Two New Alley Productions Now Livestreaming for Free

Two New Alley Productions Now Livestreaming for Free

A still from "Man. Kind."

THE ALLEY HAS just made two new productions available for streaming online, now through July 4. The shows are part of the Alley's digital season, which is offered for free and celebrates the theater's All New initiative and its alumni, and places an emphasis on local playwrights.


The short play Man. Kind., written by Don X. Nguyen and directed by Brandon Weinbrenner, tells the story of a caveman — played by Shawn Hamilton — on a plateau who invents fire. A cavewoman — played by Melissa Pritchett — arrives and, having invented fire yesterday, she wants to team up. Saigon-born, New York-based Nguyen has had his work developed or produced by theaters from coast to coast, and has won several prominent awards. He and Weinbrenner previously worked together on The Supreme Leader for the Alley All New Festival in 2019.

A still from "For Steve Wozniak, on His 67th Birthday"

And in For Steve Wozniak, on His 67th Birthday, Michelle Elaine, Patricia Duran and Mai Leeach play a character named Steve. The short play is written by Jiehae Park and directed by Mekeva McNeil; Park is an author, playwright and actress who developed her play The Aves at the All New Festival in 2020.

ShaWanna Renee Rivon's Old Black & White Hollywood and Henrik Isben's An Enemy of the Peopledebut as part of the digital season later this month. Read about Rivon's show in the latest issue of CityBook.

Ancient French Wellness Cures Reimagined at Houston’s Escape Spa: The Power of Vichy

Serial entrepreneur and spa visionary LeBrina Jackson

NESTLED IN THE heart of France, the town of Vichy holds a rich history in the world of wellness and hydrotherapy. Acquiring fame for their alkaline springs in the 17th century, the Romans were among the first to recognize the therapeutic benefits of the springs. They established a French spa known as “Vichy,” which still exists today and continues to attract spa-goers from around the world to experience the transformative effects of hydrotherapy.

Keep Reading Show less

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

Keep Reading Show less

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less