Houston's Center Stage Theater (HCST) trains and educates young actors through musical theater in our Young Entertainers Stage (Y.E.S!) program, and offers many opportunities for local talent from ages 6 to 106 to shine in our professionally produced and directed shows.

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to bringing an affordable, family-friendly, and exemplary theater experience to our local community. Everything we do has the simple goal of enriching the lives of families and lifting up young actors as they strive to become well rounded performers and well-grounded adults.

Big News in the North Houston Theater World!

Over the past few months there has been a lot of buzz about the dual efforts of Applause and Houston’s Center Stage Theater. I have been working as Artistic Director for HCST for just over a year and have recently come on as Managing Artistic Director of Applause.  What became immediately clear to me was that both companies share a common mission: Providing top quality training and productions for the many talented performers in the Houston area.  For 15 years Applause’s focus has been on actors 18 and under.  HCST has also done shows and camps for young actors, but their productions have included actors of all ages. Rather than competing with each other for talent and staff, HCST and Applause have decided to grow together, putting “community” back into community theater.

What does this mean for you?  It means more options for future classes and camps, year-round performance opportunities, no “aging-out” of the system, families on stage together, performances in both intimate and large venues, higher quality training, and the combined efforts of the staff and outstanding volunteers from both houses.  I am sure that you will agree that this is a win-win for everyone involved.  We know that it is YOU who have made both organizations successful in the past and we are very excited about the future of theater in our community.

Over the coming weeks you may see several updates to our website and emails that you receive.  Please check back often for all of the new and exciting things coming to HCST and Applause.

Sincerely,
Leslie Rhodes
HCST / Applause Managing Artistic Director

Time to leap Into Fall with All New Fall Classes

New Classes! New Teachers! New Things to Learn
AND
New Friends to Make at HCST/ATC

Learn from the Pros at our newly renovated Dance Studio/Teaching Theater

Houston's Center Stage Theater (HCST) and its sister teaching theater--Applause Theater Company (ATC)--are now working together, under new management, to bring theater students, patrons and friends in NW Houston a full slate of worthwhile, exciting, theater inspired classes.

**All new fall class session begins September 12, 2011**  Click Here to Register

Coming Soon.....An HCST/Applause Production

Once On This Island
Performances November 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13
All Performances at Applause Theatre

This highly original and theatrical Caribbean adaptation of the popular fairy tale The Little Mermaid garnered eight Tony nominations for its Broadway run, including Best Musical, Book and Score. In almost non-stop song and dance, the show tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island.