The Alley Theatre's today announces its 2016-17 season ranging from the classic (Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge) to new ((NSangou Njikam’s Syncing Ink, a semi-autobiographical hip hop play and Texas playwright Robert Askins' Broadway hit Hand to God which should not be confused with the comedy An Act of God by David Javerbaum which will also be presented).
There's also a musical based on the Disney movie Freaky Friday, a supernatural thriller from the National Theatre of Scotland ’s called Let the Right One In; and Dry Powder by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Finalist Sarah Burgess, making her Alley debut.
The Alley also will host the second annual Alley All New Festival, February 11-19, 2017, designed to give audiences and professionals a chance to see works in progress.
And there's welcome news that this July, the ExxonMobil Summer Chills Series returns with Agatha Christie's Spider's Web, This August, there's A Night With Janis Joplin and this winter the annual A Christmas Carol as well as The Santaland Diaries.
THE 2016-2017 ALLEY THEATRE SEASON
Hand to God
By Robert Askins
Directed By Mark Shanahan
Previews Start August 19, Opens August 24, Through September 18, 2016
Neuhaus Theatre. The devil is lurking in a church basement puppet show in Cypress, Texas. And his name is…Tyrone. He may look like an innocent sock puppet, but when he infiltrates the angst-ridden church youth group and takes possession of Jason’s arm, all Hell breaks loose. Spectacularly foul-mouthed and wickedly scandalous, Tyrone shocks the congregation with his outrageous insinuations, exposing their deepest secrets — and teaching us all about what it means to be human. A smashing success on Broadway and now in London, this fast-paced, irreverent comedy is the Texas playwright’s Alley debut. The New York Times called the play “Darkly delightful” and The New Yorker described it as “Sesame Street meets The Exorcist.” Hand to God contains explicit language, profanity, sexual situations and very rude puppets. Mature audiences only.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By William Shakespeare
Directed By Gregory Boyd
Previews Start October 7, Opens October 12, Through November 5, 2016
Hubbard Theatre
The Alley Theatre joins companies around the globe in celebrating 400 years of Shakespeare with Shakespeare@400. In the Bard’s most popular and enchanting comedy, the woods outside Athens are a busy place as four young lovers and a troupe of actors find themselves in the middle of a dispute between the King and Queen of the fairies. Alongside A Midsummer Night’s Dream the Alley will host community and school performances, readings, and an evening of songs and sonnets hosted by members of the Alley Company. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is suitable for general audiences ages 12 and up.
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas
By Charles Dickens
Adapted and originally directed by Michael Wilson
Directed By James Black
Previews Start November 17, Opens November 20, Through December 27, 2016
Hubbard Theatre
Houston’s seasonal favorite described by the Houston Press as having “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, which follows Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey with the three ghostly spirits who visit him on Christmas Eve. A Christmas Carol instills a powerful message about redemption and the spirit of the holiday season. A Christmas Carol is suitable for general audiences, ages 6 and up.
The Santaland Diaries
By David Sedaris
Adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello
Directed By David Cromer
Previews Start December 1, Opens December 3, Through December 31, 2016
Neuhaus Theatre
Company Artist Todd Waite reprises his role as “Crumpet the Elf” in the outlandish, and true, chronicles of David Sedaris’ experience as a worker in Macy’s SantaLand display. This compact, one-character comedy is a hilarious cult classic, featuring comic encounters during the height of the holiday crunch. NPR humorist and best-selling author of Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls, David Sedaris has become one of America’s preeminent humorists. The Santaland Diaries is recommended for mature audiences due to language and subject matter.
Dry Powder
By Sarah Burgess
Previews Start January 20, Opens January 25, Through February 12, 2017
Hubbard Theatre
The same week his private equity firm forced massive layoffs at a national grocery chain, Rick threw himself an extravagant engagement party, setting off a publicity nightmare. Fortunately, Seth, one of Rick’s partners, has a win-win deal to invest in an American-made luggage company for a song and rescue his boss from a PR disaster. But Jenny, Seth’s counterpart, has an entirely different plan: to squeeze every last penny out of the company, no matter the consequences. The game is on in Sarah Burgess’ gripping, razor-sharp new play about the price of success and the real cost of getting the deal done. Dry Powder contains explicit language and adult content.
