Act II Playhouse to Present THE GLASS MENAGERIE, 10/28-11/23

Act II Playhouse in Ambler presents the American classic The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, directed by Barrymore Award-winning director James J. Christy. Performances begin Oct. 28 and run through Nov. 23.

The Glass Menagerie features a quartet of Philadelphia's most acclaimed and beloved actors. Carla Belver, the recipient of the Barrymore's 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award, portrays the iconic role of Amanda Wingfield. Charlie DelMarcelle, who is nominated for two 2014 Barrymore Awards, stars as her son, Tom. Amanda Schoonover plays her daughter, Laura, and Sean Bradley plays the Gentleman Caller.

"The Glass Menagerie - especially with this amazing team of artists - will be a unique and intense experience in our intimate theatre," said Artistic Director Tony Braithwaite. "My hope is that Williams' language, and the play as a whole, will resonate in fresh and deliberate ways."

This semi-autobiographical family drama is one of Tennessee Williams' masterpieces, a stunning play full of longing and poetry. Set in Saint Louis during the depression, The Glass Menagerie is narrated by Tom, a writer who works in a dead-end warehouse job but dreams of escape and adventure. The play's story focuses around Amanda's attempt to find a suitable husband for Laura, her daughter who escapes to a dream-world of her beautiful but fragile menagerie of glass animals.

Tickets for The Glass Menagerie at Act II Playhouse are $24-$35. Discounts are available for subscribers, students, group of 10 or more, and seniors (65+). Tickets are available online at http://www.act2.org, by calling the Act II box office at (215) 654-0200, or in person at 56 E. Butler Ave. in Ambler.

Christy, himself a former winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, intends to honor Williams' production note to present the play "with unusual freedom of convention." Lighting and sound design choices will help the audience get inside the heads of the family members.

The design team reunites Christy with many of the artists who created last season's smash Act II hit The Woman in Black. Daniel Boylen is the scenic designer; Frankie Fehr is the costume designer; and Jim Leitner is the lighting designer. John Stovicek is new to this team, serving as the sound designer.

"I'm elated that once again Act II can showcase the work of some of the very best of the area's theatre professionals," Braithwaite said.