The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Encyclopedia
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, sometimes called The Woodlands Pavilion or simply The Pavilion, is a concert amphitheatre
located in The Woodlands, Texas
. It caters to both the performing arts and contemporary artists and is also available for rental. It is owned and operated by The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands and is a non-profit organization
. The amphitheater seats 17,000 people and has been the 2nd most heavily used amphitheater in the world, with #1 going to Filene Center
in Wolf Trap, Virginia
in 2010.
in 1982 indicating a desire to establish a regional summer home for the Houston Symphony in The Woodlands. The facility was envisioned as a place where both performing arts groups and contemporary entertainers could perform. After an initial delay due to the region's economic situation, construction began in June 1989. The Pavilion's opening weekend in late April 1990 featured successive concerts by the Houston Symphony, Frank Sinatra
, Alabama
, and Clint Black
.
The original facility provided 3,000 reserved seats and room for 7,000 guests on a sloped grass lawn. Each plaza had one concession stand and restroom. The main entrance was located in the South Plaza, along with a four-window ticket office.
In 1994, The Pavilion's Board of Directors decided to expand the capacity and add additional amenities to the existing facility. An expansion plan was implemented to provide 1,900 new, uncovered reserved seats, to increase capacity by 1,100 on the lawn, and to build concession stands on the lawn. Each plaza was enhanced with new restrooms and concession stands. A ten-window ticket office and additional lanes for buses, limousines and vehicle drop-off area was added to the North Plaza as well.
In 1998, The Pavilion added new administrative offices for the expanding staff necessary to run a first-class Performing Arts Center. Adjacent to the North Plaza and the Gold Parking Lot, the offices comprise approximately 6000 square feet (557.4 m²) of space for the administrative staff. In conjunction with the office addition, The Pavilion also added a new amenity to the overall facility, The Woodforest Bank Club. The VIP suite and patio are located adjacent to the North Plaza and a new VIP entrance was added to the facility. The Club is open all year to host events for up to 150 guests for meetings, parties, mall concerts and receptions. On event nights, members of The Club can enjoy an air-conditioned room with full cash bar, along with the sights and sounds of the evening's concert artist.
At the conclusion of The Pavilion's 2000 season, another expansion and renovation project took place. The expansion increased the capacity of the lawn by an additional 3,550 guests, bringing the total capacity to nearly 17,000. A 10000 square feet (929 m²) dressing room facility with kitchen was also added.
In 2002, a five-story parking garage was erected to ease the parking problem which plagued concert-goers since the opening of the facility. The garage is attached via a walkway to the Marriott across Six Pines drive and allows concert goers whom are staying at the hotel a separate entrance to the Pavilion.
On September 13, 2008, The Pavilion, as well as the trees along the Waterway, were severely damaged by Hurricane Ike that moved over the area in the early morning hours. All 3 concerts for the remainder of the 2008 season were canceled due to extensive damage to the facility. During the height of the storm, 80-90 mph sustained winds shredded the awnings and bent the steel support structure beyond repair. The stage was also damaged during the hurricane. The new roof of the facility, which now has Six spires took 9 months to install and is currently rated to withstand sustained winds of over 175 miles per hour, thus to eliminate possibly further damage to the roof and the Pavilions infra-structure. 2000 additional seats were added, thus bringing the capacity of the Pavilion to nearly 20,000
The venue is host to countless performances of the Houston Symphony as well as the Houston Ballet.
During these performances, Lawn seating is usually provided free of charge due to a grant underwritten by HEB grocery Stores.
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
located in The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands is a master-planned community and a Census-designated place in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. The population of the CDP was 55,649 at the 2000 census—a 90 percent increase over its 1990 population. According to the 2010 census, The Woodlands' population rose...
