know works by established playwrights. Sometimes the shows are better than the standards and it is rare if they do produce any real stinkers.