Lights, curtain, action! Alley Theatre, one of the largest U.S. professional nonprofit theaters outside of New York City, recently welcomed it’s new Managing Director, Jennifer Bielstein.
Stepping into the role in October 2025, Bielstein began her tenure with the Alley after the retirement of longtime managing director Dean Gladden. Bielstein’s top focus has been meeting with the organization’s stakeholders these past few months. She’s been on a listening tour which has included meeting with all staff, board, introducing herself to audiences and donors as well as other members of the Houston arts and civic communities.
Theater at Heart
Bielstein is no stranger to Houston; she attended Stratford High School when her family moved to Houston her junior year and fell in love with theater.
“Theatre is an incredibly powerful art form where you can learn about yourself or others based upon the stories told on our stages,” Bielstein said. “Theatre is also collaborative where many people come together to create a production and I love that about it – it is my team sport.”
In college Bielstein decided that she wanted to pursue a career that supported theater so she studied business and theater at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was at that time that she developed a mission statement of sorts: she wanted to be managing director of a major regional theater whose work she loves.
Since then, Bielstein’s professional experience includes working at Guthrie, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Steppenwolf and serving as Executive Director at American Conservatory Theater, before joining the Alley Theatre.
In Conversation:
We chatted with Bielstein about the new role, the Alley and what the Houston community can look forward to.
HFC: What does coming back home and assuming the role of Managing Director at Alley Theatre mean to you personally and professionally?
JB: Personally, it feels like I have come full circle. I’ve honed my skills around the country and now get to use them as part of the Alley and the Houston community.
HFC: What are some things the Houston community can look forward to from the Alley Theatre this year?
JB: This season we have a wonderful production of English that opened last week. Next up is the delightful The Importance of Being Earnest followed by August Wilson’s Fences.
HFC: Deck the Trees, which celebrates Houston’s arts and culture, is something to look forward to every holiday season. Could you share the impact this program has on the community along with any additional programs Alley Theatre offers throughout the year?
JB: Deck the Trees is amazing. If you have not been you HAVE to come to the Alley this November and December. We have 25 huge, beautiful, and creatively decorated trees in the lobbies. It puts you in the holiday spirit immediately. Designers pair with sponsors to determine a theme or style for the trees and wreaths which are all over the Alley and are at the George R. Brown Convention Center as well.
Most people know that we produce plays on our stages but I am not sure all know of our robust Education and Community Engagement programs. We work with youth in schools, at the theater, through summer camps, programs in libraries and community centers. We even have training for adults in the workplace through Alley Articulated.
HFC: And finally, can you share something you’re particularly excited about for the next performance season?
JB: We are announcing our season on March 3, so you’ll hear of 11 productions that you can look forward to seeing in the new season.
Pictures courtesy of Alley Theatre.
Written by Norma Salcedo
