Meet the Couples of Alley Theatre's Seascape by Edward Albee

Go inside Tony-winning Alley Theatre's production of Seascape, the Pulitzer-winning play by Tony winner Edward Albee. Performances began October 14 at the Houston, Texas regional theatre, and will continue through November 13.

Two couples—one human, one sea creature—meet on a beach, sparking conversations about life and what it means to be human in a "laugh-out-loud love story, told by way of an unusual marriage counseling session."

The cast stars Franchelle Stewart Dorn (20th Century Blues, Die Hard With a Vengeance) as Nancy, Zachary Fine (China Doll) as Leslie, Philip Goodwin (Grace) as Charlie, and Raven Justine Troupe (Amerikin) as Sarah

Franchelle Stewart Dorn and Philip Goodwin in *Seascape* Lynn Lane

Nathan Winkelstein directs the production, which features scenic design by Kevin Rigdon, costume design by Nicole Wee, lighting design by Izmir Ickbal, sound design by Sharath Patel, stage management by Jocelyn A. Thompson, and assistant stage management by Kristen Larson.

“In Seascape, playwright Edward Albee provides a different lens through which to watch ‘normal’ behavior,” shared Winkelstein. “He asks us to question whether our ‘norms’ are in fact truly normal, and others’ ‘abnormal’ natures are truly abnormal, or whether deep down, we might be more similar to anthropomorphic sea creatures than we think. I am thrilled and humbled to bring Seascape to the Neuhaus and Edward Albee back home to Alley Theatre.”

Zachary Fine, Raven Justine Troup, Franchelle Stewart Dorn and Philip Goodwin in *Seascape* Lynn Lane

“I’ve loved Edward Albee’s words since the very start of my theatre studies,” shared Artistic Director Rob Melrose. “I loved getting to know him while I was a student at Princeton and he was directing the world premiere of Marriage Play at the McCarter Theater (a co-production with the Alley). He was a fascinating man with a razor-sharp mind. At a meeting with Albee, I brought him two books to sign for me: my copies of Virginia Woolf and Seascape. When I handed him Seascape, his eyes lit up and he said, ‘You know, this is a really great play!’ I said to him, ‘Yes, I know, it is my favorite which I why I wanted you to sign it!’ What I love about Seascape is that it has all the verbal delights of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Zoo Story, but it also had this fantastically surreal aspect to it through the sea creatures. During my time as Artistic Director, I hope to honor Edward Albee’s legacy and the part the Alley Theatre played in it.”

For tickets and more information, visit AlleyTheatre.org.

Check out the production below.