The Grand Theatre Announces THE GLASS MENAGERIE

The Grand Theatre is thrilled to produce Tennessee Williams' THE GLASS MENAGERIE on the McManus Stage. The production, directed by the Grand's Artistic Associate Megan Watson, stars Sarah Orenstein as Amanda Wingfield, Stephen Jackman-Torkoff as Tom Wingfield, Alexander Crowther as Jim O'Connor, and Amy Keating as Laura Wingfield. Nick Blais is the production designer and Christopher Stanton is the music and sound designer.

"THE GLASS MENAGERIE is considered one of the best plays in the English language canon because we cannot easily define why it commands our attention, why Tom's struggle gets lodged in our hearts," said Watson. "It's why I've always wanted to direct this play. Working with Production Designer Nick Blais, we decided to set this production in the round, on our McManus Stage. Audiences will be sitting a few feet from the actors, surrounded by the words of this incredible and moving play."

THE GLASS MENAGERIE was Tennessee Williams' first successful play. It premiered on Broadway on March 31, 1945 as the Second World War was drawing to a close and at a time when Americans were hungry for fresh artistic perspectives. Winning the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and playing to sold-out houses, THE GLASS MENAGERIE catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame and signaled his future as one of the greatest playwrights in American theatre.

The play reveals the tragic story of the Wingfield family in 1945 St. Louis. Amanda Wingfield is a single mother; her husband abandoned the family years before. She is no longer living the life she dreamed of as a young Southern belle. Her son Tom works in a warehouse, setting aside his own ambitions to support his family. Her daughter Laura is achingly shy. The three of them live in a small apartment and are haunted by fantasies, pent-up rage, and the absence of Amanda's husband. Amanda's only hope is for a suitor for Laura to bring glory back to the family.

"One of the great offerings of the Grand is this wonderful space, the McManus Stage," said the Grand's Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum. "In striking contrast to the opulent Spriet Stage upstairs, the McManus is a highly transform­able theatre designed for intimate experiences: perfect for a theatre classic like THE GLASS MENAGERIE."

THE GLASS MENAGERIE is on at the Grand Theatre McManus Stage from April 3 to 14, 2018; opening night is April 4. Tickets are $40 (includes HST and CIF - prices subject to change) and are available at grandtheatre.com, by phone at 519-672-8800, or at the Box Office, 471 Richmond Street.

The Grand Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of the 2017/18 Season Sponsor BMO Financial Group.

About the Grand Theatre:
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum and Executive Director Deb Harvey, the Grand is a leading cultural hub proudly located in the heart of downtown London, Ontario. The Grand offers diverse, relevant, and original stories from around the globe through collaborations with national and international performing arts organizations and is committed to developing, producing, and premiering original homegrown stories through COMPASS New Play Development Program. The Grand supports educational programming and youth mentorship through The High School Project, the only program of its kind in North America, and 100 Schools, a community initiative that brings professional theatre to London-area schools no cost. A not-for-profit regional theatre, the Grand produces and presents professional theatre on two stages: the Spriet Stage (839 seats) and the McManus Stage (144 seats). The Grand's season runs from September to May.

To post a comment, you must register and login.