With the strike of a gilded sledge hammer, the $46.5 million renovation of the Alley Theatre ceremoniously began at midday on the Hubbard Stage. Wearing a commemorative hard hat, Roger Plank, co-chair of the Extended Engagement Capital Campaign which includes cost of the renovation, took a swing at one of the stage columns and unexpectedly pulled off an entire side of sheetrock.
Applause sounded throughout the theater as Alley patrons, actors and fans celebrated the launch of the renovation which is set to transform the 52-year-old building into a state-of-the-art theater. With work expected to be completed by late August 2015, the company will perform in the interim at the University of Houston's Lyndall Finley Wortham Theatre.
"When this theater was created, it was the state of the art at the time," said Gregory Boyd, Alley artistic director. "All these years later . . . what we're looking to do is to increase the focus between an actor and the audience member and trying to increase the breadth of who we consider the public we want to serve and what the story telling place is."
Joining Plank and Boyd on stage were Alley board chairman Jesse Marion, managing director Dean Gladden and major donors to the $73 million capital campaign including campaign co-chair Meredith Long plus Lynn Wyatt, Patty Hubbard, Mady and Ken Kades and Margaret Alkek Williams. The latter was singled out for her support of the theater with the naming of the renovated fourth floor of the theater the Margaret Alkek Williams Terrace Level.
Following photos, handshaking and congratulations all around, special guests adjourned to the Alley's 14th floor board room for a champagne luncheon where Gladden led the toasts to the Alley's future.
Those raising their glasses at the luncheon, in addition to those already mentioned, included Carroll Ray, C.C. Connor, company actors James Black and Todd Waite, Desrye Morgan, Linda Bertman, Greg Vesey, Richard Lowenstern, Steve Goodman and Kevin Ridgon.