[Press Conference: "Miller Gateway Plaza Project" on November 13, 2025.]
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT HERE THIS MORNING AND WHAT A DAY.
I GUESS IT'S WHAT WE LIVE THROUGH AUGUST FOR
UH, MY NAME IS RAMO TIM CIS, AND I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE MILLER ADVISORY BOARD FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND OVER THOSE YEARS ON VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SUBCOMMITTEES AND SUCH, BUT CURRENTLY BOARD CHAIR ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY, YOUR BUSY DAY, I AM SURE FOR THIS WONDERFUL OCCASION.
TODAY WE ADD ANOTHER CHAPTER TO MAKING MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER, ONE OF HOUSTON'S MOST UNIQUE AND WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES VERY UNIQUELY.
AND UNBEKNOWNST TO MANY HOUSTONIANS WHO VISIT THE THEATER, THIS IS THE ONLY ALWAYS FREE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMING ARTS THEATER IN THE COUNTRY.
AND FOR THE LAST 101 YEARS, FOR THE LAST 101 YEARS, EVERY ADMINISTRATION IN THE CITY HAS CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THIS THEATER THROUGH EFFORTS TO TICKET IT, CHARGE PRICES, ET CETERA.
EVERY ADMINISTRATION HAS SUPPORTED THIS, OUR FREE TO THE PUBLIC PERFORMING, UH, SCENARIO.
TODAY, WE CELEBRATE WORK BEING DONE BY THE CURRENT BOARD TO CONTINUE IN THAT TRADITION.
STARTING IN 1924, BOARDS HAVE CREATED THE ORIGINAL THEATER, WHICH IS NOW AT THE ENTRY TO HERMAN PARK.
THEN IN THE SIXTIES, THE NEW MODERN, UH, SHELL COVER TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THE SUN AND THE RAIN.
UH, AND IT BECAME AN ICONIC SYMBOL OF, UH, AND DRAMATICALLY SHAPED THE IMAGE OF THE THEATER.
YOU SEE IT IN OUR LOGO, YOU SEE IT IN OUR, IN OUR PRODUCTIONS, IN OUR MARKETING AND SUCH, AND PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
SHORTLY AFTER THOUGH, ANOTHER GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS CREATED THE HILL, WHICH ALL OF A SUDDEN EXTENDED THE, UH, POSSIBILITIES FOR GREATER AUDIENCES, CHILDREN PLAYING ON THE HILL, MY KIDS, AND NOW MY GRANDKIDS ARE ALL GROWING UP, ROLLING DOWN THE HILL AT MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER.
AND THEN IN THE NINETIES, THE CITY ADDED THE CONCESSION RESTROOM AREAS FOR COMFORT.
SO CONTINUOUSLY THE CITY HAS IMPROVED THE SOUND AND THE LIGHTING CAPABILITIES TO THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.
AND THEN DURING THAT TIME, MANAGED SUPERLATIVELY FOR MANY YEARS BY CITY SISSY SIEGEL DAVIS, WHO IS JOINING US TODAY.
THANK YOU SIS, FOR, UH, I THINK YOU AND I WORKED TOGETHER FOR 20 YEARS HERE AT THE THEATER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR YEARS AND YEARS OF SERVICE.
SO OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, PLANS WERE MADE TO MARK THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE THEATER, WHICH WAS LAST YEAR.
AND YOU PROBABLY SAW THAT IN OUR, OUR MARKETING AND AND SUCH, AND TO START A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD LAUNCH THE START OF OUR SECOND HUNDREDTH YEARS.
AND NOW OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR, CLAUDIA DE VASCO, WHO MANY OF YOU KNOW, IS LEADING THE CHARGE ON THAT WORK TODAY, CONSTRUCTION BEGINS LITERALLY ON THIS NEW GREENWAY PLA GREENWAY PLAZA PROJECT, WHICH WILL BE KIND OF OUR WELCOME TO THE THEATER MOMENT.
UH, SO THAT VISITORS, PEOPLE PARKING OVER IN CENTENNIAL GARDENS, OTHER AREAS OF THE PARK OR DROPPING OFF HERE, WILL HAVE A SAFE KIND OF WONDERFUL, WELL LIT PICKUP AND DROP OFF POINT AND SUCH.
