Who's the genius that wrote this?
No, really...she's amazing.
Lynn Nottage, the author of Sweat, is an award-winning, world-renowned playwright and screenwriter. She is also the first and only woman to have received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice - for her plays Sweat and Ruined. She is also a recipient of the McArthur "Genius Grant."
“I wanted to write a bold play that sustained the complexity of this multicultural country that we live in and that examines the economic and racial fractures that we’re still really grappling with to this day.”
-Lynn Nottage on Sweat
The Origins of Sweat
A special collaboration with
The Ensemble Theatre
Sweat is associate directed by Eileen J. Morris and produced in collaboration with The Ensemble Theatre: A Houston theatre founded to "preserve African American artistic expression and enlighten, entertain, and enrich a diverse community."
"We wanted to send a message to our community that the Alley Theatre and The Ensemble Theatre value each other's contribution to the community through rich and complex works that challenge our ways of thinking and encourage us to look within for the change the world so desperately needs."
-Eileen J. Morris, Artistic Director of The Ensemble Theatre
PA in HTX
Sweat is set in the real-life town of Reading, PA (pronounced RED-ing).
So how does the Alley Theatre bring a Pennsylvania town to Houston...in 2021?
Producing theatre in a pandemic requires a lot of flexibility. In response to rapidly changing needs and restrictions, Michael Locher, Alley Theatre’s Director of Design, created the Flexible Season Set. The “Flex Set” is a special structure that each new show’s scenic design can build upon throughout the year.
"For Sweat, the structure becomes a poetic representation of Reading, Pennsylvania, a vibrant factory town undergoing difficult economic changes. Nestled within, dominating the stage picture, is the unnamed bar where most of Sweat takes place: A familiar sort of watering hole, just welcoming and casual enough to serve as a meeting place for the varied friends and coworkers who inhabit Lynn Nottage’s play."
-Michael Locher, Director of Design
Design by Michael Locher
Design by Michael Locher
Designers research locations for authentic details.
Design by Michael Locher
1 Day Closer!
Sweat will be the first production at the Alley Theatre since closing for the pandemic. As you can imagine, the team is delighted to bring this fantastic play to Houston after a long hiatus. Follow the Alley's Instagram page to glimpse behind the scenes in real time.
Photos from Sweat at Alley Theatre
Photos by Lynn Lane
The Cast and Characters of Sweat
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
+Member of the Alley Theatre's Resident Acting Company
Your part in the Play
We're happy to have you with us, whether it's your first time seeing a play or you've been coming to A Christmas Carol since you were seven.
Watch the video for some great advice on playing your part, courtesy of Resident Acting Company Members Elizabeth Bunch and Dylan Godwin.