Cullen Performance Hall

Cullen Performance Hall is a concert hall located on the campus of the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. The hall, comprising the eastern half of the E. Cullen Building, was named in honor of Ezekiel W. Cullen, a former congressman for the Republic of Texas. The facility seats 1,544, and hosts music, opera, dance, theatrical events, and public lectures. Opening in 1950, the facility was designed by Alfred C. Finn.

Cullen Performance Hall
Front entrance to Cullen Performance Hall
Location4800 Calhoun Road
Houston, Texas
United States
OwnerUniversity of Houston
TypeProscenium theatre
Seating typeReserved
Capacity1,544
Construction
OpenedOctober 31, 1950
Renovated1988
Construction cost$5.5 million USD
Website
Cullen Performance Hall

History

On March 21, 1945, the Ezekiel W. Cullen Building along with Cullen Performance Hall was announced.[1] Construction of Cullen Performance Hall was part of a large expansion to the University of Houston's permanent buildings on campus that took place starting on May 10, 1948. The hall originally sat 1,680, and was intended to host similar events as the Houston Music Hall which was the main music venue for the city at the time.[2] The hall was named in honor of Ezekiel W. Cullen, a congressman for the Republic of Texas, and the grandfather of then University of Houston Regent Hugh Roy Cullen who was the principal donor to the project.

The university hired native Houston architect Alfred C. Finn to design the building.[3] In order to give the building a classical look, Finn designed the building with long wings and regularly spaced pilasters.

The dedication of the Cullen Performance Hall was held in conjunction with the Ezekiel W. Cullen Building on Halloween of 1950.[4] For the dedication, conductor Efrem Kurtz directed the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and H.R. Cullen gave a speech.

In 1988, the facility received complete renovations.[5]

Past events

Music

Artists who have appeared at Cullen Performance Hall include Depeche Mode,[6] The Smiths,[7] Los Lobos,[8] Tori Amos,[9] Dead Can Dance,[10] Tracy Chapman,[11] Kronos Quartet,[12] Djavan,[13] Rick Braun,[14] Jonathan Butler,[14] Richard Elliot,[14] Peter White,[14] Cyndi Lauper,[15] The Clash,[16] and the Ramones.[17]

Lectures

Rapper and political activist Chuck D spoke at a public lecture at Cullen Performance Hall in 2006.[18] Filmmaker Charles Burnett discussed his 1978 film Killer of Sheep there in 2008,[19] while Spike Lee spoke there in 2004.[20] Nobel laureates James D. Watson and Eric Kandel lectured at the hall in 2007, and were moderated by Ferid Murad.[21] Also in 2007, inventor and futurist Raymond Kurzweil presented UH's 2007 Farfel Distinguished Lecture at the location.[22] Academic scholar Cornel West lectured on race relations as a guest of the university's Graduate College of Social Work in 2005.[23]

Other

ESPN's College GameDay broadcast from outside of the Cullen Performance Hall when they came to the University of Houston campus to cover the #8 Houston team compete against SMU from November 18–19, 2011.[24]

References
  1. Nicholson, Patrick (1977). In Time: An Anecdotal History of the First Fifty Years of the University of Houston. Houston, Texas: Pacesetter Press. pp. 270–271. ISBN 0-88415-371-1.
  2. Hawes, William (1996). Public Television: America's First Station. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Sunstone Press. pp. 21–22. ISBN 0-86534-245-8.
  3. "Ezekiel W. Cullen Building". Houston Deco: Modernistic of the Texas Coast. Greater Houston Preservation Alliance. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  4. Nicholson, Patrick (1977). In Time: An Anecdotal History of the First Fifty Years of the University of Houston. Houston, Texas: Pacesetter Press. pp. 289–290. ISBN 0-88415-371-1.
  5. "Cullen Performance Hall". Yahoo! Local. Yahoo!. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  6. "Depeche Mode".
  7. "1986 The Smiths Setlist". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  8. "1988 Los Lobos Tour Dates". loslobos.setlist.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  9. "1994 Under The Pink Tour". toriamos.org. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  10. "Dead Can Dance - Tour Archive". deadcandance.info. 2008-12-30.
  11. "1995 / 1996 - New Beginning Tour". about-tracy-chapman.net. 7 December 1996. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  12. "The Kronos Quartet - Cullen Performance Hall // 4.11.2008". Concert Attack. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  13. "Brazilian Superstar "DJAVAN" in Houston Concert". Upcoming Events & Things To Do. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  14. Nunn, Sheldon (2005-04-23). "The City of Houston Was Hit By A Direct Jazz Attack". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  15. Guerra, Joey (2006-09-18). "Mother of Reinvention". Houston Voice. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  16. "The Clash - Rockin Houston".
  17. "Ramones - Rockin Houston".
  18. "Bring the Noise: Hip Hop Pioneer, Activist Chuck D To Speak on Rap, Race at UH". University of Houston. 2006-04-12. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  19. "Award-Winning Filmmaker Charles Burnett Kicks Off Black History Month". University of Houston. 2008-01-31. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  20. "Spike Lee To Address Black History Through Film During Campus Lecture at UH". University of Houston. 2004-02-10. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  21. "Three Nobel Laureates Speak at UH To Launch Holocaust Museum Program". University of Houston. 2007-09-04. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  22. "www.uh.edu/uhtoday/2007/03march/032907kurzweil_farfelspeaker.html". University of Houston. 2007-03-29. Archived from the original on January 9, 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  23. "Provocative Princeton Race Relations Scholar To Speak At UH". University of Houston. 2005-03-29. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  24. "ESPN GameDay Info". Houston Cougars athletics. Archived from the original on 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2011-11-16.

29.7203°N 95.3431°W / 29.7203; -95.3431

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