Is it possible for a building to sing? The Alley Theatre at 615 Texas Avenue in Houston does just that. The Alley Theatre is not just a building. It’s a stage for countless stories. It is the oldest professional theatre company in Texas. It’s also the third oldest resident theatre in the United States.
Founded in 1947 by Nina Eloise Whittington Vance the Alley Theatre started modestly. Vance established it in a former dance studio. A brick corridor led from Main Street to the studio’s back. This is how the Alley Theatre got its unique name.
Early members searched for a better location. In 1948 they found an abandoned fan factory on Berry Avenue. The Alley Theatre reopened there February 8 1949. The opening production was Lillian Helman’s The Children’s Hour.
The Alley Theatre’s journey is marked by significant milestones. In 1954 Albert Dekker guest-starred in Death of a Salesman. This marked the Alley’s transition to a fully professional Equity company. The United States State Department invited the Alley Theatre to the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958. This showcased American regional theatre.
In 1962 the Houston Endowment gifted land. The Ford Foundation awarded grants for a new building on Texas Ave. Houstonians raised additional funds. This helped the Alley grow into a prestigious non-profit theatre. Paul Zindel’s The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds was staged here. Zindel later won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for it in 1971.
The Alley Theatre won a Regional Theatre Tony Award in 1996. It has toured extensively. It is known as one of the most respected resident companies in the country.
Nina Vance was invited to tour Russian theatre in 1977. She invited Galina Volchek to Houston. Volchek directed Mikhail Roschin’s play Echelon. It was the first time a Russian recreated a play in the U.S. exactly as it appeared in the Soviet Union.
The Alley has collaborated with international luminaries. These include Edward Albee Vanessa Redgrave and Frank Wildhorn. Landmark events include world premieres of Jekyll Hyde and The Civil War. Tennessee Williams’ Not About Nightingales premiered here in 1998. It moved to Broadway and earned six Tony Award nominations.
Today Rob Melrose leads the Alley Theatre as Artistic Director. Dean R Gladden is the Managing Director. Texas Monthly calls the Alley unmatched in Texas. Its productions rival Broadway quality. This is thanks to its resident acting company and top-tier production staff.
The Alley Theatre received a Texas Medal of Arts Award in 2011. This recognized its creative excellence. The mid-2010s brought complete renovations. Hurricane Harvey caused significant damage. The Neuhaus Theatre was flooded. The company’s prop storage was destroyed. In response the company commissioned a children’s play.
The Alley Theatre building has two stages. The Hubbard Stage seats 774. The Neuhaus Stage is more intimate seating 296. Ulrich Franzen designed the building. He wanted it to sing from every angle. It features no right angles wide bands and terraces. It is reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s style.
Franzen chose concrete inspired by Houston’s climate. The building uses triangles and curves. The design reflects Brutalist architecture. The Alley’s building is among famous Brutalist structures.
Yale professor George Izenour created a unique light grid for the Alley. It allowed lighting technicians to easily adjust lighting. Preston Bolton praised Franzen’s design. Newsweek called the Alley the most striking theatre in the U.S. The American Institute of Architects honored Franzen for his design.
Tropical Storm Allison damaged the Neuhaus Stage in 2001. The flood destroyed costumes props and scenic shops. In 2002 the Alley opened its new Center for Theatre Production.
After Hurricane Harvey renovations were undertaken. The theatre reopened with A Christmas Carol. A major building renovation occurred from 2013 to 2015. The Hubbard Theatre received improvements including a new fly loft and trapped stage floor. New seats restrooms and a lobby space were added.
The Alley Theatre sponsors the Texas Young Playwrights Exchange. It also hosts numerous world premieres. The Alley continues to inspire. It unites artists and audiences. It presents diverse stories. It makes them think feel dream and be entertained. The Alley’s legacy endures.