The Players Theatre News www.theplayers.org
838 North Tamiami Trail • Sarasota, FL 34236 • 941.365.2494 Fax: 941.954.0282
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 22, 2014
THE PLAYERS THEATRE HOUSES TENNESSEE WILLIAMS’
MASTERPIECE “THE GLASS MENAGERIE”
Sarasota, FL — Beginning October 2nd, The Players Theatre, in conjunction with Two Chairs Theatre Company, is proud to be presenting the poetic masterpiece The Glass Menagerie—Tennessee Williams’ iconic play. Directed by Elliott Raines, The Glass Menagerie will run for two weeks–Thursday through Sunday–with evening performances at 7:30 (Th-Sat) and matinee performances at 2pm on Sundays. Two Chairs Theatre Company is the brainchild of Elliott Raines with its motto, “Give us two chairs and we’ll give you great theatre” and strives for quality no-frills, professional adaptations of prominent theatrical literature. The Glass Menagerie is a classic play of great tenderness, charm and beauty that reveals the inner lives of a southern belle past her prime with her two grown children. The arrival of a gentleman caller sends shockwaves through the family and causes cracks to form in the delicate fantasies that have made their lives bearable.
The show is also lead by Assistant Director, Donna DeFant, with Stage Manager, Patty Snyder-Atkins. Lynne Doyle will play main character Amanda Wingfield. Dylan Jones will play Tom Wingfield, Amanda’s son. Lauren Ward will play the fragile Laura Wingfield, Amanda’s daughter and Tom’s sister. Joshua Brin will play Jim O’Connor, the gentleman caller that disrupts their placid existence. Costumes will be handled by Kaylene McCaw with a set designed by Elliott Raines.
A “memory play” performed by four characters, The Glass Menagerie first premiered in Chicago in 1944 and catapulted Tennessee Williams from obscurity to one of America’s most highly regarded playwrights. Despite its shaky start, critics lauded the play, which cultivated audiences enough to move the play to Broadway where it won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1945. Being Williams’ first successful play, it is largely autobiographical, featuring characters based upon people within Williams’ own life. The play had its basis on an earlier short story and screenplay Williams had previously written entitled The Gentleman Caller. Undergoing countless film, radio and television adaptations over the years, The Glass Menagerie was revived on Broadway in 2013 to stellar reviews and will now bejewel Sarasota’s artistic crown this season at The Players Theatre.
Director Elliott Raines comments about the play, “The Glass Menagerie just so happened to be the first major success of Tennessee Williams’ career. This ‘memory play’ transports us into his semi-autobiographical world where desire and reality clash, where hope and dreams fall to the harsh exigencies of depressive reality.” Dylan Jones, who plays Tom Wingfield, describes his role, “It is such an honor to bring to life such an iconic character in such an iconic play. I hope that patrons are encouraged to see the show not just on the premise of its own literary renown, but also as a portrait of the people in Tennessee Williams’ life—a window into his world.”
This literary classic is commonly assigned as part of an English or Theatre curriculum, so anyone 12 and up should be able to identify with this onstage drama.
Students under 18 and teachers with a valid school ID receive a special $12 ticket rate.
Run Dates/Times:
Oct 2-4; 9-11 – 7:30pm
Oct 5 & 12 – 2:00pm Matinee
Tickets:
$30 Premium seating (rows A-E)
$25 Regular seating (all others)
$12 Children (18 and under) & Teachers with a valid ID
Cast:
Amanda Wingfield – Lynne Doyle
Tom Wingfield – Dylan Jones
Laura Wingfield – Lauren Ward
Jim O’Connor – Joshua Brin
The Players Theatre
838 N. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota FL 34236, 941-365-2494, Fax: 941-954-0282
www.theplayers.org. Box Office: Mon-Sat, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and one hour prior to curtain time.
The Players Box Office is located on Tamiami Trail between 10th Street and Blvd. of the Arts.
The Players Theatre
838 N Tamiami Trail
Sarasota FL 34236
