Instructions for a Séance

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY KATIE BENDER
WORKSHOP DIRECTOR LILY WOLFF
ARTISTIC CONSULTANT HANNAH WOLF
WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE
NEUHAUS THEATRE

This DIY séance hosted by Texas writer/performer Katie Bender (Survivors: An Alamo Play; Alley All New Festival 2020) invites an audience to conjure escape artist Harry Houdini and learn how to escape their own lives. But another presence haunts the edges of the séance — a figure overlooked for far too long, who has things she still wants to say, and dammit, she’s going to get her say. Part magic show and a playful look at one of history’s greatest illusionists, Instructions for a Séance explores the gauntlet that is motherhood, artistic ambition, and escapism.

RUN TIME
Instructions for a Séance is approximately 75 minutes long.

CONTENT ADVISORY
Instructions for a Seance contains Language and brief discussions of Violence and Sexual Situations, as playwright and performer Katie Bender performs an onstage seance to contact the spirit of Harry Houdini. To learn more about the content of this show, please visit our content advisory page.
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POST-SHOW ALLEY CHATS
Each performance will be followed by a post-show Alley Chat with the artists led by a member of the artistic staff.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Before you attend the performance, the program provides cast bios, sponsor backgrounds, and further reading.
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ALLEY ALL NEW FESTIVAL
New plays in development from some of the most exciting voices in contemporary theatre. All readings and workshops are free and open to the public.
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MEET THE PLAYWRIGHTS
Read more about the Alley All New Festival Playwrights.
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WHY I’M EXCITED ABOUT THE ALLEY ALL NEW FESTIVAL
Alley Theatre’s Artistic Staff reflects on what excites them personally about the Festival workshop performances and readings.
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ALLEY FULL VIEW
See conceptual designs exploring what a fully-realized production may look like in the future.
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