Featuring bold new plays by comfort ifeoma katchy, Sharr White, Gloria Majule, and Tea Alagic
HOUSTON, TX – Alley Theatre announces the casting for the 2024 Alley All New Festival, October 25 – October 27. The Festival will feature four readings: The Alley by comfort ifeoma katchy, Wolfie by Sharr White, Uhuru by Gloria Majule, and Zero Hour by Tea Alagic.
The Festival offers audiences a first look at plays that may appear in full productions at the Alley, as well as at theatres around the country. This season, the Alley will produce The Janeiad and December: a love years in the making which were both developed in the 2023 Alley All New Festival. Since the Festival began in 2016, 28 of the 38 plays presented have gone on to world premiere productions. In addition to productions at the Alley, the Festival has been represented on Broadway and Off-Broadway, with plays developed at the Alley also produced in Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Dallas among many other locations.
“I’m excited for the triumphant return of the Alley All New Festival! It is the most bustling time of the year at the Alley,” shares Artistic Director Rob Melrose. “We will have two full productions on our stages, Noises Off, and the world premiere of The Janeiad, as well as four readings of new plays. For that week, the building will be full of actors, directors, playwrights, agents, and theatre leaders from all over the country. There is always an electric feeling in the air during this week and it is a lot of fun. It is also where audiences will see the plays that eventually make it onto our stages. In the five years I’ve been here at the Alley, Born with Teeth, Amerikin, 72 miles to go…, High School Play: A Nostalgia Fest, Torera, Pictures from Home, The World is Not Silent, and Thornton Wilder’s The Emporium all started in Alley All New Festival before they became full productions. I’m so happy to introduce you to an incredible lineup of new plays this year, from some of this country’s greatest living playwrights.”
All readings are free and open to the public but reservations are required. To reserve and learn more about bout the Alley All New initiative, visit alleytheatre.org/alley-all-new-2024
2024 ALLEY ALL NEW FESTIVAL
The Alley
by comfort ifeoma katchy
Directed by ShaWanna Renee Rivon
Friday, October 25 at 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 27 at 4:30 p.m.
In an alley of row houses in Houston’s Third Ward in 1976, a once tight-knit family picks up the pieces. Inspired by stories of the playwright’s mother’s childhood, this funny and touching slice-of-life honors the hopes and dreams of a family and their community.
The cast includes Ja’Yanna Brown as Bernadette, Kendrick “KayB” Brown as Daddy, Candice D’Meza as Claudette, Brandon J. Morgan as Michael, Jordan Okeke as Tommy, Joseph “Joe P.” Palmore as Richard, LaKeisha Rochelle Randle as Debra Anne/ Mama and Ciara Anderson for stage directions. Ethan Mitchell stage manages.
Wolfie
by Sharr White
Directed by Rob Melrose
Saturday, October 26 at 4:30 p.m.
Melinda and Jasper are recent Manhattan transplants trying to live the life; a stunning rent-free apartment helps. But when their spirited dog, Wolfie, has a run-in with the one-percenters downstairs — an influencer and her wealthy husband — the couples find themselves in a high-stakes battle of money, manners …and woman’s best friend.
The cast includes Helen Cespedes as Adele, Zachary Fine as Jasper, Chris Hury as Magnus, Helen Rios as Melinda and Donna Bella Litton for stage directions. Ethan Mitchell stage manages.
Uhuru
by Gloria Majule
Directed by Eileen J. Morris
Sunday, October 27 at 10:00 a.m.
Join Mshale, a tour guide, as he leads a Tanzanian-only climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. He is joined by Sprite, a Tanzanian-American who sets out to decolonize ‘his mountain,’ and Henry and Frannie, two missionaries who also call Tanzania home. This dramedy follows the unlikely foursome as they make the journey together to the roof of Africa.
The cast includes Bradley Atuba as Mshale, Brandon Hearnsberger as Henry, Kory LaQuess Pullam as Sprite, Teresa Zimmermann as Frannie, and Michael Sifuentes for stage directions. Trinity A. Nobles stage manages.
Zero Hour
by Tea Alagic
Directed by Lily Wolff
Saturday, October 26 at 10:00 a.m.
Told through a series of interviews, a woman explores her relationship with her mother as defined by their shared experience during the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This epic tale blurs the line between the political and the personal, shedding light on what it means to be an artist during a time of war.
The cast includes Timothy Eric as Asim/ Ensemble, Adam Gibbs as Alex/ Ensemble, Danny Hayes as Erol/ Ensemble, Annalee Jefferies as Mama/ Ensemble, Clara Marsh as Lana/ Ensemble, Matthew Martínez as Rocco/ Ensemble/ Stage Directions, Elizabeth Stahlmann as Dea/ Ensemble, Raven Justine Troup as Elma/ Ensemble and Christian Tannous as Lenny/ Ensemble. Trinity A. Nobles stage manages.
*All readings are for mature audiences. Check alleytheatre.org for more information.
WORLD PREMIERE ADD-ON
In addition to the Festival readings, guests may choose to add on a ticket to Anna Ziegler’s world premiere adaptation of The Janeiad, which runs concurrently:
The Janeiad
By Anna Ziegler
Directed by Rob Melrose
World Premiere
Oct. 11 – Nov. 3, 2024 in the Neuhaus Theatre
Exploration of Longing and Hope
Longing for a lost love connects Jane to Penelope. While Penelope waits for Odysseus to return from the Trojan War, Jane’s husband was lost to 9/11. Penelope kindles an eternal hope for her husband’s return, yet Jane is counting on the miraculous for her reconciliation. Do you believe in miracles?
PRESS
All workshop performances and readings at the Alley All New Festival are works in progress and not available for review
Press photos from 2022 Alley All New Festival can be found here.
ALLEY ALL NEW
Alley All New is comprised of a variety of public and in-house programs designed to support playwrights and cater to the needs of each new project. Through this initiative, the Alley produces world premieres, commissions new plays, and supports playwrights year-round. The Alley All New Festival made its debut in 2016. Join the Alley Insider Group by emailing alleyinsider@alleytheatre.org and learn more about new work in development and be the first to hear about Alley All New events.
SPONSORS: Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting Alley All New Festival. Alley Theatre is supported by the 2024-25 Season sponsors United Airlines, the official airline of Alley Theatre, and Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites Downtown Houston, the official hotel of Alley Theatre.
CONNECT WITH US: @alleytheatre, #AlleyAllNew
ABOUT THE ALLEY THEATRE:
Alley Theatre, one of America’s leading nonprofit theatres, is a nationally recognized performing arts company led by Artistic Director Rob Melrose and Managing Director Dean R. Gladden. The Alley is committed to developing and producing theatre that is as diverse as the Houston community. The Theatre produces up to 16 plays and nearly 500 performances each season, ranging from the best current work and re-invigorated classic plays to new plays by contemporary writers. Home to a full-time resident company of actors, the Alley engages theatre artists of every discipline—actors, directors, designers, composers, playwrights—who work on individual productions throughout each season as visiting artists.
The Alley is comprised of two state-of-the-art theatres: the 774-seat Hubbard Theatre and the 296-seat Neuhaus Theatre. The Alley reaches over 200,000 people each year through its performance, education, and community engagement programs. Its audience enrichment programs include pre-show and post-performance talks, events, and workshops for audience members of all ages.