“It’s a love letter to vulnerability, communication, the power of being seen and the importance of reaching out. …this is a stellar production in what has already been a standout season for 4th Wall Theatre.” - Houston Press Review

When I read THE COUNTER for the very first time, it felt like it struck my soul and spoke directly to me. I knew it was a story not only that I wanted and needed to work on, but that other people needed to hear…

What is a preview performance? And how’s it different from opening night? And why is it important? We get these questions all the time at 4th Wall. Previews can be a little confusing, so I’ll write about them in the language of the Thanksgiving season: pie.

“Lehl is excellent as the Stage Manager. From an omniscient perch, Lehl tours the audience around Grover’s Corners, down family trees, and through personal histories and eventual futures, with ease. His presence is kind and steady, deceptively hiding how deft Lehl is at controlling the audience’s attention. …”

Working on OUR TOWN has been a formative experience for me as I finish directing my fourth show as Artistic Director. Each of the shows have been a unique experience and required different things from me. This one was the largest cast I have directed in our space and that presented a whole new world of challenges. I could not have done this without a flexible team of artists, actors, designers and mentors. …

Theatre is like a virus.

“4th Wall Theatre Company always seems to be an ‘actor’s theater,’ and they continue this streak with this play. The cast of six folks is all wonderfully integrated as an ensemble, and they just feel like wholly realized people every second of the performance.”

Putting together a season is a puzzle — hours of discussions, plans, and pivots. Sometimes, what seems impossible becomes possible. That’s exactly what happened with EUREKA DAY. When we first heard murmurings from supporters saying how perfect this play would be for us, we were intrigued. I read it, loved it, and had no idea how we could ever get the rights. But through a magic course of events, we did. …..

"‘With detailed and nuanced direction from Kim Tobin-Lehl, this production is adapted from New York’s Bedlam theater. … And Shakespeare and his Hamlet could not be in better hands. What a glorious night in the theater."

It’s hard to believe it’s been nine years since BEDLAM’s companion piece to HAMLET, SAINT JOAN, arrived at our theatre—an experience people still talk about today. I’ve been fortunate to maintain a relationship with Eric Tucker and BEDLAM, working with him in NYC and trying to bring his inspiration and vision home to 4th Wall.

“ ‘Topdog/Underdog’ blends the abstract and the naturalistic, a little bit Beckett, a little bit Chekhov, but entirely unique and deeply attuned to Black street culture. Like the best hip-hop, it turns that culture into searing art. “

It has been a privilege to collaborate with this team on Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG. This play focuses on the unique relationship of two brothers, Lincoln and Booth. The magic of this play lies in the way the brothers, as well as the audience, are forced to examine what they inherit from their family and the world around them. They are a product of their trauma, experiences, and circumstances.

Susan Smith Blackburn was originally from Houston, and she was an incredibly talented writer and performer appearing at The Alley and Little Theatre in Houston, and she tragically passed away at the age of 42. To honor her memory and her love for theatre, her sister and father established the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.

As 4th Wall Theatre’s Marketing Manager, I’ve had countless conversations with patrons about seating preferences. And almost always the refrain is, "Do you have anything available in the center section?" And while I’m happy to accommodate, I can’t help but think: "If I wanted to watch something head-on, I might as well watch TV."

The most rewarding part of my job is reflecting on how the work of 4th Wall Theatre Company is fueled by our community of donors…

"...you will marvel at the precision of the timing of lines and the extreme care in every move the actors make. There’s a chemistry in this ensemble production that is hard to match: sometimes an expression on an actor’s face really is worth a thousand words, and some of the most priceless moments are the bewildering non-spoken responses the characters have to each other, or their own issues."

In this wonderful world created by Christopher Durang, we meet characters who feel just a touch off-kilter, each bringing a unique charm and humor to the story. Durang himself described this play as a “blender” of Chekhov characters placed in a modern setting that reflects his own life in Pennsylvania, his love for Chekhov, and the echoes of past ‘what-ifs.’

Excellent! A very well-written play with socio-political and emotional complexity and in-depth character development.

Leadership Transition Announcement from Co-Founder Philip Lehl

I just recently celebrated a birthday…not a milestone birthday, but one that is turning the corner to a milestone birthday.

But the timing of it, in light of the beginning of rehearsals for our upcoming production of THE FATHER, left me reflecting about years gone by and years to come…