AND, UH, OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, THIS ENTIRE AREA, UH, SECTION WILL BECOME, UH, THE ENTRY DUE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE CAMPAIGN, GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS, NEW PROJECTS ARE CONTEMPLATED, WHICH CLAUDIO WILL ILLUMINATE US ON IN, IN, IN, IN HER REMARKS.
UM, AND OUR PARK PARTNERS HERE IN THE PARK CITY LEADERSHIP CAN, WE CAN CONTINUE TO ELEVATE MILLER THEATER TO AN EVEN KIND OF GREATER PLATEAU AND A GREATER ROLE AS ONE OF THE CITY'S LANDMARKS.
SO, AND SPEAKING OF OUR CITY'S LEADERSHIP, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ.
TO JOIN ME HERE WITH A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION AND ALSO TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ,
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I BELIEVE WAS HERE.AND YOU CAN GO RIGHT AHEAD WITH A PROCLAMATION.
WELL, I'M, I'M, I'M KIND OF REMISS.
I DON'T THINK I HAVE THE PROCLAMATION.
AND IF WE HAVE THE PROCLAMATION, THE PROCLAMATION SHOULD COME FROM THE PROCLAMATION, MAN.
WHO IS THE MAYOR? SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE, UH, IF, IF SOMEBODY, IF THERE'S A GLITCH OR SOMETHING SOMEWHERE.
UH, BUT CERTAINLY I AM COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT D, WHAT I CALL THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND AS YOU SEE, WE ARE IN ONE OF OUR DESTINATION VENUES.
BUT OF COURSE, UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT HISTORY, TIM.
UH, I WASN'T AROUND IN 1924, BUT CERTAINLY, UM, NOT LONG AFTER.
I USED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME HERE, UH, IN HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD RIDE OVER AND, YOU KNOW, I'M, I, I CAN JUST SAY THE WOOD WENT ON ON THE HILL, STAYED ON THE HILL, AND I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE CAMERAS AND VIDEO AND ALL THAT STUFF BACK THEN, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE HAD A LOT GOING ON.
BUT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE AND CERTAINLY IT'S AN HONOR TO JOIN YOU TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE THIS EXCITING MOMENT FOR ONE OF HOUSTON'S MOST BELOVED CULTURAL LANDMARKS, THE MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, STARTING WITH SISSY, I'VE HAD JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MY 15 SECONDS OF FAME.
I WOULD COME OUT, I COME OUT NOW, UH, AND I INTRODUCE THE SHOW AND PUT A LITTLE PLUG IN FOR FREE.
IT'S NOT FREE, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT I ENJOY DOING.
AND CERTAINLY I WANNA RECOGNIZE CLAUDIA DESCO, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE MILLER OUTDOOR, UH, ADVISORY BOARD.
AND CLAUDIA, THE EXCELLENCE YOU BRING TO THIS INSTITUTION, YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR VISION, AND THE WAY YOU MANAGE WITH BOTH COMPASSION AND PRECISION, HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF PHENOMENAL.
SHE HAD SOME HUGE, HUGE HUG TO FEEL, BUT, BUT SHE'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
BUT SHE HAD A, A VERY GOOD ROLE MODEL IN, IN SISSY.
AND SO HOUSTON IS INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE REMARKABLE STANDARD THAT YOU SET EVERY DAY.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENTIRE MILLER THEATER ADVISORY BOARD FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND PRESERVING, STRENGTHENING AND ADVANCING THIS TREASURED VENUE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
YOUR STEWARDSHIP ENSURES THAT FREE WORLD-CLASS CULTURAL PROGRAMMING REMAINS, REMAINS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL HOUSTONIANS.
AND CERTAINLY, AGAIN, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUE, UH, SALLY ALCORN, WHO IS CERTAINLY, UM, A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO THE, UH, UH, TO COUNSEL.
I MEAN, SHE HAS SUCH WORDS OF WISDOM, AND IF YOU REALLY WANNA KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT FINANCES, YOU LOOK AT SALLY, SALLY ALCO.
SHE'S CERTAINLY ONE THAT'S ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT AND ALL.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO KNOW ALL OF THAT.
