The Back Alley

In murder mysteries, every phone ring promises suspense and revelation. Phones play a pivotal role in creating an atmosphere of intrigue and uncertainty. From Alfred Hitchcock's classics to Agatha Christie's timeless stories, phones are both weapons and tools.

This month, we are opening Pictures from Home by Sharr White. This charming play premiered as a reading at our 2020 Alley All New Festival, made its way to Broadway, and we are thrilled to be bringing it back to Houston audiences, reimagined in our Hubbard Theatre.

I’m so excited about directing Sharr White’s Pictures from Home at Alley Theatre. It is a homecoming of sorts because we were involved with the early development of this play in our Alley All New Festival in 2020. Our audience was extremely enthusiastic about this play, especially its delightful sense of humor and its poignant picture of …

It is fascinating to reflect on the evolution of photography and its transformative impact on how we document and perceive our lives. From the earliest recorded photo by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 (below) to the invention of the first instant camera, the model 95 Land Camera, by Edwin Land in 1948, and the revolutionary introduction of the iPhone in 2007, the way we capture and share moments has undergone significant changes.

In Charles Dickens' timeless novella, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Ebenezer Scrooge emerges as a character embodying the change from a miserly loner to a benevolent benefactor. David Rainey, a seasoned member of the Alley Resident Company who has portrayed Scrooge multiple times, reflects on the character's complexity.

For this season’s production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, we decided to remake the robe worn by Christmas Present. We wanted to push the finished garment’s theatrical nature. We also needed to make an additional robe to provide a more feasible plan for the role’s understudy. We made this decision right after last season’s production closed.

Casting is an art form at Alley Theatre that brings characters to life. Behind this process is the Alley's Associate Producer & Casting Director, Brandon Weinbrenner.

A Christmas Carol is a timeless tale that has captured the hearts of readers and audiences for generations. At its heart, the story is a journey of self-discovery, compassion, and redemption. The visits of ghosts guide Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve. These three Christmas ghosts reveal the effects of one's actions and the potential for change.

We put it to the experts at UTHealth Houston to help us sort out what Tim might have had and how Scrooge could have changed the course of his life.

When it comes to A Christmas Carol, most people instantly think of Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformative journey. However, a character shapes Scrooge's destiny - Jacob Marley.