Alley Theatre Stages Jennifer Haley's Sci-Fi Thriller THE NETHER

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd presents THE NETHER, a play written by Jennifer Haley and directed by Gregory Boyd and James Black. THE NETHER runs tonight, May 6, through May 29 in the Neuhaus Theatre.

Set in the future, THE NETHER is an intricate sci-fi crime drama that tells the story of a new virtual digital world which provides total sensory immersion. Log in, choose an identity, and indulge your every whim, with no consequences in the "real" world. Or so it seems. A detective begins an investigation to determine if there is a point at which thought or intention may actually constitute a crime within, and outside of, this new virtual realm. She uncovers a disturbing brand of entertainment, which triggers a dark battle over technology and human desire.

THE NETHER cast features Alley Company Members Josie de Guzman (Alley's The Other Place, All My Sons) as Morris, and Chris Hutchison (Alley's All the Way, As You Like It) as Woodnut. Alley veterans John Feltch (Alley's One Man, Two Guvnors, A Christmas Carol) and Philip Lehl (Alley's Clybourne Park, The Farnsworth Invention) return to the Alley with Feltch taking on the role of Sims and Lehl playing the role of Doyle. Additionally, Jemma Kosanke (Dallas Theater Center's Les Miserables) makes her Alley debut as Iris.

The creative team of THE NETHER includes Alley Associate Director for Design Kevin Rigdon (Alley's The Foreigner, As You Like It) as Scenic Designer; Costume Designer Judith Dolan (Alley's The Christians, All My Sons), Lighting Designer Jaymi Lee Smith (Dallas Theater Center's The Rocky Horror Picture Show), and Music Composition & Sound Design by Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (Broadway's No Man's Land, Waiting for Godot).

Winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, THE NETHER is both serpentine crime drama and haunting sci-fi thriller that explores the consequences of living out our private dreams. London's The Timescalls THE NETHER "Mind-bending... like a hall of mirrors..." and The New York Times describes the play as "an episode of 'Law & Order: SVU' written by...Ray Bradbury." The Alley Theatre's May offerings - Remote Houston and THE NETHER - both approach the topic of artificiality and the digital presence in our lives.

Texas native Jennifer Haley's work delves into ethics in virtual reality and the impact of technology on our human relationships, identity, and desire. Her other plays include Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doomand Froggy. She is a member of New Dramatists in New York City and lives in Los Angeles, where she founded the Playwrights Union.

THE NETHER, by Jennifer Haley and directed by Gregory Boyd and James Black, begins preview performances at the Alley Theatre on May 6, opens May 11, and continues through May 29, 2016 in the Neuhaus Theatre. THE NETHER contains adult content, explicit language and is for mature audiences only.

Tickets to THE NETHER are now on sale and start at $26. Discounted tickets are available for any student, regardless of age, with a valid student ID for $16 for designated performances in designated sections. Tickets can be ordered online (alleytheatre.org) or by phone (713.220.5700). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

The Alley Theatre will also present an Artist TalkBack following the May 17 (7:30 p.m.) and May 22 (2:30 p.m.) performances of THE NETHER. These discussions will feature cast and artistic staff. Artist TalkBacks are free and open to the public.

Following the May 14 and May 29 matinee performances of THE NETHER, the theatre will present Alley In Context, a post-show panel featuring civic leaders, distinguished academics, and area professionals discussing the themes of the play and how they are reflected in our lives today. The May 14th discussion will feature Gregory Boyd and Jennifer Haley.

The Alley Theatre, one of America's leading not-for-profit theatres, is a nationally recognized performing arts company lead by Artistic Director Gregory Boyd and
Managing Director Dean R. Gladden. The Alley produces up to 16 plays each year in our newly renovated theatre, ranging from the best current work, to re-invigorated classic plays, to new plays by contemporary writers. The Alley is home to a Resident Company of actors. In addition, the Alley engages theatre-artists of every discipline - actors, designers, composers, playwrights - who work on individual productions throughout each season as Visiting Artists.

The current renovation of the Hubbard Theatre at the Alley was completed in October 2015 - and created a new 770 seat state-of-the-art performance venue. Matched with its 310-seat Neuhaus Theatre, the Alley offers nearly 500 performances each season. The Company reaches over 200,000 people each year through its performance and education programs. Our audience enrichment programs include pre-show and post-performance talks, events, and workshops for audience members of all ages.

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