THE ALLEY THEATRE
www.alleytheatre.org
Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director
Dean R. Gladden, Managing Director
PRESENTS
SECRET ORDER
by Bob Clyman
Directed by Charles Towers
October 24th through
November 23rd,
2008
Neuhaus Stage
Recommended for mature audiences
Kenneth Tigar as Saul Roth in the Alley Theatre’s production of
Secret Order. Best known for his recurring role in the
Barney Miller TV series and Lethal Weapon movies, Kenneth Tigar has both a B.A.
and a Ph.D. from Harvard University and was a Fulbright scholar at the
University of Göttingen. Secret Order runs
October 24 through November 23, 2008 on the Alley’s
Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
DIDN'T KNOW THERE WOULD BE SO MUCH DRAMA IN A MEDICAL RESEARCH LAB.....A New Biomedical Thriller SECRET ORDER plays on the Alley Theatre’s Neuhaus Stage through November 23rd, 2008
By Theresa Pisula theresa@houstontheatre.com and Nanci Levin Nanci_Levin@hotmail.com
October 29, 2008
Houston, Texas – We began a most spectacular theatre evening with dinner at Birraporetti’s next to the Alley. My associate Nanci Levin had a delightful fettuccine alfredo with “creamy melt in your mouth” sautéed mushrooms accompanied with a glass of house merlot. I had my staple, a grand Caesar salad with grilled shrimp and since I was the designated driver, I had a glass of iced tea. For dessert, we indulged on a decadent crème brûlée topped with delicious strawberries decorated with sauce of raspberry swirls. The ambiance and lighting in Birraporetti’s restaurant was perfect for fun and conversation.
As we were about to see SECRET ORDER at the Alley Theatre, described as a “new biomedical thriller” we didn’t quite know what to expect. We didn’t know that we were about to experience the subtle intelligent and thought-provoking theatre of Broadway caliber.
Dylan Chalfy as the brilliant young research biologist William Shumway in the
Alley Theatre’s production of Secret Order.
Secret Order runs October 24 through November 23,
2008 on the Alley’s Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
Fueled by pharmaceutical money, personal ambition and media frenzy, Bob Clyman’s provocative SECRET ORDER will have a special appeal for anyone with a secret love of science. A brilliant young research biologist working in an obscure university lab discovers a possible cure for cancer. When the dynamic director of New York’s leading cancer institute becomes his mentor and champion, he is set on a path of acclaim and prestige that could lead directly to the Nobel Prize. But the halls of science twist and turn in surprising ways, and the young doctor is suddenly thrust into the high-stakes world of medicine, money and power. SECRET ORDER is generously sponsored by Neuhaus stage season sponsor Randall H. Jamail. Alley Theatre is supported by the 2008 – 2009 season sponsor Continental Airlines, the official airline of the Alley Theatre.
Melissa Miller as Alice Curiton in the Alley Theatre’s production of
Secret Order. Secret Order
runs October 24 through November 23, 2008 on the Alley’s
Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
The lone female character in the cast is Alice Curiton played by Broadway actress Melissa Miller. She steps onto the stage as an eager beaver medical student trying to hustle her way into a job at the cancer research lab. Her classic beauty does not deter you from perceiving her scientific stature. With her typical brash northeastern attitude, you can’t help but love this independent young modern woman from Boston. At first, she is quite overbearing and irritating but eventually through the course of the play she becomes quite likable. She is someone we can easily identify with, someone girls would like to be when they grow up. Voraciously fighting for her principles, she seems to think she clearly knows exactly the difference between what is right and what is wrong.
Melissa Miller is thrilled to be appearing for the first time at the Alley Theatre stage. On Broadway, she appeared in Roundabout Theatre's production of Tartuffe as well as a workshop for Dirty Dancing and numerous other New York theatre plays. She has appeared on TV shows Ed and All My Children. She is also a Phi Beta Kappa at Vassar College.
Dylan Chalfy as William Shumway in the Alley Theatre’s production of
Secret Order. Secret Order
runs October 24 through November 23, 2008 on the Alley’s
Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
Dr. William Shumway is played by the captivating Broadway actor Dylan Chalfy. The innocence of his character made us feel empathy for the situation he was in. He is touted as the next best thing in medical cancer research, eventually getting sucked in the industry’s severe politics and bureaucracy, pulling him away from his ultimate goal. The dynamic between all the characters exemplified the god complex that doctors have. The type of supernatural role they fill within our society can lift up a person’s health, life, and in this case – tear down a promising doctor’s career. Be prepared to experience several weird twists and turns as the plot of SECRET ORDER reveals itself.
Dylan Chalfy's Broadway credits include Ah, Wilderness at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, Lincoln Center; The Rose Tattoo at Circle in the Square. He has also several Off-Broadway credits to his name. For film and television, he has appeared in Rescue Me, Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, Oz and the BBC production of The Handmaid's Tale.
