James Black News

The Alley Theatre's production of Houston native Bruce Norris' Clybourne Park, winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize, the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play, and the Olivier Award for Best Play (London) starts on the Alley Theatre's Neuhaus Stage January 18 and opens Wednesday, January 23. Clybourne Park is directed by Alley Theater Associate Director James Black.

BroadwayWorld brings you the Best of Houston in the year 2012. Check out the Top Theatre Stories from each month during in the year 2012. We look forward to another exciting year of theatre in 2013!

Based on the actual atrocities committed circa 2004 onward at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Bad Apples is another bold undertaking by Circle X, one that is scathingly real and at the same time exhilarating theatre. Two soldiers Specialist Charles Graner - named Chuck Shepard (James Black) in the play and his fiance Lynndie England - here named Pvt. Lyndsay Skinner (Kate Morgan Chadwick) were convicted in courts martial, imprisoned and dishonorably discharged for torture, abuse, and sexual crimes including rape of Iraqi prisoners.

The Alley Theatre in Houston has been annually producing a stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' novella A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas since 1988. In 1990, Michael Wilson's adaptation, titled A CHRISTMAS CAROL - A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS, had its premiere at The Alley. With family friendly chills and a thrilling, Wizard of Oz-esque spin on the classic parable of redemption and the true meaning of Christmas, the show continues to delight audiences year after year.

Houston's seasonal favorite A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas returns to light up the Holiday Season downtown on the Hubbard Stage November 16 to December 24. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Houston's seasonal favorite A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas returns to light up the Holiday Season downtown on the Hubbard Stage November 16 to December 24.

In its latest production, Circle X Theatre Co. examines the question of how such abuse could occur with a fictionalized look at the motivations of three soldiers based on those who were at the center of the real life Abu Ghraib scandal.

Circle X Theatre Co. presents the world premiere musical, Bad Apples, book by Jim Leonard, music and lyrics by Rob Cairns and Beth Thornley, directed by John Langs, choreography by Cassandra Daurden, and musical direction by Rob Cairns and Beth Thornley. Bad Apples is currently running through Saturday, December 1 at Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave. in Los Angeles. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd presents Death of a Salesman. Performances open officially Thursday, October 11 and run through Sunday, October 28 on the Hubbard Stage. As previously announced Glenn Fleshler joins the cast of the Alley Theatre's Death of a Salesman asWilly Loman. He was the understudy for Willy Loman in the recent Broadway production. His Broadway credits also include Captain Brice, RN in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and Antonio's man/ensemble in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below.

With stunning emotional clarity, The Alley Theatre is presenting Arthur Miller's quintessentially American and classic family drama DEATH OF A SALESMAN as part of their 2012-2013 season. The play premiered in 1949 and has become a show of legendary status in the development of American dramatic theatre. It most recently enjoyed a successful Broadway revival that closed on June 2, 2012 and starred Philip Seymour Hoffman as Willy Loman.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the performance schedule for Death of a Salesman. Performances open officially tonight, October 11 and run through Sunday, October 28 on the Hubbard Stage. As previously announced Glenn Fleshler joins the cast of the Alley Theatre's Death of a Salesman asWilly Loman. He was the understudy for Willy Loman in the recent Broadway production. His Broadway credits also include Captain Brice, RN in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and Antonio's man/ensemble in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. An updated performance schedule is included below.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the performance schedule for Death of a Salesman. Performances open officially Thursday, October 11 and run through Sunday, October 28 on the Hubbard Stage. As previously announced Glenn Fleshler joins the cast of the Alley Theatre's Death of a Salesman asWilly Loman. He was the understudy for Willy Loman in the recent Broadway production. His Broadway credits also include Captain Brice, RN in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and Antonio's man/ensemble in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. An updated performance schedule is included below.

Due to a health problem, Alley veteran James Black is unable to perform the role of Willy Loman in the Alley Theatre's current production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Everyone is confident that he will make a full recovery and will be able to return to the Alley stages in future productions.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller and directed by Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd, begins performances tonight, September 28, opens officially Wednesday, October 3, and runs through Sunday, October 28 on the Hubbard Stage.

Circle X Theatre Co. is thrilled to announce the world premiere musical, BAD APPLES, book by Jim Leonard, music and lyrics by Rob Cairns and Beth Thornley, directed by John Langs, choreography by Cassandra Daurden, and musical direction by Rob Cairns and Beth Thornley. BAD APPLES will begin previews tonight, September 28 and will open on Saturday, October 13 and will perform through Saturday, December 1 at Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave. in Los Angeles.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller and directed by Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd, begins performances Friday, September 28, opens officially Wednesday, October 3, and runs through Sunday, October 28 on the Hubbard Stage.

Circle X Theatre Co. is thrilled to announce the world premiere musical, BAD APPLES, book by Jim Leonard, music and lyrics by Rob Cairns and Beth Thornley, directed by John Langs, choreography by Cassandra Daurden, and musical direction by Rob Cairns and Beth Thornley. BAD APPLES will begin previews on Friday, September 28 and will open on Saturday, October 13 and will perform through Saturday, December 1 at Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave. in Los Angeles.

Many theatergoers in the Houston area agree that there is simply no better way to escape the summer heat than by enjoying the air-conditioning and fantastic who-done-it at the Alley Theatre. This year's selection for the annual Summer Chills series is BLACK COFFEE, the first play that Dame Agatha Christie wrote. BLACK COFFEE tells the story of a scientist's murder, with a cast of intriguing characters who all had at least one motive for wanting him dead. To solve the case Agatha Christie employs Hercule Poirot, who is one of literature's most famous detectives and, upon his 1975 death, the only fictional character to have an obituary published on the front page of The New York Times.

Agatha Christie's BLACK COFFEE at the Alley Theatre is being presented 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 cast of characters, including the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, in Agatha Christie's BLACK COFFEE. Agatha Christie's BLACK COFFEE begins performances Friday, July 7, opens officially Sunday, July 8, and runs through Sunday, August 5 on the Hubbard Stage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production photos below.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of Agatha Christie's Black Coffee, this year's ExxonMobil Summer Chills.