AND SO CERTAINLY I APPRECIATE HER.
AND THEN WE HAD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ WHO HAD ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT AND HE HAD TO LEAVE.
AND, AND THEN I'M GONNA ALSO, I HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE PERSON THAT I KNOW AS MY SCHOOL MATE, MS. ANN LUNDY.
AND SHE IS A COMPOSER, A A MUSIC EDUCATOR.
AND I KNOW AS ANN, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER.
MOTHER WAS ONE OF MY BELOVED TEACHERS.
AND SO I ALWAYS WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE HER AND CERTAINLY, UH, LEAH, MICHELLE, UH, THE BOARD CHAIR OF HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE AND THE CEO, UH, TAYLOR JACKON.
ARE YOU BOTH HERE? YEAH, THERE YOU ARE.
BUT CERTAINLY, UH, TO THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, YOUR ADVOCACY, AND YOUR STEADFAST DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
AND OF COURSE, UM, CERTAINLY, AND I WILL INTRODUCE HIM.
UH, OUR MAYOR, JOHN WHITMEYER, WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.
I THANK HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUING INVESTMENT IN HOUSTON'S CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.
AS CHAIR OF THE CITY ARTS CULTURE AND ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE, I AM DEEPLY PROUD TO SUPPORT TODAY'S GROUNDBREAKING, THE GATEWAY PLAZA.
THE SIGNATURE PROJECT OF MILLER'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN REPRESENTS NOT ONLY AN INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT AN INVESTMENT IN ACCESS, EQUITY, AND LEGACY PRESERVATION.
THIS IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT FAMILIES, STUDENTS, ARTISTS AND VISITORS CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC, THE MAGIC FROM MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS.
AND SO TODAY IS A CELEBRATION OF WHAT COLLABORATION, VISION, AND COMMUNITY COMMITMENT CAN ACHIEVE.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS MILESTONE POSSIBLE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THAT IS YET TO COME.
AND CERTAINLY AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO COME UP, UH, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
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PLEASURE.I WASN'T EXPECTING HIM HERE THIS MORNING, BUT HE'S HERE THIS MORNING.
AND, AND CERTAINLY HE WILL BRING US SOME, SOME WORDS OF WISDOM.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU, UH, I'M REALLY, REALLY GLAD WE, WE GOT A KINDA ROCKY START.
BUT THEN I'M TELLING YOU, HE IS NOT GONNA
BUT CERTAINLY WE HAVE IRONED ALL OF THAT OUT AND WE, YOU KNOW, I CONSIDER HIM TO BE A GREAT PARTNER.
IT IS NOTHING I CAN ASK FOR OF HIM TO HELP AND ADVANCE DISTRICT D THAT HE HAS NOT GRANTED.
AND CERTAINLY I'M GONNA PASS THE PODIUM OVER TO HIM AND IF THERE IS A PROCLAMATION, HE WOULD BE THE ONE TO GIVE IT.
BUT IF WE DON'T GIVE IT, IF WE DON'T GIVE IT TODAY, WE'LL GIVE IT WHEN IT'S, WHEN IT'S DONE.
HOW ABOUT THAT? BUT CERTAINLY, UM, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO SOME AND CERTAINLY PRESENT TO OTHERS.
OUR MAYOR, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
Y'ALL ARE WITNESSING THE BEST IN COLLABORATION, SHE THOUGHT AND OUTTA RESPECT FOR MY OFFICE.
I WOULD DO THE PROCLAMATION OUTTA RESPECT FOR HER AND HER DISTRICT.
I THOUGHT SHE'D DO THE PROCLAMATION.
THE TRUTH IS WE WANNA DO IT AT CITY HALL IN COUNCIL AND SHARE IT WITH ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC.
BUT LET ME JUST, UM, THANK EVERYONE.
I UNDERSTAND EVENTS LIKE TODAY AND PROJECTS LIKE THIS DON'T JUST HAPPEN COMES ABOUT BY COMMITMENT AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE.
CHAIR PERSON CI NARROWS CERTAINLY BRINGS THE WISDOM AND THE PASSION TO THE ADVISORY BOARD.
CLAUDIA, YOUR LEADERSHIP IS CONTAGIOUS.
KEEP IT UP, MICHELLE AND THE ARTS COMMUNITY.
