The Back Alley

We spoke with Houston actor Susan Koozin to reflect on her character Jean Sultan in Pictures from Home. Here is what she had to say!

The Nerd was the first show I ever saw on Broadway. I remember laughing so hard that I had to hold back my laughter so that I could hear the next line. It is so funny and I’m happy that it has now become an American comedy classic - certainly one of the best comedies written in my lifetime.

As the costume designer for the theatrical presentation Pictures from Home, my approach is primarily through the characters. But with the artist, the father and the mother’s multiple points of view: how can I honor them all? How can I suggest the intentional ambiguities that Sultan presents?

Pictures from Home marks a significant milestone for the Alley. The play began with the initial stages of development in the Alley All New Festival in 2020. Originally envisioned and nurtured within the Alley's creative embrace, Pictures from Home captivated audiences in the reading. Audiences loved the reading's blend of humor and reflections on the dynamics between an adult son and his aging parents. The enthusiastic response from the reading propelled the play toward a future on the Hubbard Theatre stage.

Larry Sultan's work shines brightly in the vast realm of photography. He is known for capturing moments that speak to the heart and stir the imagination.

Based on the photo memoir by American photographer Larry Sultan, Pictures from Home was part of the 2020 Alley All New Festival and was a hit on Broadway this past winter. Set in the late 1980’s, photographer Larry Sultan turns the lens on his parents to ferret out the truths beneath their home movies. This deeply intimate and comic portrait of a mother, a father and their son explores the question; who gets to depict the family story?

Larry Shue is a name that might not ring a bell for everyone, but his comedic brilliance has left an indelible mark on the theater world.

In murder mysteries, every phone ring promises suspense and revelation. Phones play a pivotal role in creating an atmosphere of intrigue and uncertainty. From Alfred Hitchcock's classics to Agatha Christie's timeless stories, phones are both weapons and tools.

This month, we are opening Pictures from Home by Sharr White. This charming play premiered as a reading at our 2020 Alley All New Festival, made its way to Broadway, and we are thrilled to be bringing it back to Houston audiences, reimagined in our Hubbard Theatre.

I’m so excited about directing Sharr White’s Pictures from Home at Alley Theatre. It is a homecoming of sorts because we were involved with the early development of this play in our Alley All New Festival in 2020. Our audience was extremely enthusiastic about this play, especially its delightful sense of humor and its poignant picture of …