ALLEY THEATRE
Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director
Paul R. Tetreault, Managing Director
ALLEY THEATRE
Delivers George Bernard Shaw’s Adventurous
THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE
May 18th through June 17, 2001
The Alley Theatre Closes its 2000-2001 Large Stage Season with
George Bernard Shaw's THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE, an adventure story set during the American Revolution, 1777. When the advancing British Army decides to make an example out of Anthony Anderson, the town's minister, by hanging him, they find the raucous Dick Dungeon in his stead. THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE is Showing at the Alley Theatre from May 18 through June 17, 2001.
Houston, Texas - For the final isntallment of the Alley Theatre’s 2000 - 2001 Large Stage season, Alley Theatre Artistic
Director Gregory Boyd will direct the Alley Resident Company of Actors in Shaw’s brilliant comedy set during the American
Revolution: THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE. THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE opens Wednesday, May 23 and runs through Sunday
June 17, 2001.
Arthur Anderson and Booz-Allen & Hamilton serve as the production’s sponsors, with additional support from The Stanford
Financial Group, the Alley Theatre’s 2000 - 2001 Large Stage Season Sponsor.
What happens when the devil - may - care Dick Dungeon (a.k.a. the “devil’s disciple”) returns to town to claim his
inheritance? The year is 1777; the place is New Hampshire. When the British Army arrives to arrest the local minister, the
upright Reverend Anthony Anderson, they find Dudgeon in his stead. Who will go to the gallows?
Born in Dublin in 1856, George Bernard Shaw is the author of several plays. Some satirize the social conventions of
turn-of-the-century England, while others put forth some of his socialist themes, advocating feminism and unconventional living
styles. Shaw was skilled at blurring the distinctions between high drama and comedy in order to show both the seriousness
and absurdity of life. His comic touch is most on display in Pygmalion (1913), which was adapted to film and musical comedy
as My Fair Lady. In 1923, Shaw received the Nobel - Prize for Literature for his masterpiece Saint Joan about Joan of Arc.
The prolific playwright wrote well into the 1890’s. Some other titles include: Misalliance, which the Alley Theatre produced in
its 1998 - 1999 season, Caesar and Cleopatra, Arms and the Man, Man and Superman, Candida, Heartbreak House and
Major Barbara.
The year is 1777. Devil-May-Care Richard Dungeon (Ty Mayberry) addresses New Hampshire residents in George Bernard Shaw's THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE, Showing at the Alley Theatre from May 18 through June 17, 2001. Photo by Jim Caldwell.
The cast for THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE includes Alley Theatre Resident Company Actors James Belcher as Lawyer
Hawkins, James Black as Athony Anderson, Bettye Fitzpatrick as Mrs. Anne Dudgeon, Elizabeth Heflin as Aunt William
Dudgeon, Paul Hope as Major Swindon, Charles Krohn as Uncle William Dudgeon and Reverend Brudenell, Ty Mayberry
as Dick Dudgeon, David Rainey as Sergeant, and Todd Waite as General Burgoyne and Uncle Titus Dudgeon. The Alley
Theatre also welcomes Laura Heisler as Essie and Teri Lamm as Judith Anderson. John Raymond Barker makes his Large
Stage debut as Christopher Dudgeon.
The design team for The Devil’s Disciple features scenic design by Vincent Mountain (Alley’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
and Jekyll & Hyde), lighting design by Robert Wierzel (Alley’s Tartuffe), costume design by Sam Fleming (Alley’s Noises
Off), and sound design by Alley Theatre Resident Sound Designer Malcolm Nicholls.
The Alley Theatre, recipient of the 1996 Special Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, is a resident theatre company
located in the heart of downtown Houston. Alley productions have been seen throughout the United States and abroad.
In 1998, the Alley Theatre continued its commitment to international collaborations by joining Vanessa Redgrave and Corin
Redgrave’s Moving Theatre of London to produce the world premiere production of Tennessee Williams’ early play Not
About Nightingales at the Cottesloe Theatre in London. A collaboration with the Moving Theatre and Royal National Theatre
and directed by Trevor Nunn, Not About Nightingales made its U.S. debut at the Alley Theatre in June 1998 and went on to
open at the Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway in the Spring of 1999. Featuring two Alley actors in principal roles,
Not About Nightingales was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. The Alley began its 1998 - 1999 season with the
world premiere of an original and unique musical event entitled THE CIVIL WAR by Gregory Boyd, Jack Murphy and Frank
Wildhorn (composer of Jekyll & Hyde and The Scarlet Pimpernel). The Civil War (Tony Award nomination, Best Musical)
also went on to run at Broadway's St. James Theatre in April 1999, making it the second Alley offering to open on Broadway
that season. The Civil War is currently on a national tour. The Alley produced two world premieres last season: Eve Ensler’s
haunting Lemonade and Edward Albee’s The Play About the Baby, which opened Off-Broadway on February 1, 2001.
This season, the Alley Theatre unveiled the world premiere of Keith Reddin’s Synergy and will soon present the world
premiere of Horton Foote’s THE CARPETBAGGER’S CHILDREN. Also this summer, the Alley Theatre continues its
tradition of chilling murder mysteries for an inexpensive price with ExxonMobil Summer Chills 2001. This year’s installments
include DEATH ON THE NILE by Agatha Christie from June 29 to July 15, 2001 and THE WOMAN IN BLACK by
Susan Hill, adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from July 20 to August 5, 2001.
AUDIO DESCRIPTION, CAPTIONING AND ASL INTERPRETATION
There will also be an open-captioned, audio-described and ASL-Interpreted performance of THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE on
Sunday June 10, 2001 at 2:30pm.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE are on sale now at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling
713-228-8421. Single tickets to preview performances range from $19 - $35; single tickets to performances on or after the
Wednesday, May 23, 2001 opening range from $32 - $49. Groups of 10 persons or more can purchase tickets at a
discounted rate by calling 713-228-9341, ext. 346.
THIS PLAY CONTAINS MATURE SUBJECT MATTER.
(L-R) James Black as Reverend Anthony Anderson and
Teri Lamm as Judith Anderson. Directed by Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd, THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE is an adventure story set during the American Revolution. Now Showing at the
Alley Theatre from May 18 through June 17, 2001. Photo by Jim Caldwell.
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ALLEY THEATRE TACKLES
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW’S ADVENTURE STORY
THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE
WHAT: THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE
BY GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
DIRECTED BY GREGORY BOYD
Directed by Artistic Director Gregory Boyd and showcasing the Alley’s Resident Company of Actors, George Bernard
Shaw’s THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE is an adventure story set during the American Revolution. When the advancing British
Army decides to make an example out of Anthony Anderson, the town’s minister, by hanging him, they found the raucous
Dick Dudgeon in his stead. Suddenly finding themselves on the same side, the rabble-rouser and man of the cloth must devise
a plan to save the small New Hampshire community.
WHEN: MAY 18 - JUNE 17, 2001
WHERE: ALLEY THEATRE, LARGE STAGE
615 TEXAS AVENUE
TICKETS: Tickets to THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE can be purchased at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or
by calling 713-228-8421. Tickets to preview performances are $19 - $35; tickets to performances on or after the May 23
opening range from $32 - $49. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate by calling 713-228-9341,
ext. 346.