THIS IS DEFINITELY A SMILE DAY.
OKAY? MY DAUGHTERS QUITE OFTEN SAY, DAD, WHEN YOU GET UP TO SPEAK, SMILE, I SAY, WELL, IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN YOU DEAL WITH THE ISSUES I HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
'CAUSE WE DO HAVE MANY CHALLENGES LIKE MOST MAJOR CITIES.
THE DIFFERENCE IS WE'RE MEETING OUR CHALLENGES.
AND WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT TODAY IS HOUSTON'S GREATNESS IS ON EXHIBIT TODAY.
SO MANY OF OUR MAJOR CITIES ARE IN TURMOIL.
LOOK WHAT HOUSTON'S DOING TODAY, HAVING A GROUNDBREAKING FOR A MAGNIFICENT EDITION TO MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER.
AND I WANT EVERYONE TO PAUSE AND THINK ABOUT AS I WAS BEFORE I CAME, BEFORE YOU RELIVE SOME OF OUR EXPERIENCES AT MILLER PARK.
I WENT TO U OF H, THIS WAS AN ESCAPE FROM EXAMS. AND THEN YOU'VE COME HERE TO SEE THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY.
IT'S JUST REALLY SPECIAL TO BE HERE TODAY AND THINK ALL INVOLVED, CERTAINLY THE CONTRIBUTORS, THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY.
AND I'LL LEAVE US WITH THIS CHALLENGE.
LET'S JUST MAKE SURE ALL COMMUNITIES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
THERE'S PEOPLE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, COUNCIL, MEMBERSHIP EYES THAT JUST REALLY HAVEN'T FELT INVITED TO COME JOIN US, EXPERIENCE GROW.
AND SO LET'S, LET'S TAKE THIS WONDERFUL CITY ASSET THAT THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FULL PARTNER.
BUT LET'S MAKE SURE THAT EACH AND EVERY HOUSTONIAN FEELS WELCOME HERE.
YOU KNOW, THIS MORNING WE WOKE UP WITH 2.3 MILLION HOUSTONIANS, BUT ALSO THERE'S 700,000 PEOPLE TRAVELING TO HOUSTON THIS MORNING TO WORK AND ATTEND EVENTS.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THE FOOTPRINT OF HOUSTON AND OUR GREAT RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO THE REGION.
AND I WOULD EVEN SUGGEST EVEN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THIS IS A DESTINATION FOR SO MANY OF OUR REGIONAL AND CERTAINLY OUR STATEWIDE RESIDENTS.
LET'S ENJOY TODAY AND REALIZE TOMORROW, ACTUALLY WHEN I LEAVE HERE, WE GOTTA GO TO WORK.
THERE'S STILL SOME CHALLENGES WE'VE GOTTA CONQUER.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, FRIENDS, REALLY, THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.
I'M SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF YOU BEING HERE.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT I DON'T KNOW, I'M CLAUDIA DE VASCO, THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE MILLER THEATER ADVISORY BOARD.
I WAS BORN HERE, I WAS RAISED HERE.
AND WHILE I SPENT TIME AWAY, IT WAS THIS PLACE, MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER THAT BROUGHT ME BACK HOME TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I STEPPED INTO THE ROLE OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
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OF THE MILLER THEATER ADVISORY BOARD, I KNEW I WAS STEPPING INTO, I WASN'T JUST STEPPING INTO A JOB, I WAS STEPPING INTO A LEGACY.NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK, SISSY SIEGEL DAVIS, THIS BOARD, OUR STAFF, THE HOUSTON FIRST TEAM HAD BEEN CARRYING OUT FOR YEARS.
BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT MILLER MEANS TO HOUSTONIANS, BECAUSE OF WHAT MILLER MEANS TO ME, MILLER WAS MY FIRST SYMPHONY CONCERT.
MILLER WAS ALSO MY FIRST SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS.
IT'S WHERE I FIRST FELT THE THRILL AS A PERFORMER, AS AN ARTS KID, GETTING TO PERFORM ON THIS STAGE, THE KIND OF THRILL THAT TRULY SHAPES A LIFE.
MAYBE THAT'S WHY MILLER CALLED ME BACK HOME.
