The change comes after an anonymous donor awarded the downtown theater a $25-million matching grant. That grant becomes the largest gift in the Alley’s 75-year history.
The Alley Theatre will be renamed the Meredith J. Long Theatre Center, in honor of the late, influential Houston art dealer and philanthropist who served as the theater’s longtime chairman. The change comes after an anonymous donor awarded the downtown theater a $25-million matching grant.
“I think he’d be very honored and very proud,” said Kenneth Kades, Alley Theatre board president. “He was one of our most dedicated board members and loved seeing the joy, the cheers and the tears that come from live theater. He respected the craft.”When Long came to Houston in 1957, the city counted fewer than 1 million residents. There were only two art museums and three galleries back then. He set up Meredith Long & Co.
The $25 million grant will benefit the Alley’s endowment, Kades said. Funds from the matching grant will support artistic direction, capital reserves and repay some of the damage from Hurricane Harvey, among other initiatives. The gift supports the theater’s $80 million Vision for the Future Campaign.