Trinity Rep to Present Reimagined GLASS MENAGERIE, 2/26-3/29

Trinity Rep continues Season 51: The Necessity of Human Connection with Tennessee William's The Glass Menagerie, directed by Brian Mertes. The Glass Menagerie runs February 26 through March 29, 2015 in Trinity Rep's Chace Theater. Tickets are on sale now at www.trinityrep.com, by calling (401) 351-4242 or at the theater's box office at 201 Washington St., Providence, RI.

An American classic and considered by many to be one of the greatest plays ever written, The Glass Menagerie is an emotional masterpiece and Tennessee Williams' personal "memory play," featuring one of the most recognizable families in dramatic literature -- histrionic mother Amanda, guilt-ridden son Tom and fragile daughter Laura. Award-winning director Brian Mertes (A Lie of the Mind, Clybourne Park) brings a rarely seen depth of storytelling and engagement to this production, captivating the audience in new and unexpected ways.

"I find the play's realness and un-realness are right next to each other," Mertes says of Williams' partly autobiographical memory play. "The primary source material is so hot. I want to find a way for us to evoke or capture that. When I look at the words on the page, it's so alive. I'm not really interested in nostalgia as an experience."

The cast features Trinity Rep acting company members Mia Ellis as Laura Wingfield, Brian McEleney as Tom Wingfield and Anne Scurria as Amanda Wingfield, with Brown/Trinity Rep MFA actor Dennis Kozee as Jim O'Connor.

The collaborators bringing Mertes' evocative production to life include Trinity Rep resident designer Eugene Lee (set design) with Broken Chord (sound design), Phillip Roebuck (original music), Dan Scully (lighting design), Toni Spadafora (costume design) and stage manager Megan Tracy Leddy.

Continuing Trinity Rep's tradition of offering affordable tickets for all, the theater will have discounted previews of The Glass Menagerie from February 26 - 28, 2015. Friday, February 27 is a Pay What You Can (PWYC) performance. Tickets go on sale at 6:30pm that evening, and are limited to one per person.

The State Theater of Rhode Island, Trinity Repertory Company is now in its 51st season. Since its founding in 1963, Trinity Repertory Company has been one of the most respected regional theaters in the country. Featuring the last permanent resident acting company in America, Trinity Rep presents a balance of world premiere, contemporary, and classic works for an estimated annual audience of approximately 145,000. In its 50-year history, the theater has produced 62 world premieres, mounted national and international tours, and, through its MFA program, trained hundreds of new actors and directors.

This season marks the 47th year of Project Discovery, Trinity Rep's pioneering educational outreach program. Last season, Trinity Rep's educational programs reached over 16,000 Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut students through matinees as well as in-school residencies and workshops. Brown University/Trinity Rep offers professional training for actors and directors in a three-year MFA program.

Subscriptions and tickets are available for the remainder of Trinity Rep's 2014-2015 Season, which includes The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, A Flea in Her Ear by Georges Feydeau and the world premiere of Melancholy Play: a new chamber musical by Sarah Ruhl with music by Todd Almond. For more information, call the box office at (401) 351-4242 or visit Trinity Rep's website at www.trinityrep.com.

Pictured: Brian McEleney. Artwork Michael Guy.

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