The Back Alley

A heroine for today, the character Jane Eyre is one of the most compelling in the history of the English novel.

I've always been interested in space and astronomy and remember stargazing as a kid in Nebraska.

Most of the food being used in The Nerd is the real deal. This show takes place in the 80’s, and the food needed for the production is commonplace, like bean salad or Chex mix. Since the actors are eating a lot of food in the show, we prefer to use the real thing as opposed to a prop stand in.

We spoke with Associate Artistic Director Brandon Weinbrenner about Directing The Nerd. Here is what he had to say!

For National Bartenders Day, we spoke with Travis Matthews, our Food & Beverage Manager on his process of creating specialty cocktails for our productions.

A raucous bunch of characters comes alive in Larry Shue's The Nerd. From the amiable architect to the mysterious titular 'nerd,’ the characters tell a tale of humor, absurdity, and the complexities of human relationships.

We spoke with Houston actor Susan Koozin to reflect on her character Jean Sultan in Pictures from Home. Here is what she had to say!

The Nerd was the first show I ever saw on Broadway. I remember laughing so hard that I had to hold back my laughter so that I could hear the next line. It is so funny and I’m happy that it has now become an American comedy classic - certainly one of the best comedies written in my lifetime.

As the costume designer for the theatrical presentation Pictures from Home, my approach is primarily through the characters. But with the artist, the father and the mother’s multiple points of view: how can I honor them all? How can I suggest the intentional ambiguities that Sultan presents?

Pictures from Home marks a significant milestone for the Alley. The play began with the initial stages of development in the Alley All New Festival in 2020. Originally envisioned and nurtured within the Alley's creative embrace, Pictures from Home captivated audiences in the reading. Audiences loved the reading's blend of humor and reflections on the dynamics between an adult son and his aging parents. The enthusiastic response from the reading propelled the play toward a future on the Hubbard Theatre stage.