The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts to Open a 1920s-Era Jazz Club

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts is working on a major transformation, a $45 million one. The “A New Stage” campaign aims to modernize the venue at the Theater District campus at 800 Bagby Street, according to the Houston Business Journal. It’s the first major renovation planned since The Hobby Center opened in 2002 and will include a redesigned Founders Club reminiscent of a 1920s jazz club.

The Founders Club sits atop the Hobby Center’s on-site restaurant, Diana American Grill. It will also be the perfect spot for date nights and more. The entire space is expected to seat about 160 people, with circular booths, high-top tables, and more. Guests can grab a drink or dinner prior to a performance.

What Now Houston reached out to The Hobby Center’s President and CEO, Mark Folkes, to find out more about the exciting project. Unfortunately, we did not hear back by the time of this publication.

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts to Open a 1920s-Era Jazz Club — The Hobby Center offers dining at the Diana American Grill, which the updated Founders Club will sit atop of. (Image Credit: The Hobby Center Facebook)

“We’re excited to introduce A New Stage, our $45 million campus improvement plan to bring new spaces and experiences to the Hobby Center,” The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts website reads.

“We’re creating a brand-new third performance venue, making the spaces you already know and love even better, and adding more places to gather, connect, and enjoy the performing arts.”

The venue sits on the former site of the Sam Houston Coliseum and the Houston Music Hall, both built in 1937. The Music Hall hosted decades of theatrical, music, and dance performances before making way for a new cultural space. The project was conceived in the late 1990s as a public-private partnership to expand Houston’s reputation as a cultural capital and revitalize the Theater District. Former Texas Lieutenant Governor William P. Hobby, Jr. and his wife, Diana Hobby, spearheaded it. The center honors the Hobby family, whose foundation provided the primary naming gift.

“Both built in 1937, the Music Hall played host to many theatrical, dance and music performances, while the Coliseum at one time was home to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, hosted the first National Women’s Conference in 1977 and saw music greats like Elvis Presley, James Brown, The Beatles, and Ike and Tina Turner on its stage,” the company’s website reads.

“Even earlier than the Music Hall and the Coliseum was Sam Houston Hall, built in 64 days for $200,000 to host the 1928 Democratic National Convention, held June 26 -29. New York Gov. Alfred E. Smith received the party’s nomination, but was later defeated in the general election by Herbert Hoover.”

Construction on the $102 million privately funded/public-private project began in 2000. The Hobby Center officially opened its doors to the public in 2002, offering Sarofim Hall, which seats 2,650, and Zilkha Hall, which seats 500, as its home for local arts, series, resident companies, and more.

“The Hobby Center is the central hub for artists and audiences in Houston and is the driving force in the performing arts ecosystem. Building on a legacy of presenting the best of Broadway, the Hobby Center reflects the diversity of our city through a wide range of exceptional artistic and educational programming on and off stage. Compelling artists from Houston and around the globe engage audiences through dynamic and innovative artmaking and storytelling,” the website reads.

“We are proud to be a part of Houston’s diverse and vibrant cultural arts scene. Delivering a best-in-class patron experience, the Hobby Center welcomes over 450,000 audience members annually to engage with high-quality arts programming.”

With the funding campaign still ongoing, we can expect a bit of a wait before the improvements are finished. The plan is to complete the campus improvements and the updated Founders Club by 2028.

Check out the new Founders Club and more at The Hobby Center for Performing Arts in the Theater District campus at 800 Bagby Street by 2028.

(This is a developing story. As more information is made available, we will update this article. Stay tuned!)

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts to Open a 1920s-Era Jazz Club

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts is raising $45 million for a capital campaign that will include the build of the club.

800 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002

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