Houston's Alley Theatre Announces 2007 - 2008 Season

Date 2007/3/28 19:54:23 | Topic: Local News

Alley Theatre Announces 61st Season Lineup

March 28, 2007


The Alley Theatre’s 61st season is crowned by the world premiere of The Gershwins’ An American in Paris featuring the music of the greatest American song-writing team George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin including: “ S’Wonderful,” “The All Laughed,” and “Stairway to Paradise.” This new production presents an all-new book created by Ken Ludwig, author of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Crazy For You. Kicking off the season is John Patrick Shanley’s Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Doubt. On the Alley’s Neuhaus Stage in the New Year is the return of Martin McDonagh with his Tony Award-nominated gruesome comedy The Lieutenant of Inishmore...


Rounding out the Alley’s 61st season are Glen Berger’s fascinating Underneath the Lintel, Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, and one of American theatre’s greatest screwball comedies, Arsenic and Old Lace. Also featured in the Alley’s upcoming season on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage is Love, Janis, a musical about Janis Joplin, Port Arthur, Texas’ most famous daughter.

As a non-subscription add-on, the Alley is pleased to offer its new production of the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage. Both Alley Company Actors James Black and David Rainey return to don Scrooge’s nightcap this holiday season. Adapted and created by Hartford Stage Artistic Director (and Alley Artistic Associate) Michael Wilson, the production incorporates elaborate scenic, costume, and lighting design and features a cast of over 15.

Please note: play titles and dates are subject to change.

ALLEY THEATRE’S 2007-2008 SEASON INCLUDES:

Doubt

By John Patrick Shanley

Directed by James Black

Hubbard Stage

August 31 through September 23, 2007 (press opening September 5)

Recommended for mature audiences. Sexual situations, adult content.

“A theatrical experience … sinful to miss.” wrote New York Magazine of Doubt, the winner of last season’s Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. Doubt takes place in a 1964 Catholic school and is the story of a strong-minded woman faced with a difficult decision. Should she voice concerns about the actions of her new male colleague, the liberal Father Flynn…even if she’s not entirely certain of the truth? A glimpse behind the doors of church politics, Doubt is a clash between certainty and ambiguity. According to The New York Times, Doubt is, “An inspired study in moral uncertainty with compelling structure of an old-fashioned detective novel.”


Arsenic and Old Lace

By Joseph Kesselring

Directed by Gregory Boyd

Hubbard Stage

October 5 through November 4, 2007 (press opening October 10)

One of the American theatre’s greatest screwball comedies, Arsenic and Old Lace, introduces audiences to the Brewster sisters, their nephew Teddy – who believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt, and their drama critic nephew Mortimer, who is as surprised as anyone to learn that his maiden aunts have taken it upon themselves to commit murder – with a glass of arsenic-spiked elderberry wine.


TBD

The first Neuhaus Stage production will be a New American play that will be announced at a later date.


A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas

By Charles Dickens

Adapted by Michael Wilson

Directed by Michael Wilson and James Black

Hubbard Stage

November 20 through December 29, 2007 (press opening November 24)

This play is a subscription add-on

Houston’s seasonal favorite that the Houston Press said, “…..has spectacular London sets …the inimitable Dickens tale -- spiced with the usual fog and an unusual twist on the ghosts past present and future.” A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas returns this year with a re-telling of Charles Dickens’ classic story that follows Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey with the three ghosts that visit him on Christmas Eve. A Christmas Carol instills a powerful message about redemption and the spirit of the holiday season. The dazzling production is created by Tony Award-winning scenic designer Tony Straiges (Alley's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), costumes by Alejo Vietti (Alley's Tryst, Orson’s Shadow), lighting by Rui Rita (Alley's To Kill a Mockingbird, Bad Dates), and original music by John Gromada (Alley's Subject to Fits, The Pillowman).


Love, Janis

Conceived, Adapted and Directed by Randal Myler

Inspired by the book “Love, Janis” by Laura Joplin

Hubbard Stage

January 11 through February 10, 2008 (press opening January 16)

Recommended for mature audiences.

A musical about Janis Joplin, Port Arthur, Texas’ most famous daughter, Love, Janis goes behind the music of the legendary rock/blues singer. Following her life from 1966 until her death in 1970, Love, Janis features performances of many of her smash hits: “Piece of My Heart,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Mercedes Benz” and “Ball and Chain” resulting in a compelling portrait of an artist who wanted to be remembered for her music and her refusal to compromise.

The Lieutenant of Inishmore

By Martin McDonagh

Directed by Gregory Boyd

Neuhaus Stage

January 25 through February 24, 2008 (press opening January 30)

Recommended for mature audiences. Language, blood, violence.


Author of last season’s extraordinary success, The Pillowman, Martin McDonagh returns to the Alley with The Lieutenant of Inishmore, a gruesome comedy that was Winner of the Olivier Award for Best Comedy. The Lieutenant of Inishmore revolves around a group of terrorists in a radical IRA splinter group and their ruthless (and cat-loving) leader “Mad Padraic.” When Padraic’s beloved cat is found dead, the death must be concealed before Padraic returns from a stint of violence. What follows are a series of savagely funny events that are both shocking and surprising. This is the third play by McDonagh that the Alley has produced, starting with his break-through play The Beauty Queen of Leenane in 1999 and The Pillowman in 2005. Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote, “….a guaranteed adrenaline booster! See it!”

Othello

By William Shakespeare

Directed by Scott Schwartz

Hubbard Stage

March 7 through March 30, 2008 (press opening March 12)

Recommended for mature audiences. Violence, sexual situations.

Othello features two of Shakespeare’s most complex characters, Othello and Iago, in this tragedy of suspicion and sexual jealousy. Provoked by the lies of Iago, Othello begins to mistrust his wife, Desdemona. As his suspicions rise, he surrenders to self-doubt, eventually destroying his marriage. This Shakespeare classic weaves a bloody tapestry of deception and betrayal, where love and honor hang in the balance.

Underneath the Lintel

By Glen Berger

Neuhaus Stage

March 21 through April 20, 2008 (press opening March 26)

A puzzling mystery begins when an assistant acquisitions librarian finds a late book in the overnight slot and becomes determined to track down the offender… especially since the book is 113 years overdue. As his endeavors continue, he finds himself on a journey that unlocks ancient mysteries and moves him to new revelations. Described by Variety as “a complex mystery that transcends the ages,”

The Gershwins’ An American in Paris

WORLD PREMIERE

Words and Music by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin

Book by Ken Ludwig

Directed by Gregory Boyd

Hubbard Stage

The Gershwins’ An American in Paris is an all-singing, all-dancing, all-comedy musical that gives a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the legendary movie musical of the 1950s. When the crazy but loveable French music hall star Michel Gerard fails to show up for filming of the movie, comic hysteria results as the Hollywood crew collides with their Parisian colleagues in a musical filled with glamour, laughter and romance.

The Gershwins' An American in Paris presents an all-new book created by Ken Ludwig, book writer of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Crazy For You. The Gershwins' An American in Paris will feature some of the best-loved songs ever written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin including: "S'Wonderful," "They All Laughed," and "Stairway to Paradise."

Plays and dates are subject to change. Projects at the Alley Theatre are funded in part by a grant from the City of Houston and the Texas Commission on the Arts through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County.

Click Here to Visit Alley Theatre's Site!

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