Houston’s Best Christmas Trees and Holiday Wreaths Give This Theatre a Vital Post-Harvey Boost: When Everyone Helps the Show Go On

It was fa-la-la-la-la all over the Alley Theatre as a jubilant group poured in to celebrate not only the annual Deck the Trees festivities but also the first night in the theater following the flood waters of Hurricane Harvey. The evening was the most successful holiday tree event to date with more trees and wreaths than ever and a whopping $330,000 (triple that of previous years) raised to help support the Alley’s continuing recovery efforts.

More than 250 Alley patrons and guests attended the private, pre-performance reception, the first event since the storm, which was held in the theater’s Texas Room. Among them was Alley board president Butch Mach, who wryly noted “We’re back!” Mayor Sylvester Turner made an appearance, stressing the importance of this comeback event as the theater district “represents the soul of our city” adding “the show still must go on. The Mayor had the honor of leading the countdown to the tree lighting, which was greeted with enthusiastic applause and cheers.

In further remarks Mach thanked sponsor Occidental Petroleum and the various entities that contributed to the holiday display. Among the numerous groups providing their unique touch to the surroundings were Elegant Beginnings, Gulf Coast AISD, Houston Community College Interior Design, William W. Stubbs and Associates, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

The fundraising event was chaired by Roger Aksamit, Maria Wyckoff Boyce and Mark Allen Smith.

Following the holiday themed reception, guests adjourned to the Hubbard Theatre for a performance of “A Christmas Carol.”

Tree huggers: Alley artistic director Gregory Boyd, Carmen Mach, Elizabeth Anne Aksamit, Angela and Craig Jarchow, Megan Jarchow, Patty Hubbard, Ford Bensen, Jesse Marion, Anne and Taft Symonds, Laura Bellows and Jack Pendergrast, Bill Boyce and daughters Julia and Emily, Mady and Ken Kades, John Tsacrios, Bruce Coy, Linda and Andrew Smith and Kashay and George Mendez.