Houston’s Funniest New Play Brings Out the Laughs and the Theatre Heavy Hitters

A World Premiere and a Swanky Dinner

By Shelby Hodge // Feb 7, 2019

Photography Jacob Power

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Brandon Weinbrenner, Rutger Beelaerts, Claire Kiechel, Lily Wolff (Photo by Jacob Power)

Sarah & Tom Scott, Patty Campagna, cast member Ken Wulf Clark (Photo by Jacob Power)

Debbie McAngus, cast member Buddy Haardt (Photo by Jacob Power)

The very merry cast from the Alley Theatre's production of 'The Carpenter' (Photo by Jacob Power)

Rob Melrose, Alley board president Butch Mach (Photo by Jacob Power)

Dale Miller, Ann Trammell, Dean & Jane Gladden (Photo by Jacob Power)

Lynn Wyatt with Alley Theatre artistic director Rob Melrose in happier times (Photo by Jacob Power)

Patty Hubbard, Molly Hubbard (Photo by Jacob Power)

Mark Seavers, Laurie Andrassy, Duke & C.C. Ensell, Demi Rand, Thaison Hua (Photo by Jacob Power)

David & Karon Hilditch (Photo by Jacob Power)

Les & Elsie Eckert (Photo by Jacob Power)

Elizabeth Marshall Black & James Black, Chisa Hutchinson, Judith Ivy (Photo by Jacob Power)

Alex Harvey, Alan & Nancy Shelby (Photo by Jacob Power)

Mike & Debra Dishberger, Claire Kiechel (Photo by Jacob Power)

Melissa Ng, Bernice Lim (Photo by Jacob Power)

What: The Alley Theatre CenterStage Dinner

Where: The Alley Theatre

PC Moment: Prior to curtain-up on the world premiere of Rob Askins‘ The Carpenter, Alley patrons gathered for a swank seated dinner prepared by A Fare Extraordinaire. Fuel for the laughter-filled production included coriander beef and asparagus with corn vinaigrette and Texas pecan pie for dessert.

The dinner program included a welcome from Alley managing director Dean Gladden; introduction of Rob Melrose, the Alley’s new artistic director, by board president Butch Mach; and Melrose’s remarks about the play and director Will Davis, the Alley’s first transgender director, who also addressed the gathering of some 200.

Post-performance, a celebratory cocktail reception merged the lucky patrons with the cast of the rollicking play, all of whom were in high spirits thanks to the multitude of laughs.

PC Seen: Connie and Roger Plank, Carmen Mach, Lynn Wyatt, Kathryn Ketelsen, Margaret Alkek Williams, Patty Hubbard, Elizabeth and James Black, Patty and Larry Campagna, Michele Collins and Craig Moffatt, C.C. and Duke Ensell, Jane Gladden, and Linda and Mark Smith.