Houston’s powerhouse of theatrical innovation, the Tony Award®-winning Alley Theatre, continues to cement its legacy as a national leader in new play development and artistic excellence. This cultural gem is making headlines once again, as two standout productions from its celebrated Alley All New Festival are set to make their Off-Broadway debuts in the 2025–26 season, while a third heads to London’s West End—bringing Houston-born storytelling to the world stage.

The much-anticipated play Torera, written by Monet Hurst-Mendoza and directed by Tatiana Pandiani, will debut Off-Broadway at WP Theater beginning September 20, 2025. Meanwhile, Thornton Wilder’s unfinished masterpiece The Emporium, completed by Kirk Lynn and directed by Alley Theatre Artistic Director Rob Melrose, will premiere at the Classic Stage Company in May 2026. Both productions were initially introduced as workshop performances during the 2022 Alley All New Festival, then fully staged as world premieres on the Alley’s Houston stage to great acclaim.

   

 

Adding to this impressive roster, the critically acclaimed Born with Teeth by Liz Duffy Adams, which had its world premiere at Alley Theatre in 2022, is set to make its West End debut this summer—marking a historic milestone for the theatre and its mission to nurture groundbreaking new works.

“I’m so proud of how Alley Theatre is launching new plays out into the world,” says Melrose. “Having two plays we premiered going Off-Broadway next season and one going to the West End shows the Alley’s commitment to developing and producing great new plays. It’s a clear testament to the artistic rigor and vision behind our Alley All New initiative.”

Melrose, who will direct The Emporium in New York, adds: “On a personal note, I’m especially excited to be directing at Classic Stage Company, an institution I’ve admired since my college days. I’m deeply grateful to CSC and Artistic Director Jill Rafson for believing in this piece.”

Houston audiences were first introduced to Torera during its world premiere run at Alley Theatre from May 12 to June 4, 2023, while The Emporium captivated viewers with a stunning production featuring Alley’s Resident Acting Company from May 10 to June 2, 2024. Born with Teeth, which starred Dylan Godwin and Matthew Amendt as Will and Kit, respectively, premiered in May 2022 and was first workshopped as a reading in the 2019 Alley All New Reading Series.

The momentum behind these successful transitions to New York and London underscores the importance of the Alley All New Festival, which returns October 24–26, 2025. This annual event continues to be a fertile ground for fresh, forward-thinking theatrical works, offering audiences a first look at stories that go on to shape the national and international stage..

To learn more about Alley Theatre’s transformative work and the upcoming Alley All New Festival, visit www.alleytheatre.org/allnew.