Alley Theatre Names Elizabeth Frankel Director of New Work

Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announced today that Elizabeth Frankel has been appointed to join the Alley Theatre as the Director of New Work. Frankel will begin in her new position in June, 2015. Elizabeth Frankel is currently the Literary Manager at The Public Theater in New York where she runs the Literary Department and the Emerging Writers Group.

"The Alley is reinforcing it's commitment to new plays and playwrights, and the appointment of Elizabeth is a large and exceedingly significant step" said Artistic Director Gregory Boyd. "Elizabeth comes to the Alley with a wide and deep experience of supporting new and emerging writers, and brings her close associations with playwrights and theatre-artists nation-wide. She will be a key player in the Alley's artistic growth, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Alley at this exciting time."

Frankel will work closely with the Alley Theatre's Artistic staff, with the primary focus of heading the Alley Theatre's New Plays program. She will be responsible for creating an annual new play festival, and developing and deepening the theatre's relationship with playwrights. She will hire a new Literary Manager, and together with Gregory Boyd will commission plays and work with writers through the development process from workshop to production.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Alley Theatre at such an important time in its history. I look forward to helping Gregory Boyd and the staff create a robust new work program and to introducing Alley audiences to exciting new plays and musicals while introducing more writers to Houston" said Frankel.

Elizabeth Frankel joins the Alley Theatre after nine years at New York's Public Theater, where she was the Literary Manager. She helped to start Emerging Writers Group in 2008 and has run the program since its inception, launching the careers of 53 writers in the process. Outside dramaturgy assignments have taken her to venues including the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Colorado New Play Summit, the Ojai Playwrights Conference and the Playwrights Center. Before joining The Public, she worked at Waxman Williams Entertainment, Miramax Films and in the literary office of Manhattan Theatre Club. She has also produced shows off-Broadway and in the Summer Play Festival. She was a Lucille Lortel Awards Nominator during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 theater seasons. Her journalistic work has appeared in The Village Voice, Time Out New York, American Theatre, and Northeast Magazine. She holds a BA in Performing Arts and English from Colby College in Waterville, Maine.