Melissa Molano and Christopher Salazar will make their debut as Alley Theatre Resident Acting Company members in Hilary Bettis’ 72 Miles to Go… this fall. Directed by José Zayas, 72 Miles to Go… will run October 15 – November 14, 2021 in the Neuhaus Theatre.

72 miles is the distance between Tucson, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico—and the distance between a recently deported mother and her American-born husband and children. 72 Miles to Go… follows one family over a decade as they grow up, fall in love, fight in wars, and fight for each other. This play by Hilary Bettis (“The Americans”) returns to the Alley following development in the 2019 Alley All New Festival, its finalist nomination for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and its world premiere Off-Broadway at Roundabout Theatre Company.

“I cannot wait to be back at the Alley, which is my home away from home. Returning to the Theatre where this play was first developed is truly a full circle moment,” said playwright Hilary Bettis. “Yes, this is a story about a family separated by deportation. But I wanted to focus on the quiet, intimate, everyday moments of profound joy and love and resilience and loss that don’t make our news cycle: growing up, weddings, anniversaries, how hard a family has to fight to stay connected. And connecting through separation is so vital, as we’ve all come to recently realize.”

Melissa Molano (Murder on the Orient Express, The Winter’s Tale) will portray Eva and Christopher Salazar (The Humans, The Winter’s Tale) will portray Christian in the production. The cast also includes Orlando Arriaga (Quixote Nuevo and El Chuco Town Forever) as Billy, Juan Sebastián Cruz (The Winter’s Tale) as Aaron, and Briana J Resa (El Chuco Town Forever and A Christmas Carol) as Anita. Both Arriaga and Cruz originated their roles in the workshop staging of 72 Miles to Go… during the 2019 Alley All New Festival.

The creative team of 72 Miles to Go… includes Scenic and Lighting Designer Kevin Rigdon, Costume Designer Haydee Zelideth, Sound Designer Megumi Katayama, Fight Direction and Intimacy Coordinator Adam Noble, Stage Manager Rebecca R. D. Hamlin, and Assistant Stage Manager Rachel Dooley-Harris.

PRESS NIGHT: Wednesday, October 20 at 7:30pm. Invitations will be sent at a later date.

COVID-19 POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS: Alley Theatre is thrilled to welcome back guests to our upcoming 75^thAnniversary Season.

As we resume live performances, we are committed to the health and safety of all of our artists, employees, and guests. In order to maintain the safest environment possible, all Alley Theatre staff, artists, creative teams, crews, and ushers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Beginning October 1, 2021, and to ensure the safety of all Alley Theatre lovers, we’ve implemented the following policies for performances held within our Theatres:

• All guests will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to the performance. Both PCR tests and antigen tests are acceptable. The results must have been performed by a third party, such as a lab. At-home tests will not be accepted. Guests can show either paper or electronic documentation (including photo of negative results).
• Guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (at least 14 days after final dose) may bring proof of vaccination as a substitute for a negative COVID-19 test result. Guests can show either paper or electronic documentation (including photo of card).
• Alley Theatre requires all guests to wear a mask covering nose and mouth at all times while in the Theatre building, except while actively eating and drinking. Alley Theatre will provide complimentary masks to guests who forget to bring one. If guests choose not to wear a mask, there will be no admittance to the Theatre building and a refund will be processed.
• As always, food and drinks will not be allowed in the Theatres.

We suggest guests arrive 45 minutes or more before the start of the performance in order to be screened and enter.

In order to streamline entry, we encourage you to use the Bindle App, a secure, easy to use digital pass for entrance to the Alley Theatre. Click here to learn more about our partner, Bindle, which securely stores your self-attested negative test status or vaccination record and creates a QR code for fast-pass access to the Theatre.

If guests feel ill, or test positive for COVID-19, we ask that they do not come to the Theatre, and contact  boxoffice@alleytheatre.org  to reschedule, move funds to on account for future use, or request a refund.

Alley Theatre’s COVID-19 Guest Policy is subject to change as we continue to work with health and government officials. We will update all ticket holders in advance of their ticketed performance if changes occur.  Guests who purchase or reserve tickets to performances and events acknowledge and consent to the adherence of these policies.

Should COVID be detected in staff, cast, crew, creative teams, or usher corps, Alley Theatre may be forced to close a production early, cancel performances, and re-open when it’s safe to do so. We ask that in order for live theatre to return and thrive, everyone entering the Alley follow the above guidelines.

OTHER SAFETY UPDATES  

• Contactless options will be available for transactions upon entry and for in-venue purchases.
• All auditorium ventilation systems have been upgraded to MERV 13 filters.
• EPA approved cleaning products are used along with rigorous cleaning and sanitation protocols.

GBAC STAR   

The Alley is a GBAC STAR™ accredited facility. The accreditation means that the facility has:

• Established and maintained a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious diseases prevention program to minimize risk associated with infectious agents like the novel coronavirus
• The proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices in place to combat biohazards and infectious disease
• Highly skilled cleaning professionals who are trained for outbreak and infectious disease preparation and response
• Created a checks and balance system to ensure that all employees and artists are following PPE protocols and disinfecting procedures

For a full list of ticket policies including exchanges, cancellations, and digital distribution options, visit alleytheatre.org.

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION: From November 15 through November 28, a paid digital version of 72 Miles to Go… filmed live at the Alley, will be available for viewing. Guests who have purchased an in-person ticket and do not feel comfortable attending in-person may transfer their ticket before the start of their ticketed performance to a digital ticket. Digital tickets are $25 and can be purchased at alleytheatre.org. Limited digital tickets will be available for purchase beginning October 15.

SPONSORS: The Alley Theatre is supported by the 2021-22 Season sponsor United Airlines, the official airline of the Alley Theatre.

TICKETS: Tickets to 72 Miles to Go… are now on sale and start at $28. Discounted tickets are available for military, seniors, and any student or educator, regardless of age, with a valid student ID for designated performances. Tickets can be ordered online (alleytheatre.org) or by phone (713.220.5700).