I have a great feeling of gratitude and delight to announce Alley Theatre’s 80th Season! Reaching 80 years old is no guarantee in life, especially for an arts institution. I count my blessings every day that I am here at Alley Theatre during this momentous time, and I am so grateful to everyone who has given the Alley their hard work, support, care, and sacrifice over the past eight decades.
In this season, we acknowledge our rich history with a return to Shakespeare and Edward Albee! I’m so excited to be directing Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as well as Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. The first I heard of the Alley was a lecture at Princeton University by Edward Albee and he spoke with deep fondness of his long and unique relationship with the Alley. I’m also excited to welcome back director/translator Richard Nelson to lead our Resident Acting Company in an intimate production of one of modern drama’s greatest classics: The Cherry Orchard. Richard Nelson and co-translators Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky went back to the letters between Anton Chekhov and director Konstantin Stanislavski to piece together some of Chekhov’s original intentions before compromises had to be made for its premiere production. I like to think that Alley audiences are getting a look at the text as it was meant to be. For our Summer Chills this year, we are doing something exciting and new: Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel’s adaptation of The Girl on the Train, and during our regular season, Alley audience’s will notice another old friend, Agatha Christie, with Ken Ludwig’s new adaptation of her novel Death on the Nile!
Speaking of new, the Alley continues to bring new works to life through the Alley All New Festival and two world premieres in our season: Uhuru by Gloria Majule and Womb 2.0 by Marisela Treviño Orta (author of December: a love years in the making)—both big hits of past Alley All New Festivals.
With Womb 2.0 and Majorie Prime by Jordan Harrison, we take a look at technology and its effect on our lives. With the ascent of AI and biotechnology, there is almost a feeling of inevitability, but the theatre is a place where we can think about these important issues and how our lives are changing.
If you are obsessed with the movie JAWS, and I know a lot of us are—I think I watched my VHS copy of the movie hundreds of times—you will love The Shark is Broken. Based on the actual journals of Robert Shaw (the actor who portrayed Captain Quint) and the hilarious experiences of filming JAWS with the notoriously malfunctioning mechanical shark named Bruce.
It promises to be a fun and meaningful celebration of the Alley’s 80 years. I can never get over the Alley’s humble beginnings as a plea written on 214 penny postcards written by our founder Nina Vance asking: “Do you want a theatre in Houston?” I hope that the city of Houston answers us next season with a resounding “YES.”
Sincerely,
Rob Melrose, Artistic Director
The Girl on the Train
A Woman’s Memory, Her Greatest Betrayal
This modern psychological thriller, adapted from the best-selling novel and hit film, follows Rachel, a woman struggling with dependency. She must piece together her fragmented memories to find a girl who’s gone missing. As her night comes back to her, she considers: who can you trust when you can’t trust yourself?
Based on the bestselling novel by Paula Hawkins
and Dream Works film
Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel
Directed by Casey Stangl
July 24 – August 30, 2026
In The Hubbard Theatre
Romeo and Juliet
Timeless Love, Eternal Risk
Set in timeless Verona, two star-crossed souls defy the forces that seek to keep them apart. This production of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy shows how each generation reinvents what it means to love and risk everything for it. Discover why this tale continues to inspire artists, dreamers, and lovers.
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Rob Melrose
September 25 – October 11, 2026
In The Hubbard Theatre
Uhuru
Who Belongs on the Mountain?
An unlikely group takes on a “Tanzanian-only” ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro in this sharp satire. The dramedy follows a Tanzanian-American tourist, two missionaries, and their guide as they make their way toward the “Roof of Africa.” They must confront questions of access, identity, and who deserves a place on the mountain.
By Gloria Majule
Directed by Shariffa Ali
October 16 – November 8, 2026
In The Neuhaus Theatre
A Christmas Carol
Houston’s Holiday Tradition
Rediscover the timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation as he encounters the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Be transported into Victorian England with dazzling costumes and stunning sets. Join us for a Dickensian celebration of love, redemption, and the true spirit of Christmas!
From the novella by Charles Dickens
Adapted and originally directed by Rob Melrose
Remount directed by Amber D. Gray
Choreography by Christopher Windom
November 15 – December 27, 2026
In The Hubbard Theatre
The Night Shift Before Christmas
Adult Holiday Comedy
Join Margot on her Christmas Eve shift, braving grumpy drive-thru customers until her late best friend’s ghost warns her of imminent spirits. Margot confronts her inner Scrooge in this holiday show packed with humor and heart.
By Isaac Gómez
Directed by KJ Sanchez
December 4 – 24, 2026
In The Neuhaus Theatre
WOMB 2.0
Secure Clinic, Terrifying Gamble
In the not-so-distant future, an undetectable virus has turned childbirth into a terrifying gamble. Welcome to WMB, an ultra-secure, ultra-sterile, and ultra-exclusive birthing clinic. New recruit Claudia has one job: usher the world’s wealthiest expectant mothers into their nine-month sanctuary. Just make sure the wrong thing doesn’t get inside.
By Marisela Treviño Orta
Directed by Tatiana Pandiani
January 22 – February 7, 2027
In The Hubbard Theatre
The Cherry Orchard
Chekhov’s Masterpiece Stripped Down
One of theatre’s most celebrated works is stripped down to its essentials. An aristocratic family and their servants grapple with the imminent loss of their beloved estate. Meanwhile, their country faces radical, irreversible change. Step into Chekhov’s world as never before.
By Anton Chekhov
Translated by Richard Nelson, Richard Pevear, and Larissa Volokhonsky
Directed by Richard Nelson
February 12 – March 7, 2027
In The Neuhaus Theatre
The Shark is Broken
Iconic, Comedic, Chaotic
Dive behind the scenes of the high-stress production process of Jaws! Young Richard Dreyfuss, steady Roy Scheider, and seasoned Robert Shaw are feuding. The schedule is sinking, the booze is flowing, and yes, the shark is broken. Witness the hilarious clashes of big egos, the endless delays, and the juicy mishaps that forged a cinematic classic.
By Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon
Directed by Brandon Weinbrenner
March 5 – March 21, 2027
In The Hubbard Theatre
Agatha Christie’s Death on The Nile
Luxury Cruise, Deadly Secret, Poirot’s Puzzle
Step aboard for a lush and opulent journey up the Nile! A luxurious honeymoon cruise turns deadly when a murder occurs among wealthy passengers. Hercule Poirot must untangle a web of jealousy and suspicion to identify the killer aboard the ship. Prepare for a thrilling, witty, and dazzling whodunit where everyone has a secret.
Adapted for the Stage by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Eleanor Holdridge
April 9 – April 25, 2027
In The Hubbard Theatre
Marjorie Prime
A New Kind Of Future
An aging woman reconnects with her past through artificial intelligence designed to look and speak like her late husband. This tender drama explores memory, family, reflection, and the stories we cling to. As technology advances, it asks: what does it mean to be remembered?
By Jordan Harrison
Directed by Amber D. Gray
May 7 – May 30, 2027
In The Neuhaus Theatre
Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Just Don’t Break the Rules
This vicious classic pulls you into one unforgettable late night when a couple turns mind games into spousal warfare. Nothing is off-limits. As cocktails flow, boundaries blur, secrets sting and the truth hits hard. It’s all fun and games… until someone breaks the rules.
Directed by Rob Melrose
May 28 – June 13, 2027
In The Hubbard Theatre
