picture of a empty theatre

Managing Director’s Reflections on English

by

Jennifer Bielstein

January 6, 2026

Jennifer Bielstein
Jennifer Bielstein

Welcome to the Alley for this production of English. With themes of community and resilience, we are honored to bring Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play to our stage.

At its heart, English is a profoundly human story about the power of language, exploring how words do more than communicate—they shape who we are. Set in a classroom in Iran, the play follows four adults striving to learn a new tongue, revealing the humor, frustration, and vulnerability that come with trying to be truly understood.

In a city as beautifully diverse as Houston, where a variety of languages create the soundtrack of our daily lives, this story carries a special resonance. It reminds us that while words can sometimes divide or fail us, the universal desire for connection remains a bridge we all seek to cross. We are thrilled to share this intimate, funny, and deeply moving journey with you.

Jennifer Bielstein, Managing Director

Bienvenidos a Alley Theatre para esta producción de English. Con temas de comunidad y resiliencia, nos honra presentar en nuestro escenario la obra de Sanaz Toossi, ganadora del Premio Pulitzer.

En su esencia, English es una historia profundamente humana sobre el poder del lenguaje, que explora cómo las palabras hacen mucho más que comunicar: moldean quiénes somos. Ambientada en un salón de clases en Irán, la obra sigue a cuatro adultos que se esfuerzan por aprender un nuevo idioma, revelando el humor, la frustración y la vulnerabilidad que acompañan el deseo de ser verdaderamente comprendidos.

En una ciudad tan bellamente diversa como Houston, donde una variedad de idiomas conforma la banda sonora de nuestra vida cotidiana, esta historia adquiere una resonancia especial. Nos recuerda que, aunque las palabras a veces pueden dividirnos o fallarnos, el deseo universal de conexión sigue siendo un puente que todos buscamos cruzar. Nos emociona compartir con ustedes este viaje íntimo, divertido y profundamente conmovedor.

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