ALLEY THEATRE
Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director
Paul R. Tetreault, Managing Director
ALLEY THEATRE DELIGHTS IN DEVILISH COMEDY
WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
SYNERGY
BY KEITH REDDIN
FEBRUARY 2 - MARCH 4, 2001
Callum Keith-King as OTTO, the experimental over-the-top character of SYNERGY who throws his boss off of a 23rd floor building window after his employer threatens him with his employment. Gives new meaning to the expression, "Going Postal." The Alley Theatre continues its 2000 - 2001 Neuhaus Arena Stage season with the world premiere of Keith Reddin's biting new comedy SYNERGY, which runs through March 4th, 2001. Photo by Jim Caldwell.
Houston, Texas - The Alley Theatre debuts the world premiere of SYNERGY, a new comedy from the versatile playwright
and actor Keith Reddin. This biting satire about a woman’s bargain with the Devil in order to save her soul is a hilarious and
wild look at life in the corporate sector. Directed by Karen Kohlhaas (co-founder of New York’s Atlantic Theater
Company), SYNERGY begins previews February 2, 2001, Opens Wednesday February 7th, and runs through Sunday,
March 4th, 2001 on the Alley’s Neuhaus Arena Stage.
Finger Interests, Inc. sponsors this world premiere, with additional support from Baker & Hostetler, the Alley Theatre’s
Neuhaus Arena Stage 2000 - 2001 Season Sponsor.
SYNERGY is Mr. Reddin’s new comedy set in both the Underworld and Corporate world where the feisty Deb grapples
with a Dean-Martin-like Devil in the ultimate negotiation match. When her routine dentist appointment turns out to be a
meeting with Lucifer himself, Deb bargains her way back to the living with a promise to secure a certain number of souls.
Naturally, she begins her scavenger hunt in the corporate sector - the Disney Corporation to be exact. Sharp and refreshing,
SYNERGY is a hilarious and wry look at life on the corporate ladder.
“In Synergy, it’s how the individual finds a purpose or a morality in an immoral world,” says Mr. Reddin. “And if everybody
sells their soul to get ahead, does anybody have a soul? Is there a line we draw between right and wrong?”
KEITH REDDIN
Upon finishing the first draft of SYNERGY during the final days of the Alley’s May 1999 run of Misalliance, where Mr.
Reddin played the ineffectual, gun-toting character Gunner, he organized a reading of his script with fellow cast members.
After a bit of tweaking and rewriting, he took the script to Alley Artistic Director Gregory Boyd, who asked, “Who’s
producing it?” When Mr. Reddin replied that he’d just finished writing the comedy hours ago, Mr. Boyd replied, without
reading the script, “Why don’t we produce it?”
“I am very excited that the Alley is making a really strong commitment to doing new work,” says Reddin. “The Alley is a
major institution in this country, and I think it’s very positive that, while a lot of theatres are retreating from developing new
work, the Alley is making a commitment to create new work.....The audience in Houston will be the first ones to see
SYNERGY, and hopefully they’ll be as adventurous as the theatre is.”
Keith Reddin, a playwright-in-residence at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, is the author of several plays including RUM
AND COKE, LIFE DURING WARTIME, an adaptation of Bulgakov’s BLACK SNOW, and THE INNOCENT’S
CRUSADE. Mr. Reddin has received numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Charles MacArthur
Scholarship. His plays have been produced at major theaters in the United States and England, including Manhattan Theatre
Club, Playwrights Horizons and The Gate Theatre. Also an actor (he appeared in the Alley Theatre’s 1996 - 1997 production
of Taking Steps), Mr. Reddin has appeared in a number of productions Off - Broadway and at regional theatres across the
country including Manhattan Theatre Club, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Signature Theatre Company, and the Roundabout
Theatre. His Broadway credits include THE PLAY’S THE THING, and A TASTE OF HONEY and he has also appeared
in the films LOLITA, REVERSAL OF FORTUNE, TO WONG FOO, and THE DOORS.
A founding member of New York’s Atlantic Theater Company, Karen Kohlhaas will direct. The Atlantic Theater Company
was started in 1985 by a group of actors who had studied with David Mamet and William Macy at New York University.
