Alley Theatre pulls back curtain on theatre renovations in Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Art lovers, get ready to check out Houston's newly revamped Alley Theatre. Our own Steve Campion was first to get a sneak peek inside the legendary theatre at 615 Texas Avenue in Downtown. The transformation is striking.

Crews just have the finishing touches left on the $46.5 million renovation. General Manager Ten Eyck Swackhamer took us backstage and center stage. He said the changes mean an experience unlike any other in the area.

"We've completely redone the lobbies. We've completely reconfigured the seating bowl. We've taken the front end of the stage and lifted it up six feet. We brought it out into the audience 15 feet. We've created a trap room so that we can bring things up from the ground. We've built a fly loft so scenery can fly up and down. We've redone the lighting," said Swackhamer.

"The most noticeable difference will be that your relationship with the actor on stage will be much more intimate. You'll be closer, you'll be looking at them straight in the eye. You'll see them out there and present. We made it a stage so that the actors are actually out there in the audience. That is was people notice right away."

If you want to check out the improvements for yourself, the Alley Theatre is hosting an open house this Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM. All our welcomed for the ribbon cutting followed by a tour. For more information, visit alleytheatre.org.