WORLD PREMIERE
Syncing Ink
By NSangou Njikam
Directed By Niegel Smith
Previews Start February 3, Opens February 8, Through March 5, 2017
Co-Production with the Flea Theater
Neuhaus Theatre
"Now what you hear is not a test/I'm rapping to the beat!" Gordon wants to learn how to rap, thinking it will gain him respect, admiration, and the attention of a beautiful woman. What he doesn't know is that his journey to learn how to rhyme will take him not just deeper into Hip Hop, but deeper into his legacy and his purpose. Based on true events, NSangou Njikam leads us on a lyrical ride to discover what it really takes to freestyle. Directed by Niegel Smith, Artistic Director of New York’s Flea Theater. Syncing Ink contains explicit language and adult content.
Let the Right One In
Presented by the National Theatre of Scotland by arrangement with Marla Rubin Productions Ltd and Bill Kenwright
A stage adaptation by Jack Thorne
Based on the Swedish novel and screenplay of the film by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Directed By John Tiffany
Supported by the Scottish Government International Touring Fund
Previews Start February 24, Opens March 1, Through March 19, 2017
Hubbard Theatre
Supernatural thriller Let the Right One In is a brutal and tender contemporary myth told through the turbulence of a coming-of-age romance. Oskar, a lonely boy from a broken home, is bullied at school and longing for friendship. Eli, the young girl who moves in next door, doesn’t attend school and rarely leaves home. When a series of mysterious killings plagues the neighborhood, these two young misfits, sensing in each other a kindred spirit, forge a deep connection. But the shocking truth about one of them tests their young friendship — and love — beyond all imaginable limits. Tony and Olivier Award-winning director John Tiffany (Black Watch, Once) directs this major new production which was adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne following the international success of the original Swedish novel and subsequent film. Let the Right One In contains mature themes, explicit language and adult content.
A View from the Bridge
By Arthur Miller
Previews Start April 7, Opens April 12, Through April 30, 2017
Hubbard Theatre
Following the success of Death of a Salesman (2012) and All My Sons (2015), the Alley returns to one of America’s greatest playwrights with a new production of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge. This dark and passionate story centers on Eddie Carbone, a longshoreman by trade, who is confident of his place in the working-class Brooklyn neighborhood he calls home. That life changes when he agrees to harbor his immigrant cousins. A love affair exposes a dark family secret, and suspicion, jealousy and betrayal soon follow. A View from the Bridge contains mature themes.
An Act of God
By David Javerbaum
Previews Start May 5, Opens May 10, Through June 4, 2017
Neuhaus Theatre
An Act of God is a sinfully funny and critically acclaimed new play where the Almighty and His devoted Angels answer some of the deepest questions that have plagued mankind since Creation. He’s returned to set the record straight… and He’s not holding back! This hilarious 90-minute comedy is “written by God” and transcribed by 13-time Emmy® Award winner David Javerbaum (“The Daily Show”). An Act of God contains mature themes.
Freaky Friday
Book by Bridget Carpenter
Music and Lyrics by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey
Based on the novel “Freaky Friday” by Mary Rodgers and the Walt Disney motion pictures
Directed by Christopher Ashley
Co-Production with La Jolla Playhouse and Cleveland Play House
Previews Start June 2, Opens June 7, Through July 2, 2017
Hubbard Theatre
Freaky Friday, a new musical based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and hit Walt Disney films, is a hilarious, contemporary update of an American classic that follows an overworked mother and teenage daughter on a wild journey after magically swapping bodies. The musical, with book by Bridget Carpenter (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood) and score by the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning team of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal, If/Then), is a sure-fire hit for the whole family. Freaky Friday is suitable for general audiences.
Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web
Previews Start July 12, Opens July 14, Through August 14, 2016
Hubbard Theatre
Clarissa, the second wife of Henry Hailsham Brown, is adept at spinning tales of adventure for her bored diplomatic circle. When a murder takes place in her drawing room, she finds real life much harder to cope with. Clarissa's fast talking places her in hair-raising situations, as she comes to learn that the facts are much more exciting than fiction. Spider’s Web is suitable for general audiences.
A Night With Janis Joplin
Written and directed By Randy Johnson
Previews Start August 19, Opens August 21, Through September 18, 2016
Hubbard Theatre
Like a comet that burns far too brightly to last, Janis Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the queen of rock & roll. The unmistakable voice, filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort, made her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock. Now, you’re invited to share an evening with the woman and her influences in the new Broadway musical A Night With Janis Joplin. Fueled by such unforgettable songs as “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Piece of My Heart,” “Mercedes Benz,” “Cry Baby” and “Summertime,” and a remarkable cast, A Night With Janis Joplin, written and directed by Randy Johnson, is a musical journey celebrating Janis and her biggest musical influences — icons like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith, who inspired one of rock & roll’s greatest legends. A Night with Janis Joplin contains explicit language and adult content.
For ticket information call 713-220-5700 or visit alleytheatre.org.
