Silver Spring Stage presents THE GLASS MENAGERIE 9/11-10/4

Silver Spring Stage presents The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams - directed by Laurie Freed and produced by Jerry Schuchman - the classic American memory play of illusion and escape, which spins a beautiful lyrical ode of the fateful Wingfield family with a faded past and hopeful prospect for the future. The Glass Menagerie will perform weekends September 11 to October 4.

Silver Spring Stage is located in the Woodmoor Shopping Center, lower level (next to the CVS) at Colesville Road and University Boulevard. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors/students. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sunday matinees on September 20 and October 4 at 2:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.ssstage.org.

Information is also available by calling (301) 593-6036.

The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams found his first great success by mining the memory of his own family - a formula he would use in most of his great works - in The Glass Menagerie. Williams first conceived of the play as a screenplay based on several short stories he wrote inspired by his sister Rose. The screenplay was rejected, so he turned it into a play first entitled "The Gentleman Caller" and subsequently renamed The Glass Menagerie for its first performance in Chicago in 1944. Williams continued to work on the play until its New York opening in March 1945 with the legendary Broadway actress Laurette Taylor. It won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. There are strong family parallels in the play. The ill Laura, whose nickname in the play is Blue Roses, echos Williams' own sister Rose who was schizophrenic. Rose was later lobotomized by their parents, which Tennessee never forgave and remained close to his sister throughout her life. Tom is Tennessee's actual first name. And Amanda evokes his mother. Though written more than a half century ago, the turbulent story of confused love and hope laced with regret and fear remain as vibrant as when it originated on stage. Haunted by abandoning his sister, the character Tom brings the ghosts of the story to life. Yet, it is not all sadness as that gothic Southern humor is throughout the play. Williams was known for laughing at moments during the play. As Tom says in the play: "Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion." The Glass Menagerie will touch audiences magically with laughter and heartbreak.

Set in St. Louis, the play is introduced to the audience by Tom (David Dieudonné) as a memory play, based on his recollection of his mother Amanda (Leah Mazade) and his sister Laura (Allison Galen). Tom works in a warehouse, doing his best to support them. Yet, he is restless with his boredom and longs to escape like his father did, whose portrait is in the apartment. He spends much of his spare time going to the movies at all hours of the night. Amanda is obsessed with finding a suitor for Laura, who spends most of her time with her glass menagerie collection. Tom eventually brings Jim (Skylar Sanders) home for dinner at the insistence of his mother, who hopes Jim will be the long-awaited suitor for Laura. Laura realizes that Jim is the man she loved in high school and has thought of ever since. He dashes her hopes, telling her that he is already engaged, and then leaves. Tom leaves too, and never returns to see his family again. However, he still remembers his sister, Laura. The haunting beauty of this play will be a shining memory for audiences.

The prThe production team includes Nancy Lark (Assistant Director/Stage Manager), Eric Henry (Set Design/Set Construction), Peter Caress (Light Design), Kenny Neal (Sound Design), Sandy Eggleston (Costume Design), Eric Henry (Set Construction), Margie Henry (Props Design), Joan Rosenboom (Set Dressing), Anna Britton (Scenic Painter) and Clare Palace (Special Effects/Projections).

The Stage's 2009-2010 "Appearances Can Be Deceiving!" season continues with the surprising The Goat or Who is Sylvia? (Oct. 30-Nov. 22), the holiday family show The Little Princess (Dec. 4-Dec. 20), the thriller Death and the Maiden (Jan. 15-Feb. 7), the hilarious mystery Die, Mommie, Die! (Mar. 5-Mar. 28), the moving Rabbit Hole (Apr. 16-May 9), the enchanting Pygmalion (June 4-June 27), and the provocative Fat Pig and (July 16-Aug. 8)

About Silver Spring Stage

Silver Spring Stage has provided quality, affordable theatre for over 40 years. We are an all-volunteer, non- profit organization and appreciate any contribution to enable us to offer excellent and entertaining productions. Thank you for your interest and support of Silver Spring Stage. All programs at Silver Spring Stage are made possible in part by grants from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Maryland State Arts Council.
Website: http://www.ssstage.org