Kenneth Tigar as Saul Roth in the Alley Theatre’s production of
Secret Order. Secret Order runs
October 24 through November 23, 2008 on the Alley’s
Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
Kenneth Tigar is appearing for the first time at the Alley Theatre. He was last seen in New York in the off-Broadway production of SECRET ORDER. He has performed extensively in regional theatres. During his 30 years in Los Angeles, he appeared in hundreds of film and television roles. His credits span the distance from Barney Miller to the Lethal Weapon movies to NCIS and Fringe. He has won a Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle Award for his stage work and has appeared across the country in his one-man show I Must Be Mr. Boswell about the biographer of Dr. Johnson. He directed the national tour of The Gin Game with Kim Hunter and also directs opera. His translations of Brecht and Wedekind have been performed from Boston to Los Angeles. Kenneth Tigar has both a B.A and a Ph.D. from Harvard University in German Literature, and he spent a year at the University of Göttingen as a Fulbright scholar. He also acted for a season in Vienna as a member of the Austrian company Die Komödianten.
If, for any other reason one is to see SECRET ORDER, to see TV and movie star Kenneth Tigar as Dr. Saul Roth would be the best and strongest argument. Saul Roth is sort of like a mensch, one who is just or right, a good person but at the same time a little annoying. And since I consider myself a lifetime fan of Barney Miller, being in the presence of Kenneth Tigar was a real treat. Saul Roth constantly talked about his Uncle Milton, and he left us wanting to hear more about Uncle Milton. We loved him and at the same time were embarrassed for him. He is definitely our favorite character.
Larry Pine as Robert Brock in the Alley Theatre’s production of
Secret Order. Secret Order runs
October 24 through November 23, 2008 on the Alley’s
Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
Dr. Robert Brock brilliantly played by Broadway actor Larry Pine is the epitome of the high and mighty, untouchable, corporate fat cat. The ultimate alcoholic, he commenced a toast with Dr. Shumway who was in New York via telephone while Dr. Brock was at an airport phone booth in the midst of traveling. In another scene, he is seen carrying a bottle of wine and wine glasses. Larry Pine gives an exceptional performance as the director of New York’s leading cancer institute. From the start one begins to despise Dr. Robert Brock and his antagonistic actions, which didn’t matter to him one way or the other. He doesn't care what you thought about him. But in the end one develops an understanding of his humanistic side when he reveals the part of himself that is full of faults and foibles. You know what they say the bigger they are the harder they fall.
Larry Pine's Broadway credits include The Seagull and Roy Cohn in Angels In America and has done several Off-Broadway plays and regional theatres. In film he appeared in Empire Falls, Maid in Manhattan, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Shipping News and Woody Allen's Melinda and Melinda. For television, he was in Law & Order, Gilmore Girls, Oz, All My Children, One Life to Live and many others.
(Left to Right) Dylan Chalfy as William Shumway and Melissa Miller as Alice
Curiton in the Alley Theatre’s production of Secret Order.
Secret Order runs October 24 through November 23,
2008 on the Alley’s Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
And last but not least, the set which consisted of a single silver metallic table. Not just any table, but one that did twists and turns as numerous as the plot. And it went up and down, high and low just like the plot. It was a podium at a medical cancer conference, a park bench, an office desk, a board room meeting table, a laboratory table – yes the same (one and only) table. One could describe the set as minimalist. The design team of SECRET ORDER includes scenic design by Bill Clark (Alley’s To Kill A Mockingbird), costume design by Martha Hally (Alley debut), lighting design by Kevin Rigdon (Alley’s The Unexpected Guest, The Lieutenant of Inishmore) and sound design by Pierre Dupree (Alley Theatre Sound Supervisor).
Larry Pine as Robert Brock in the Alley Theatre’s production of
Secret Order. Secret Order runs
October 24 through November 23, 2008 on the Alley’s
Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
SECRET ORDER gave us all an insightful look into the world of medical and pharmaceutical research. Who would have known there would be so much intense drama in a boring research lab? Yet despite all the highly technical jargon and complicated language of the intricate and complex world of cancer research, it is extremely entertaining. Now didn’t I say it was a spectacular theatre evening?
Dylan Chalfy as William Shumway in the Alley Theatre’s production of
Secret Order. Secret Order
runs October 24 through November 23, 2008 on the Alley’s
Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
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SECRET ORDER
by Bob Clyman
Directed by Charles Towers
CAST
WILLIAM SHUMWAY…………………….DYLAN CHALFY
ROBERT BROCK……..................…….LARRY PINE
ALICE CURITON……................................………..MELISSA MILLER
SAUL ROTH……............................………….KENNETH TIGAR
SETTING
A Cancer Research Institute in New York.
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(Left to Right) Dylan Chalfy as William Shumway and Melissa Miller as Alice
Curiton in the Alley Theatre’s production of Secret Order.
Secret Order runs October 24 through November 23, 2008
on the Alley’s Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
Larry Pine as Robert Brock in the Alley Theatre’s production of
Secret Order. Secret Order runs October 24
through November 23, 2008 on the Alley’s Neuhaus Stage.
For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
Dylan Chalfy as William Shumway in the Alley Theatre’s production of
Secret Order. Secret Order runs
October 24 through November 23, 2008 on the Alley’s
Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
Kenneth Tigar as Saul Roth in the Alley Theatre’s production of
Secret Order. Best known for his recurring role in the
Barney Miller TV series and Lethal Weapon movies, Kenneth Tigar has both a B.A.
and a Ph.D. from Harvard University and was a Fulbright scholar at the
University of Göttingen. Secret Order runs
October 24 through November 23, 2008 on the Alley’s
Neuhaus Stage. For more information visit
www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