. It caters to both the performing arts and contemporary artists and is also available for rental. It is owned and operated by The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands and is a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
. The amphitheater seats 17,000 people and has been the 2nd most heavily used amphitheater in the world, with #1 going to Filene Center
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, known locally in the Washington, D.C. area as simply Wolf Trap, is a performing arts center located on 130 acres of national park land in Wolf Trap, Virginia...
in Wolf Trap, Virginia
Wolf Trap, Virginia
Wolf Trap is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 14,001 at the 2000 census. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is located in the CDP.-Geography:...
in 2010.
History
Civic leaders and members of the Houston Symphony approached The Woodlands founder George P. MitchellGeorge P. Mitchell
George Phydias Mitchell is an American businessman, real estate developer and philanthropist from Texas.-Biography:He was born to Greek immigrant parents in the port city of Galveston, Texas. Mitchell earned a degree from Texas A&M University with an emphasis in geology and petroleum engineering...
in 1982 indicating a desire to establish a regional summer home for the Houston Symphony in The Woodlands. The facility was envisioned as a place where both performing arts groups and contemporary entertainers could perform. After an initial delay due to the region's economic situation, construction began in June 1989. The Pavilion's opening weekend in late April 1990 featured successive concerts by the Houston Symphony, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
, and Clint Black
Clint Black
Clint Patrick Black is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and occasional actor. Signed to RCA Records in 1989, Black made his debut with his Killin' Time album, which produced four straight Number One singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country...
.
The original facility provided 3,000 reserved seats and room for 7,000 guests on a sloped grass lawn. Each plaza had one concession stand and restroom. The main entrance was located in the South Plaza, along with a four-window ticket office.
In 1994, The Pavilion's Board of Directors decided to expand the capacity and add additional amenities to the existing facility. An expansion plan was implemented to provide 1,900 new, uncovered reserved seats, to increase capacity by 1,100 on the lawn, and to build concession stands on the lawn. Each plaza was enhanced with new restrooms and concession stands. A ten-window ticket office and additional lanes for buses, limousines and vehicle drop-off area was added to the North Plaza as well.
In 1998, The Pavilion added new administrative offices for the expanding staff necessary to run a first-class Performing Arts Center. Adjacent to the North Plaza and the Gold Parking Lot, the offices comprise approximately 6000 square feet (557.4 m²) of space for the administrative staff. In conjunction with the office addition, The Pavilion also added a new amenity to the overall facility, The Woodforest Bank Club. The VIP suite and patio are located adjacent to the North Plaza and a new VIP entrance was added to the facility. The Club is open all year to host events for up to 150 guests for meetings, parties, mall concerts and receptions. On event nights, members of The Club can enjoy an air-conditioned room with full cash bar, along with the sights and sounds of the evening's concert artist.
At the conclusion of The Pavilion's 2000 season, another expansion and renovation project took place. The expansion increased the capacity of the lawn by an additional 3,550 guests, bringing the total capacity to nearly 17,000. A 10000 square feet (929 m²) dressing room facility with kitchen was also added.
In 2002, a five-story parking garage was erected to ease the parking problem which plagued concert-goers since the opening of the facility. The garage is attached via a walkway to the Marriott across Six Pines drive and allows concert goers whom are staying at the hotel a separate entrance to the Pavilion.
On September 13, 2008, The Pavilion, as well as the trees along the Waterway, were severely damaged by Hurricane Ike that moved over the area in the early morning hours. All 3 concerts for the remainder of the 2008 season were canceled due to extensive damage to the facility. During the height of the storm, 80-90 mph sustained winds shredded the awnings and bent the steel support structure beyond repair. The stage was also damaged during the hurricane. The new roof of the facility, which now has Six spires took 9 months to install and is currently rated to withstand sustained winds of over 175 miles per hour, thus to eliminate possibly further damage to the roof and the Pavilions infra-structure. 2000 additional seats were added, thus bringing the capacity of the Pavilion to nearly 20,000
Concert Events
The venue is host to countless performances of the Houston Symphony as well as the Houston Ballet.
During these performances, Lawn seating is usually provided free of charge due to a grant underwritten by HEB grocery Stores.