The renovation of the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston's Hermann Park not only sought to increase interest in the community, but also to give the theatre recognition on a national level. This mission was carried out with thoughtful use of stonework, including limestone installed on a radius for the exterior facade.
The original theatre was designed by William Ward Watkin in 1921. Financed by a bond issue in the mid-'60s, a new theatre was designed by Eugene Werlin and Associates, and it opened in 1968. On a practical level, the recent renovation provided additional restroom capacity along with utility, storage and ticketing space. But from an aesthetic point of view, the renovation sought to enhance the theatre's status as a major entertainment venue in Houston. The theatre is the only one of its kind in the U.S. that offers free entertainment to the general public.