Hi Sammo,

You want a production space?  Ummm...  Reading this site (and like sites), I have observed that people have set up theatres in warehouses, churches, open basements, shops, high school gymnasiums, and even purpose-built theatres!  It seems that the use of available space is only limited by your imagination and budget.

You know your company.  You know your neighbourhood.  Do you run select, avant-garde productions; or popular, mainstream productions?  Do you plan to put on plays (with six to ten performers) or musicals (with forty-plus performers)?  What are your expected audience numbers per show; fifty, or five hundred?  What back stage area do you want/need?  With the answers to these, and many like questions, you can start to look around for your performance space.

Talk with real estate agents, in your area.  They can put out feelers for you.  If there is a suitable space unoccupied, then, maybe, you can negotiate with the landlord a reduced rent in return for promoting their business (in your programmes, on your web-site, etc...) and give them a few complementary tickets.  [In Australia, these guys -- the real estate agents -- often like to be seen supporting community development, and are very helpful to have on side -- especially when it comes to having bill-boards erected which promote your current show.]

I know Melbourne, Australia is not Houston; but, hey mate, the principles remain the same.  Good luck.

Cheers from Oz.