BUT BECAUSE MILLER MAKES MEMORIES AND SO MANY OF MINE AND OURS, UH, COME FROM HERE FOR SO MANY HOUSTONIANS, THIS PLACE IS WOVEN INTO THEIR MEMORIES.
ENGAGEMENTS ON THE HILL, PICNICS WITH GRANDPARENTS.
FIRST DATES THAT WE HEAR ABOUT ENGAGEMENTS, LATE NIGHT CONCERTS, 4TH OF JULY, FIREWORKS.
AND OF COURSE THE CLASSIC ROLL DOWN THE HILL, WHICH QUITE FRANKLY HAS BECOME A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR BEING A HOUSTONIAN.
AM I RIGHT? WHO HAS NOT ROLLING DOWN THAT HILL? PEOPLE CALL MILLER AN ICON.
HOUSTON'S CROWN JEWEL, BUT NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE WORLD CLASS PROGRAMMING ALWAYS FREE.
AS WE'VE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES TODAY, NOT JUST BECAUSE WE SPOTLIGHT BELOVED LOCAL ART ARTISTS AND PERFORMING GROUPS AND COMPANIES.
AND NOT JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN HEAR A SYMPHONY ON THE SAME NIGHT THAT YOU CAN WATCH A FAMILY PLAYING TAG ON THE HILL.
IT'S BECAUSE MILLER IS HOUSTON'S ARTS BACKYARD, A MEETING PLACE, A PLACE WHERE BARRIERS FALL AWAY AND THE CITY SHOWS UP AS ITSELF.
HOUSTON CREATIVE, RESILIENT, VIBRANT, WELCOMING, AND BOLD.
AND TODAY, MILLER BEGINS A NEW CHAPTER.
IN 2023, WE CELEBRATED OUR HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY, A CENTURY OF FREE PERFORMANCES, OF COMMUNITY GATHERING AND OF MEMORIES.
THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN LED BY SISSY SIEGEL DAVIS, M TABS BOARD, SUPPORTED BY HOUSTON FIRST AND GUIDED BY THE TREVINO CONSULTING GROUP WASN'T JUST TO HONOR OUR PAST, IT WAS TO BUILD MILLER AND PREPARE US FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS.
AND WHILE WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT THESE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS, THE FUTURE IS NOW THE BOARD AND THE MANY HANDS INVOLVED IN THE CAMPAIGN MADE A CONSCIOUS CHOICE TO FOCUS ON PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCES OF THE AUDIENCE.
PROJECTS THAT MAKE MILLER MORE ACCESSIBLE, MORE WELCOMING, MORE READY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
THIS THE GATEWAY PLAZA IS THE FIRST OF THOSE PROJECTS.
NOW, WHEN WE STEPPED BACK IN EARLY 2024 AND LOOKED AT THIS CORNER OF THE PARK, WE ASKED A SIMPLE QUESTION, DOES THE WAY PEOPLE ENTER MILLER OUTDOOR MATCH THE MAGIC OF WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE? AND THE HONEST QUES, THE HONEST ANSWER WAS NOT QUITE YET.
WE SAW AREAS THAT FLOODED AFTER LIGHT RAIN PADS THAT WERE TOO NARROW FOR CROWDS OR FOR OUR TEAMS DRIVING UTILITY VEHICLES INTO THE PARK SAFELY.
WE SAW FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH STROLLERS ON THE PATHWAYS OR FOLKS WITH MOBILITY NEEDS.
WE SAW A DINING BOSQUE WITH SPLINTERY TABLES.
HAVE Y'ALL SAT ON THOSE TABLES,
WE SAW THAT MILLER NEEDED A TRUE FRONT DOOR, A PLACE THAT SIGNALS YOU'RE HERE, YOU'VE ARRIVED, THIS IS YOUR ARTS HOME.
SO IN 2024, WITH OUR DESIGN PARTNERS, AARON FORBES, EMILY MOORE, AND THE TEAM AT DLR GROUP AND JACK LEY AND HIS TEAM AT MVVA, WE BEGAN TO REIMAGINE THIS GATEWAY IDEA.
AND WHAT THEY DELIVERED IS REALLY MORE THAN A FIX, MORE THAN JUST A FACELIFT OR A RENOVATION.