Ms. Kohlhaas recently directed AN ADULT EVENING by Shel Silverstein in Sydney, Australia, and the Atlantic
productions of Harold Pinter’s THE HOTHOUSE and David Mamet’s THE WATER ENGINE and MR. HAPPINESS.
Ms. Kohlhaas makes her directorial debut at the Alley Theatre with SYNERGY.
Edmond Genest, the hilarious dog - obsessed Greg in the Alley’s 1996 production of SYLVIA, will play the role of the
DEVIL. This new production brings new faces to Alley audiences: Reathel Bean, who also appeared in the Yale Repertory
production of Mr. Reddin’s play RUM AND COKE, is Sidney; Christopher Duva, who appeared in the New York premiere
of Keith Reddin’s adaptation of Bulgakov’s novel BLACK SNOW, is Roland; Callum Keith - King is Otto; Fay Ann Lee is
Jade and Michelle; Jenny Maguire is Deb and Eric Sheffer Stevens is Marc.
The design team includes the Alley Theatre’s Artistic Associate / Design Kevin Rigdon as Scenic Designer, Lighting Designer
Michael Lincoln (Alley’s Closer), Costume Designer Karyl Newman (Alley’s world premieres of Lemonade and Not About
Nightingales), and 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 Tennesee 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 and Hyde and The Scarlet Pimpernel). The Civil War (Tony Award nomination, Best Musical) also went on to a 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 unveiled two world premieres last season: Eve Ensler’s haunting
LEMONADE and Edward Albee’s THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY, which will be seen at the Off - Broadway Century
Center for the Performing Arts this January, 2001.
For the 2000 - 2001 season, the Alley Theatre will unveil another world premiere with Horton Foote’s THE
CARPETBAGGER’S CHILDREN in June 2001. Other highlights of the season include audience favorite A FLEA IN HER
EAR by Georges Feydeau featuring the Alley Resident Company of Actors and Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer Prize - winning
DINNER WITH FRIENDS.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to SYNERGY are on sale now at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by
calling 713-228-8421. Single tickets to preview performances are $23; single tickets to performances
on or after the Wednesday, February 7 opening range from $37 - $42. Groups of 10 persons or more
can purchase tickets at a discounted rate by calling 713-229-9341, ext. 346.
The play, SYNERGY, contains mature subject matter.
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"Oh, I can wait," the Devil assures Deb, "my patience is infinite." (L-R) Ed Genest plays the Devil and Jenny Maguire as Deb in the world premiere of Keith Reddin's SYNERGY, Now Showing through March 4th, 2001 at the Alley Theatre Neuhaus Arena Stage. Photo by Jim Caldwell.
THE ALLEY THEATRE PRESENTS
THE WORLD PREMIERE
OF KEITH REDDIN’S
SYNERGY
WHAT: SYNERGY
by Keith Reddin
Directed by Karen Kohlhaas
Variety Magazine has called him “a gifted writer.” The Houston Chronicle made note of his “scene stealing moments” as the
ineffectual, gun - toting Gunner in the Alley’s MISALLIANCE (May, 1999). The versatile Keith Reddin unveils the world
premiere of his biting new comedy, SYNERGY, on the Alley’s Neuhaus Arena stage this February, 2001. When Deb’s
routine dentist appointment turns out to be a meeting with the Devil himself, she bargains her way back to the living with a
promise to secure a certain number of souls. Naturally, she begins her scavenger hunt in the corporate sector - the Disney
Corporation to be exact. Sharp and refreshing, SYNERGY is a hilarious and fascinating look at human nature and the ultimate
gifts we, the living, take for granted.
A Resident Playwright at the Goodman Theatre, Mr. Reddin has also written RUM AND COKE, LIFE DURING
WARTIME, BLACK SNOW, and THE INNOCENT’S CRUSADE.
WHEN:
FEBRUARY 2ND - MARCH 4TH, 2001
WHERE:
ALLEY THEATRE, NEUHAUS ARENA STAGE AT 615 TEXAS
AVENUE.
TICKETS:
Tickets to SYNERGY are on sale now at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling
713-228-8421. Single tickets to preview performances are $23; single tickets to performances on or after the
Wednesday, February 7 opening range from $37 - $42. Groups of 10 persons or more can purchase tickets at a
discounted rate by calling 713-229-9341, ext. 346.
WWW.HOUSTONTHEATRE.COM
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