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HOUSTON – Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd
announces the cast and creative team for Garson
Kanin's Born Yesterday, a delicious screwball classic,
beginning performances June 3, 2016. Featuring Alley
Company Members and directed by Jonathan Moscone, the
play is the grand finale of the inaugural season in the
newly renovated Hubbard Theatre.
The play is a great American comedy about politics and
the power of female persuasion. Set in one of the finest
hotels in Washington D.C., Born Yesterday tells the
story of Harry Brock, a hot-tempered and corrupt tycoon,
and Billie Dawn, his ex-showgirl mistress as they
navigate the Washington political scene. Billie,
possessing a brash and over-the-top personality, gets an
extreme makeover from a political reporter hired by her
bullying boyfriend. She receives more than a history
lesson when she learns what Harry really is and what he
wants.
Melissa Pritchett as Billie Dawn in the Alley Theatre's production of
Born Yesterday.
Photo by Lynn Lane.
“
“Garson
Kanin’s Broadway hit has, deservedly, become a classic
of the American theatre. This endearing comedy about
politics is as relevant today as it was in 1946,” says
Boyd.
The finale to the Alley’s 2015-2016 season, Born
Yesterday is directed by Jonathan Moscone, who directed
the Alley’s productions of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and
Spike and Amadeus.
Born Yesterday begins preview performances at the Alley
Theatre on June 3, opens June 8, and continues through
July 3, 2016 in the Hubbard Theatre.
Recommended
for general audiences.
Melissa Pritchett as Billie Dawn in the Alley Theatre's production of
Born Yesterday.
Photo by Lynn Lane.
Stephen Pelinski as Harry Brock and Melissa Pritchett as Billie Dawn in the
Alley Theatre's production of
Born Yesterday.
Photo by Lynn Lane.
The Born Yesterday cast features Alley Company Members
Melissa Pritchett (Alley: The Christians, One Man, Two
Guvnors) as ex-chorus girl Billie Dawn; Jay Sullivan
(Alley: Around the World in 80 Days, The Foreigner) as
reporter Paul Verrall; John Tyson (Alley: The Seafarer,
Pygmalion) as Eddie Brock, Harry’s brother; Jeffrey Bean
(Alley: The Christians, Around the World in 80 Days) as
lawyer Ed Devery; Todd Waite (Alley: Around the World in
80 Days, Dracula) as Senator Norval Hedges; Elizabeth
Bunch (Alley: Grounded, Dracula) as Mrs. Hedges; Emily
Trask (Alley: As You Like It, A Christmas Carol) as
Helen, the maid; and Chris Hutchison (Alley: All the
Way, As You Like It) as the Assistant Manager.
Stephen Pelinksi (Guthrie: The Government Inspector, A
Midsummer Night's Dream), a founding member of the
Resident Ensemble Players at the University of Delaware,
makes his Alley debut as businessman Harry Brock.
Garson Kanin’s Born Yesterday premiered on Broadway on
February 4, 1946, and enjoyed one of the longest runs in
history, completing 1,642 performances.
Playwright/director Garson Kanin wrote the all-American
comedy abroad to showcase the idea that one person has
the power to bring change to an issue. Kanin acted in
and directed theatrical productions in the 1930s, and in
1938 began directing films. His notable early films
include the comedies The Great Man Votes (1938),
Bachelor Mother (1939), and Tom, Dick And Harry (1941).
The play features scenic design by Hugh Landwehr (Alley:
One Man, Two Guvnor, Around the World in 80 Days) with
costume design by Katherine Roth (Broadway: Come Fly
Away ), lighting design by Stephen Strawbridge
(Shakespeare Theater Co.: Henry IV Parts 1 and 2), and
sound design by Cliff Caruthers (California Shakespeare
Theater: American Night, The Tempest).
Stephen Pelinski as Harry Brock and Melissa Pritchett as Billie Dawn in the
Alley Theatre's production of
Born Yesterday.
Photo by Lynn Lane.
TICKET AND SUBSCRIPTION
INFORMATION
Tickets to Born Yesterday are now on sale and start at
$26. Discounted tickets are available for any student,
regardless of age, with a valid student ID for $16 for
designated performances in designated sections. Tickets
can be ordered online (alleytheatre.org) or by phone
(713.220.5700). Discounts are available for groups of 10
or more
POST SHOW SPECIAL EVENTS:
The Alley Theatre will also present an Artist TalkBack
following the June 11 (2:30 p.m.) and June 14, 2016
(7:30 p.m.) performances of Born Yesterday. These
discussions will feature cast and artistic staff. Artist
TalkBacks are free and open to the public.
ABOUT THE ALLEY THEATRE
The Alley Theatre, one of America’s leading
not-for-profit theatres, is a nationally recognized
performing arts company lead by Artistic Director
Gregory Boyd and Managing Director Dean R. Gladden. The
Alley produces up to 16 plays each year in its newly
renovated theatre, ranging from the best current work,
to re-invigorated classic plays, to new plays by
contemporary writers. The Alley is home to a Resident
Company of actors. In addition, the Alley engages
theatre artists of every discipline – actors, designers,
composers, playwrights – who work on individual
productions throughout each season as Visiting Artists.
The renovation of the Hubbard Theatre at the Alley was
completed in October 2015 – and created a new 774 seat
state-of-the-art performance venue. Matched with the
310-seat Neuhaus Theatre, the Alley offers nearly 500
performances each season. The Company reaches over
200,000 people each year through its performance and
education programs. Its audience enrichment programs
include pre-show and post-performance talks, events, and
workshops for audience members of all ages.
The Alley Theatre is supported by the 2016-2017 season
sponsor United Airlines, the official airline of the
Alley Theatre.
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