Our Story
The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston began as a simple gathering of friends in 1951. After just a few months of sing-alongs and readings, the group decided to take their enjoyment public. Thus, on a warm August night in 1952, with a small orchestra and simple costumes, The Gondoliers was presented in the Cullen Theater at the University of Houston. Seated among the surprisingly sizable audience was a reviewer from the Houston Chronicle, who suggested a Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera become an annual event!
Every July since, the Society has presented one of the Savoyard titles to an ever-growing audience. Over the years, the venue has changed and the number of performances has expanded, but the dedication to presenting these well-loved works has remained. The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston has long been widely recognized as a pre-eminent community-based theater company, receiving an Emmy nomination for its 1974 PBS-televised production of Princess Ida and six “Best of Festival” awards, including International Champions, at the 2004 International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England.
In addition to awarding annual scholarships to local voice students, the Society provides banks of tickets to less-privileged children in the Houston area who might otherwise not have the opportunity to experience the magic of high-caliber live theater. Since its official inception in 1952, the primary goal of the Society has remained unchanged - to provide top-notch live-theater productions, in the true spirit of family entertainment, at a price that families can afford.