Deep among the shelves

Touring the Houston Grand Opera

While at the 24th Annual Society of Properties Artisan Managers conference in Houston, we got a chance to tour the stage and warehouse of the Houston Grand Opera. On the first day, we visited the Wortham Theater Center, located in the heart of downtown Houston. Being an opera, the stage and seating are far larger than most of the theaters we work in.

So many linesets
So many linesets

On stage with the prop masters
On stage with the prop masters

The main stage is the Brown Theater, which seats 2,405 audience members.

On the next day, we headed to their warehouse space, which holds the costumes, sets, and props of many of their shows in repertoire.

Megan Freemantle starts the tour
Megan Freemantle starts the tour

Megan Freemantle, the Properties Design Director, led our group through the building.

The HGO warehouse
The HGO warehouse
Every opera stock needs Valkyrie hats
Every opera stock needs Valkyrie hats
Guarding the props
Guarding the props
Deep among the shelves
Deep among the shelves
La Boheme
La Boheme

Above is the set for La Boheme, scheduled to leave for another opera house in the upcoming season.

Cannon
Cannon

This cannon has been in their storage for nearly twenty years.

Workshop
Workshop

The props workshop is located in the back corner of the warehouse.

Tanks for reading
Tanks for reading

Yes, they had a full-size tank in stock.

Roadboxes
Roadboxes

It was quite the impressive place. They are currently renovating the building, so things were in the process of moving around. I can only imagine how grand it will be when it is all finished.