Houston’s Unexpected Christmas Tree Wonderland — This Theatre Goes All Out: The Holidays Are Right Up This Alley

It’s officially a colorful holiday season at the Alley Theatre thanks to the 12th annual “Deck the Trees” cocktail gathering, which kicked off the production of A Christmas Carol — A Ghost Story of Christmas and unveiled a host of beautifully decorated Christmas trees and holiday wreaths.

Tops on almost everyone’s list of faves was the elaborate, 25-foot tall Dickens-inspired tree, created by the event’s signature designer Scott Michael of Scott Michael Designs. The Alley foyer and lobby is truly a wonderland of holiday spirit with 28 trees and 10 wreaths that will remain on view through January 2.

It’s a brilliant fundraising effort that brought in more than $250,000 for the Alley’s education and community engagement programming. Sponsorships of the trees and wreaths were sold at prices ranging from $2,500 to $50,000.

Part of the party fun was the formal countdown leading youngsters Penelope and Parker Moore and Kitt Taylor to flipping the giant switch that lighted the trees all at once. Among those contributing trees were Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Eklektik Interiors, For All Occasions, Always in Season, Richard Flowers and The Events Company and Macy’s.

Leading the holiday cheer on this evening were Alley managing director Dean Gladden along with chairs Jeanie and Don Sweet and Pepette and Joe Mongrain.   Thunderous applause greeted board president Butch Mach when he announced that Alley actor and interim artistic director James Black would return to the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, after directing A Christmas Carol for the past decade.

PC Seen: Jenny and David Moore, Jane Gladden, Carmen Mach, Cathy and Jesse Marion, Elsie and Les Eckert, , Donna and Steven Greenlee, Cora Sue and Harry Mach, Glenn Vangolen, Cindy Herndon, Pat and Roger Medors, Heidi and Doug Shanda and Ty Taylor.