Dean R. Gladden News

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Alley Theatre's historic downtown building as the theatre undergoes its first major renovation since its opening in 1968 is set for July 8, 2014.

The "Alley Theatre @ UH" season begins with Elizabeth Ashley and Hallie Foote in the southwestern premiere of Horton Foote's wonderfully entertaining The Old Friends, directed byMichael Wilson. Alley Resident Actors Jay Sullivan, James Black, and Jeffrey Bean, and returning artist Jeremy Webb lead the cast of Dracula, the Original Vampire Play, a production that will include the iconic designs by Edward Gorey, directed by Artistic Director Gregory Boyd. Boyd also directsShakespeare's romantic comedy As You Like It featuring Alley Resident Actors Elizabeth Bunch, Chris Hutchison and Todd Waite. Resident Actor James Black and Josie de Guzman lead the cast in Arthur Miller's All My Sons, directed by renowned playwright Theresa Rebeck. The Southwestern debut of Britain's innovative and exciting theatre company Kneehigh follows, with an inventive and imaginative production of Tristan & Yseult, based on the Arthurian romance. Resident Actor Jeffrey Bean returns to a favorite role in the riotous tour de force The Foreigner.

Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will feature Resident Actor Jeffrey Bean as Vanya, Sharon Lockwood returning to the Alley as Sonia, Alley Artist Josie de Guzman returning as Masha, and Resident Actor Jay Sullivan as Spike. Rounding out the cast and making their Alley debuts are Rachael Holmes as Cassandra and Sarah Nealis as Nina. Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director of California Shakespeare Theater, helms the production and returns after having directed the Alley's 2011 production of Amadeus.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People. Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play, the cast of Good People includes Alley Theatre Resident Actors Elizabeth Bunch as Margaret, Chris Hutchison as Mike and Melissa Pritchett as Jean. Rounding out the cast are Dylan Godwin, returning to the Alley as Stevie after appearing in the world premiere of Ether Dome; Jennifer Harmon as Dottie, having previously appeared in August: Osage County; and Krystel Lucas making her Alley debut as Kate. Alley Theatre Associate Director James Black directs this production.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for recent Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Appearing in titles roles are Resident Actor Jeffrey Bean as Vanya, Sharon Lockwood returning to the Alley as Sonia, Alley Artist Josie de Guzman returning as Masha, and Resident Actor Jay Sullivan as Spike. Rounding out the cast and making their Alley debuts are Rachael Holmes as Cassandra and Sarah Nealis as Nina. Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director of California Shakespeare Theater, helms the production and returns after having directed the Alley's 2011 production of Amadeus.

Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director of the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre, announces 6 of the 7 plays that will comprise its 2014-2015 season, entitled "Alley Theatre @ UH, " featuring Alley Resident Actors and favorites in stellar roles.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Alan Ayckbourn's science fiction comedy Communicating Doors. Eleven plays penned by Alan Ayckbourn have been produced by the Alley, including the American premiere of Henceforward, directed by Ayckbourn, in 1987 and House & Garden in 2002. Alan Ayckbourn has been inducted into the American Theatre's Hall of Fame, received the 2010 Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts, became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards and was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Alan Ayckbourn's science fiction comedy Communicating Doors. Eleven plays penned by Alan Ayckbourn have been produced by the Alley, including the American premiere of Henceforward, directed by Ayckbourn, in 1987 and House & Garden in 2002. Alan Ayckbourn has been inducted into the American Theatre's Hall of Fame, received the 2010 Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts, became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards and was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre.

Alley Theatre presents the world premiere of a new comedy by Theresa Rebeck, Fool. In Rebeck's new comedy, two kings get together and place a wager on their fools - a jester competition, and the funniest one gets to keep his head. Two evil minions have a lot to say about this, but not as much as the kitchen wench. And what's the queen been up to all night? A dramatical comical farcical tragical play about power, love and laughter, set in a medieval kitchen. Adult Language, Adult Situations, Beheadings.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the world premiere of a new comedy by Theresa Rebeck, Fool. In Rebeck's new comedy, two kings get together and place a wager on their fools - a jester competition, and the funniest one gets to keep his head. Two evil minions have a lot to say about this, but not as much as the kitchen wench. And what's the queen been up to all night? A dramatical comical farcical tragical play about power, love and laughter, set in a medieval kitchen. Adult Language, Adult Situations, Beheadings.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Other Desert Cities. A riveting new play by Pulitzer Prize nominee and creator of TV's hit drama Brothers & Sisters, Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities was named the Outstanding Play by the Outer Critics Circle and called 'the best new play on Broadway' by The New York Times. Jackson Gay returns to direct this new production after helming the Alley Theatre's productions of August: Osage County, Red andIntelligence-Slave.

Back by popular demand, Todd Waite reprises his role as Houston's favorite holiday elf. A compact, one-character comedy, The Santaland Diaries is a hilarious cult classic featuring comic encounters during the height of the holiday crunch. NPR humorist and best-selling author of Me Talk Pretty One Day and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, David Sedaris has become one of America's pre-eminent humor writers. Recommended for mature audiences due to language and subject matter.

Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director of the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre, announces its thrilling new season of plays created by playwrights that include a Pulitzer-Prize winning comedy, a new play that was the Outer Critics Circle's Outstanding, New Play winner, the first play by a Tony Award winner, a 2011 Tony Award nominee for Best Play, plus an ingenious comedy from acclaimed, award-winning playwright Alan Ayckbourn and an intriguing epic by Bertolt Brecht.

Back by popular demand, Todd Waite reprises his role as Houston's favorite holiday elf. A compact, one-character comedy, The Santaland Diaries is a hilarious cult classic featuring comic encounters during the height of the holiday crunch. NPR humorist and best-selling author of Me Talk Pretty One Day and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, David Sedaris has become one of America's pre-eminent humor writers. Recommended for mature audiences due to language and subject matter.

Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director of the Alley Theatre, announces the addition of the 2013 Tony Award-winning Best Play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, by Christopher Durang, to the Alley Theatre's 2013-2014 season as the last Hubbard Stage production. Good People, by David Lindsay-Abaire, will be performed on the Neuhaus Stage from May 30 to June 29, 2014. Bertolt Brecht's The Good Woman of Setzuan will be moved to a future season.

Beginning in July 2013, the Alley Theatre will produce Agatha Christie's The Hollow during its popular ExxonMobil Summer Chills series. Under the direction of Gregory Boyd, the Alley's resident company of actors will bring to life the colorful cast of characters in Agatha Christie's The Hollow.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman previously announced that the Alley Theatre is one of 832 non-profit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. The Alley Theatre received a $50,000 grant to support the production of Kenneth Lin's Warrior Class as part of the Alley Theatre's New Play Initiative.

The Alley Theatre, one of the nation's leading nonprofit theatre companies and housed in one of Houston's most iconic buildings, unveiled plans today to enhance its artistic product and complete the first extensive renovation of its facilities since its opening in 1968 through a $73 million capital campaign.