IT IS A RESTORATION OF HOW HOUSTONIANS ENTER THE ARTS.
THE ARTS HERE AT MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER.
IN OUR PLAZA, THERE WILL BE THREE SCULPTURAL SHADE STRUCTURES.
WE CALL THEM THE BIRDS, WHICH ECHO THE SHAPE AND THE SPIRIT OF THE MILLER OUTDOOR ICONIC.
A-FRAME THEY HINT AT WINGS AND FLIGHT, A NOD TO THE CREATIVITY THAT LIFTS THIS PLACE UP.
AND THE ENGINEERING FEATS THAT ONCE MADE MILLER OUTDOOR FAMOUS.
TOGETHER THEY BECOME A FLOCK RISING LIGHTLY ABOVE A PLAZA, REBUILT FOR ACCESSIBILITY, COMFORT GATHERING, AND OF COURSE BEAUTY.
TOGETHER, THIS GATEWAY WILL NOT CHANGE WHAT MILLER IS.
IT WILL MAKE VISIBLE WHAT HOUSTONIANS HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT MILLER IS WHERE ARTS MEETS COMMUNITY.
CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE SUMMER OF 2026, JUST IN TIME TO WELCOME ALL THE VISITORS THAT WILL BE COMING TO TOWN FOR FIFA GAMES TO PROUDLY SHOWCASE, AS OUR MAYOR HAS SAID, HOW HOUSTON INVESTS IN ITS CULTURAL HEART.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO MADE TODAY'S OR THIS FIRST PROJECT
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POSSIBLE IN THE ENTIRE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN.AND I WANT TO HONOR THEM THIS MORNING.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OUR MAYOR, JOHN WHITMEYER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR PRESENCE TODAY.
OUR COUNCIL MEMBER IN DISTRICT D COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, WHO IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE GUESTS TO WELCOME AUDIENCES OVER THE COURSE OF THIS SEASON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY AS THE CHAIR AND THE CO-CHAIR OF THE ARTS COMMITTEE, AND TO THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL.
WE FEEL SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR IT.
MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPAL AND LEADERSHIP SUPPORT.
UH, SO MANY TIMES I'VE SHARED WHAT WE ARE DOING AT MILLER WITH OTHER ARTS EXECUTIVES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, NOT JUST FROM THE UNITED STATES.
AND THEY'RE ALWAYS AMAZED AT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE AT MILLER.
AND IT IS TRULY, TRULY REFLECTIVE OF WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN HOUSTON WHERE WE NOT ONLY INVEST IN BUSINESSES AND SAFETY AND COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO IN THE CULTURAL HEART OF WHAT MAKES THE CITY WONDERFUL.
I ALSO WANNA THANK THE MILLER THEATER ADVISORY BOARD.
WILL YOU PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE, YOU'RE HERE.
THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS HERE TODAY.
OUR ADVISORY BOARD IS A CITY APPOINTED VOLUNTEER BOARD THAT HELPS TO MAKE MILLER POSSIBLE.
AND I WANNA SINCERELY THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR HELP.
HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION AND THE INCREDIBLE MILLER OUTDOOR STAFF, SEAN NICOLE, AND THE ENTIRE ON THE GROUND MILLER OUTDOOR TEAM.
IF YOU'RE AROUND, I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE BACK THERE.
WAVE YOUR HANDS OR DALE GER IS HERE AS WELL FROM HOUSTON.
FIRST, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
ALSO, HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY, WHO ABSOLUTELY DID NOT NEED ANOTHER PROJECT ON THEIR PLATES.
AND YET THEY SIGNED ON TO MANAGE THIS PROJECT WITH SO MUCH SUPPORT, GRACE AND SKILL.
AND I AM SO THANKFUL TO ANI IF YOU ARE HERE, I KNOW I SAW YOU JUST THERE YOU ARE, THE ENTIRE HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY TEAM.
AND KARA LAMBRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE H PART, HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN.
AND TINA, I BELIEVE YOU ARE HERE AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR CAMPAIGN, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CABINET.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND COMMITMENT.
AND IF YOU ARE HERE, WILL YOU PLEASE ALSO MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN? I BELIEVE SOME OF THEM MIGHT HAVE GONE.
