HOUSTON - The Alley Theatre reopened to the public Saturday with an open house after being closed for more than a year.
"Ah, it's the most gorgeous theater," said theater-goer Cindi Albina. "I've enjoyed it since 1971 and we've come to every play and never missed a year."
The Alley has undergone a $46.5 million make-over. It's the first major improvements the non-profit Houston theater has ever seen.
"It is the same building but it's just, we just re-did the whole interior," said Jack Roberts, Vice-President of Bellows Construction.
"We actually built the original building in 1968 and to be able to be a part of the team to renovate and just make this spectacular building as it is now is just really thrilling," said Laura Bellows, President of Chair of Bellows Construction.
The main stage has fewer seats and the stage juts out farther into the audience. Theater managers say it's more intimate that way.
One visitor had never been inside the Alley before, but after hearing about the make-over, she came to the open house on Saturday.
"I wanted my son, grandson, to see it so I said, 'We're going.' So I'm excited and I'm looking forward to coming because I love plays," Lois Lewis said.
The first time she and other fans can see a show in the newly-renovated Alley Theatre will be next Friday, October 2nd when the cast and crew present the play, "One Man, Two Guvnors."
