Theater fans lament fiery close to Great Caruso 'A great loss' for Houston theater

After a blaze destroys it, the city's landmark Great Caruso lives on in memories

The Great Caruso dinner theater, in the 10000 block of Westheimer, burned down early Sunday. The cause of the fire, ruled suspicious by the Fire Department, is still under investigation. The Great Caruso dinner theater, in the 10000 block of Westheimer, burned down early Sunday. The cause of the fire, ruled suspicious by the Fire Department, is still under investigation. Photo: Aaron M. Sprecher, For The Chronicle Photo: Aaron M. Sprecher, For The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Theater fans lament fiery close to Great Caruso 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The Great Caruso dinner theater offered dining and live entertainment for decades before a suspicious fire early Sunday gutted the west Houston landmark.

Although the building in the 10000 block of Westheimer is now little more than twisted metal and fire-blackened concrete, some members of the city's theater community said the Great Caruso will always hold a special place in their hearts.

"I just feel it's a great loss," said Damon Price, who first appeared in its 2000 production of Dreamgirls.

"It was the first place where I performed professionally," Price said. "I've been performing there ever since."

Though the atmosphere may have been more relaxed than at high-profile venues such as the Alley Theatre, Price said the actors and behind-the-scenes workers always put on the best performance possible.

Michael Tapley, who directed about 10 productions at the Great Caruso in the past six years, said he was devastated by the loss.

"I'm going to miss it," Tapley said. "I'm not sure Houston, or any other city, will see a dinner theater quite like that. It was an experience."

The owners of the theater could not be reached for comment Monday. A message on an answering machine said it would be closed indefinitely.

The fire broke out about three weeks after Judi Messina finished a run in the Great Caruso's production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.

Messina said she was "really crushed" when she learned about the fire.

"I was hoping to work there next spring when they resumed their musicals," she said.

Although the stage at the Great Caruso was relatively small, Price said the size never kept theater managers from mounting ambitious music.

"I think that is what really captured the audience — to be up close and have that connection with the performers," Price said.

Price and Messina said the performers were always well treated by theater managers.

"You never had to worry about a check bouncing at the Great Caruso," Price said.

The fire that destroyed the Great Caruso also was felt by other local venues.

"The loss of any theater, especially one that has established such a place in Houston history really is a loss for all of us," said Lise Bohn, with the Stages Repertory Theatre. "Anytime you lose one of those voices, the whole community is diminished."

The fast-moving blaze erupted about 6 a.m. Sunday and quickly spread to other businesses in the strip shopping center anchored by the dinner theater. The fire remains under investigation and HFD officials ruled it was incendiary, or suspicious.

The fire also damaged several other businesses in the shopping center. Robert Bazemore has operated the Yoga Lotus studio there for about five years. Now, he will temporarily relocate to another spot until the repairs can be made.

"It's a headache, but life goes on," Bazemore said. "We hope to be up and running in about a week."

Rick Forester also plans for an quick reopening of his Mexican restaurant, Santos.

"We've got a lot of smoke damage and soot but no water damage and no fire damage," Forester said as work crews continued cleaning the restaurant. "We are very, very fortunate in comparison to the other people."

Messina is holding out hopes that the Great Caruso will rise again.

"I just can't see that they wouldn't rebuild," she said. "It's just a special place."

mike.glenn@chron.com