WELL, IF YOU SEE THEM OUT AND ABOUT, THE LIST OF THEIR NAMES IS IN YOUR PROGRAM, AND PLEASE GIVE THEM A BIG THANKFUL.
I ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE MILLER THEATER ADVISORY BOARD STAFF.
WILL YOU ALL PLEASE WAVE YOUR HANDS? THEY'RE ALL STANDING AROUND STILL KIND OF HELPING OUT AND SUPPORTING THIS EVENT THAT WE ARE A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM.
AND SOMEHOW THEY AGREED TO ADD, BUILD A PLAZA HOST, A GROUNDBREAKING HOST, A RIBBON CUTTING TO THEIR WEEKLY TO-DO LIST ON TOP OF HELPING TO PRODUCE ALL THE EVENTS THAT WE PRODUCE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.
AND OF COURSE, THIS WORK WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT OUR DONORS LEAD FUNDING FOR THE GATEWAY PLAZA.
AND THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN WAS PROVIDED BY THE TING SUNG AND WANG CHOW FOUNDATION, BROWN FOUNDATION, AND THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT WITH NAMING RIGHTS SECURED FOR THE GATEWAY PLAZA BY TING SUNG AND WANG CHOW FOUNDATION.
ACKNOWLEDGE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT CAME FROM THE FONDANT FOUNDATION, THE CULLEN TRUST FOR THE PERFORMING AND VI FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, THE WORTHHAM FOUNDATION, THE ELKINS FOUNDATION, THE GEORGE AND MARY JOSEPHINE HAMMOND FOUNDATION, EDWARD AND HELEN OPPENHEIMER FOUNDATION, ALBERT AND ETHEL HERSTEIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND THE CLAYTON FUND.
AND AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF INDIVIDUAL DONORS WHOSE NAMES ARE LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE.
CAN WE PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? NOW, THIS PROJECT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
WE STILL HAVE MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR SEATING AND THE CAN, THE CANOPY, THE HILL ACCESSIBILITY, UPGRADES TO THE FOR THE AUDIENCES ON THE HILL, AND MORE WORK TO ENSURE THAT MILLER CONTINUES TO BE WELCOMING TO ALL.
AND SO IF YOU LOVE THIS PLACE, IF MILLER HOLDS A PLACE IN YOUR MEMORIES, IF YOUR FAMILY HAS ROLLED DOWN THAT HILL OR DANCED UNDER THESE STARS, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER SUPPORTING THIS CAMPAIGN EVEN BY SPONSORING A PAVER, LEAVING YOUR NAME, YOUR FAMILY'S NAME, YOUR STORY AS PART OF THIS SPACE FOR GENERATIONS.
YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY SOON.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR BOARD CHAIR, TIM CISNEROS, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, THE DESIGN TEAM TO JOIN ME HERE TO MY RIGHT, THE DLR GROUP DESIGN TEAM.
TOGETHER WE WILL TURN THE FIRST SHOVELS OF EARTH ON THE GATEWAY PLAZA.
A SMALL ACTION THAT SYMBOLIZES A VERY BIG FUTURE.
MILLER IS WHERE HOUSTONIANS AND HOUSTON COMES TO BREATHE TO GATHER, TO CELEBRATE WHO WE ARE.
AND THIS REVITALIZED PLAZA, THIS GATEWAY WILL WELCOME EVERY CHILD ON THEIR FIRST FIELD TRIP, EVERY COUPLE ON THEIR FIRST DATE, EVERY ARTIST ON
[00:25:01]
THE NIGHT THAT CHANGES THEIR LIFE LIKE IT DID MINE.IT WILL WELCOME NEIGHBORS WHO LIVED HERE FOR GENERATIONS AND NEWCOMERS DISCOVERING THE CITY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
THE GATEWAY TO THE PERFORMING ARTS IS FINALLY GETTING A GATEWAY.
MAY THIS SPACE OPEN ITS ARMS TO THE NEXT CENTURY OF HOUSTON'S CREATIVITY, HONORING EVERY MEMORY MADE ON THIS HILL AND EVERY MEMORY STILL TO COME UNDER THE HOUSTON STARS TOGETHER.