The Back Alley

One of the great joys – and challenges! – of designing for theatre is the occasional opportunity to tackle a story, setting, or play that feels iconic. Designers are often tasked with introducing audiences to places they’ve never seen before, but sometimes, we’re invited to conjure the eminently familiar. Few settings and stories feel more familiar than Victorian London and A Christmas Carol.

Why does theatre continue to endure as a popular art form, millennia after its inception? Is it because of theatre’s ability to educate? To inform? To entertain? Or is there a more powerful, more intrinsic, more emotional component at play? Greek philosopher Aristotle identified the emotional response of the audience as an essential component of drama. He referred to this emotional process as ‘catharsis.’

We asked the Alley’s artistic staff why they’re excited for this year’s plays. Here’s what they had to say!

I’m excited to let you know about the triumphant return of the Alley All New Festival.

The Janeiad is an everyday epic of a modern woman who is guided by Penelope, a central character from Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey.

Farce is a theatre style that can be traced all the way to ancient Greece. At the time, the new style of comedy (aptly called New Comedy) was created by Greek playwright Menander. His work was so influential, that it continues reverberating through our modern understanding of comedic writing.

Alley Theatre's Resident Acting Company is a cornerstone of the Alley's artistic identity. Comprised of eight actors, the company brings a unique and vital element to the Alley's productions. They are not just performers; they are the heart and soul of the Alley. Resident acting companies are exceptionally rare in modern theatre.

Alley Theatre’s Alley Articulated program continues to break new ground, forging deeper connections with Houston's business and medical communities. We're excited to announce our growing partnership with the Texas Medical Center, where the power of the arts is being harnessed to enhance both patient care and healthcare provider well-being.

I’m so excited that for the 30th anniversary of Alley Theatre’s Summer Chills series, we are returning to one of Agatha Christie’s best-loved plays: And Then There Were None.

To celebrate 30 years of Summer Chills, we chatted with the Resident Acting Company performing in AND THEN THERE WERE NONE about what this Houston and Alley staple means to them. Here's what they had to say!