OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Tennessee Williams’ classic drama The Glass Menagerie comes to life at Ocala Civic Theatre (OCT) from Nov. 7-24, 2024.
“When we say something is a classic, we mean it’s been around and been loved a long time, for good reason,” says Melody Murphy, Director of Marketing & Public Relations at OCT. “The Glass Menagerie is a classic because, at 80 years old, its theme of dreams is still timeless and has resonated in the hearts of audiences since its premiere in 1944. There’s something lovely and transcendent about this tale of four people with their dreams of bigger, better, different lives in the midst of dark times. Tennessee Williams told the story of his own family and early life through his characters, and when an author does that the tale is sure to ring true.”
The play follows the struggles of the Wingfield family in 1930s St. Louis: Amanda, a faded Southern belle; Tom, her frustrated son who dreams of being a poet; and Laura, his painfully shy sister who retreats into her collection of glass animals.
“At its heart, this play is a meditation on memory – how it shapes us, haunts us, and often distorts the past. My hope is that this production will resonate with you, not just as a reflection of a bygone era but also as a mirror to our own experiences with memory and regret.”
– Eb Madson, director of The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie is also close to the hearts of its cast, shares Murphy. “Our talented actors are passionate about this play, and it shows. The actor playing Tom said this role was the only one on his bucket list. Seeing this show for the first time made the actor playing Laura fall in love with theatre. The actor playing Amanda sees herself and her own devoted mother and grandmother in that character. Wanting more and better for your children is a near-universal experience of parenthood – maybe never more so than as a single mother during the Great Depression, like Amanda.”
Directed by Eb Madson, the production features Alexis Medina as Amanda, Mark Burdette as Tom, Hannah Brannon as Laura, and Caleb Lowe as Jim O’Connor, the “gentleman caller” who brings hope and heartbreak to the family.
“Even though these characters are flawed and often troubled, we still identify with them because of, not in spite of, their humanity,” explains Murphy. “I think audiences will see themselves and their own families in these people. It’s a deeply personal play that never fails to cast a spell.”
This award-winning memory play, which launched Williams’ career in 1944, will run for 15 performances, with shows on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $35 for adults and $17 for youth under 18. For tickets, visit ocalacivictheatre.com or call the box office at 352.236.2274. The show is rated PG.