FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2006

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Delicia Harvey, Public Relations Manager (deliciah@alleytheatre.org)
Adriana Perez, Public Relations Associate (adrianap@alleytheatre.org)
713/228-9341

Hit the Lights! Alley Theatre's ExxonMobil Summer Chills 2006
Features Two Productions Cloaked in Darkness -
Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott and Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy

HOUSTON, TX - Turn out the lights and get ready for the Alley Theatre's 2006 ExxonMobil Summer Chills series! The Alley Theatre produces both a mystery and a comedy as part of its annual ExxonMobil Summer Chills series in 2006. Both productions-Frederick Knott's mystery thriller Wait Until Dark and Peter Shaffer's farce Black Comedy-utilize darkness as a key feature of the plot. With tickets available at the low price of $19, ExxonMobil Summer Chills is a great way to beat the Houston heat and "shed new light" on the theatre experience for first-timers and families.

Wait Until Dark begins preview performances Friday, June 30, opens Saturday, July 1 and runs through Sunday, July 16. Black Comedy follows soon with a preview performance Friday, July 21, opening Saturday, July 22 and performances through Sunday, August 6. Tickets go on sale to the general public May 1, with a special pre-sale to Alley E-mail Club members planned for Thursday, April 27 through Sunday, April 30. Individuals must register for the E-mail Club at www.alleytheatre.org by Monday, April 24 in order to access the pre-sale.

A theatrical ride that is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seat, Wait Until Dark is Frederick Knott's (Dial M for Murder) clever mystery thriller. When Sam Hendrix innocently agrees to deliver a doll to a sick child, he has no idea the series of events the doll's secret cargo will set into place. When a group of con men arrive in search of the doll, they are confronted with the resilience and ingenuity of Sam's wife, Susy, who is blind. Fearlessly confronting the men from within the confines of her own dark world, Susy is not quite what they expect. Audrey Hepburn made Susy unforgettable when she played the role in the 1967 film version of Wait Until Dark.

Using a theatrical device whereby the role of light and dark are reversed, Black Comedy is a hilarious romp with a group of zany characters feeling their way around a pitch-black room - although the stage is, of course, lit, and visible to the audience. Written by Peter Shaffer (Equus, Amadeus), Black Comedy tells the story of starving artist Brindsley and his fiancée Carol, who have "borrowed" some expensive furniture from their out-of-town neighbor in order to impress Carol's father, who has been invited over for a dinner party. As the guests begin to arrive, the couple's neighbor unexpectedly returns. The lights go out and Brindsley and his guests are suddenly thrown into a dizzying array of mistaken identities, physical comedy and general mayhem.

WAIT UNTIL DARK by Frederick Knott
June 30 through July 16

Preview Friday June 30 8 p.m.
OPENING Saturday July 1 8 p.m.
Sunday July 2 2:30 p.m.
Sunday July 2 7:30 p.m.
Monday July 3 7:30 p.m.
Please note: there is no show on Tuesday, July 4
Wednesday July 5 7:30 p.m.
Thursday July 6 7:30 p.m.
Friday July 7 8 p.m.
Saturday July 8 2:30 p.m.
Saturday July 8 8 p.m.
Sunday July 9 2:30 p.m.
Sunday July 9 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday July 11 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday July 12 7:30 p.m.
Thursday July 13 7:30 p.m.
Friday July 14 8 p.m.
Saturday July 15 2:30 p.m.
Saturday July 15 8:00 p.m.
Sunday July 16 2:30 p.m.
Sunday July 16 7:30 p.m.

BLACK COMEDY by Peter Shaffer
July 21 through August 6

Preview Friday July 21 8 p.m.
OPENING Saturday July 22 8 p.m.
Sunday July 23 2:30 p.m.
Sunday July 23 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday July 25 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday July 26 7:30 p.m.
Thursday July 27 7:30 p.m.
Friday July 28 8 p.m.
Saturday July 29 2:30 p.m.
Saturday July 29 8 p.m.
Sunday July 30 2:30 p.m.
Sunday July 30 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday Aug. 1 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday Aug. 2 7:30 p.m.
Thursday Aug. 3 7:30 p.m.
Friday Aug. 4 8 p.m.
Saturday Aug. 5 2:30 p.m.
Saturday Aug. 5 8:00 p.m.
Sunday Aug. 6 2:30 p.m.
Sunday Aug. 6 7:30 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to ExxonMobil Summer Chills start at $19. Advance tickets to Wait Until Dark or Black Comedy are available Thursday, April 27 through Sunday, April 30 exclusively to Alley Theatre E-mail Club members. Individuals may register for the E-mail Club at www.alleytheatre.org by Monday, April 24 to receive a code to access the pre-sale. Beginning May 1, tickets can be purchased by the general public by visiting www.alleytheatre.org, calling the Alley Box Office at 713/228-8421, or in person at 615 Texas Ave. The added convenience of reservations by phone or Internet is available for a nominal fee.

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