A holiday reopening

Houston's Rothko Chapel sets reopening date after Hurricane Beryl closure

One of Houston's most-loved and important cultural landmarks is set to reopen on Tuesday, December 17. Damaged during Hurricane Beryl, the Rothko Chapel will resume providing Houstonians with a space to pause and reflect this holiday season.

The Chapel will be open from 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday from December 17 through 22, and from 10 am to 5 pm December 24 through January 5, 2025. Chapel hours on December 25 and January 1 will be noon to 5 pm.

The octagonal chapel features 14 black panels painted by renowned artist Mark Rothko. It attracts visitors from around the world, who come to the space to meditate and take in Rothko's art. Beryl's heavy rains and gale-force winds resulted in leakage through the Chapel’s roof. Part of the ceiling and several walls had water damage, and four of Mark Rothko’s panels were also affected following the storm.

Whitten & Proctor Fine Art Conservation, one of the country’s premier art-conservation firms, led the analysis and assessment to restore the chapel. The water-streaked walls and ceiling have been repaired and repainted. Damaged panels are now undergoing careful restoration off-site. They will be returned to the chapel once the work is complete.

"Since the storm, our focus has been on the complete repair of the building, the restoration of the damaged panels, and on the reopening of the Chapel so the public once again has access to this beloved space for contemplation and meditation,” Rothko Chapel executive director David Leslie said in a statement. “Getting to this point has been a true community effort involving an amazing team of art conservators, scientists, art handlers, volunteers, community partners, and Chapel staff, and we are very excited to reopen in time for the holidays.”

Following the damage left in Beryl’s wake, the chapel hosted a number of fall programs at off-site locations.The first program slated for 2025 is the chapel’s annual MLK Observance, "Sick of War: Discussing Health Impacts of US Militarism.” That will be hosted in the chapel on January 15, 2025.

Earlier this year, the Rothko Chapel announced an extensive expansion campaign, Opening Spaces. The $42 million project will add new buildings just north of the existing Chapel on the other side of Sul Ross St.

Photo by Elizabeth Felicella

The Rothko Chapel reopens December 17, 2024.

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miller outdoor theatre improved

Hermann Park's always-free theater breaks ground on new Gateway Plaza

Miller Outdoor Theatre Gateway Plaza rendering

Courtesy of DLR Group with landscape design by Michael Van Valkenburg Associates (MVVA)

Theatre visitors will see this new sign at the plaza's entrance.

One of Houston’s most enduring, family-friendly attractions is getting some upgrades. When audiences return to Miller Outdoor Theatre next summer, they’ll be welcomed by a new plaza and other improvements.

The Miller Theatre Advisory Board (MTAB) officially broke ground on the new Gateway Plaza last week. It marked the occasion with a ceremony attended by Houston Mayor John Whitmire, park board representatives, and other officials.

Designed to improve accessibility and the overall visitor experience, the Gateway Plaza will feature new walkways that will both connected the theater to the rest of Hermann Park and improve drainage at the site. Three new shade structures will replicate the theater’s distinctive, A-frame design. In addition, the “Dining Bosque,” a popular area for pre-show meals, will have its picnic tables refreshed, among other improvements.

“We’re thrilled to have broken ground on the Gateway Plaza Project,” MTAB managing director Claudia de Vasco said in a statement. “It’s a fitting start to Miller’s next century — an investment in spaces that reflect who we are as both an iconic arts venue and a welcoming public gathering place, inviting everyone to experience the performances and memories that make Miller so special.”

Located on 7.5 acres within Hermann Park, Miller Outdoor Theatre provides eight months per year of free programming in genres such as classical music, jazz, Shakespeare, classic movies, and more — all funded by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. It has seating for approximately 1,700 people as well as a spacious lawn that can hold another 4,500. Currently, the facility is closed for construction but is scheduled to reopen in the summer of 2026.

“Miller Outdoor Theatre is a special gathering place for the people of Houston,” added Mayor Whitmire. “I am excited about the Gateway Plaza Project because these improvements will ensure that Miller Outdoor Theatre continues to serve the community for generations to come.”

Courtesy of DLR Group with landscape design by Michael Van Valkenburg Associates (MVVA)

Theatre visitors will see this new sign at the plaza's entrance.

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