THE GLASS MENAGERIE Opens Soon at The Players Guild of Leonia

A classic of the American theatre, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a deeply touching play of poetic beauty. The story follows the trials and tribulations of the Wingfield family as it struggles to survive the Great Depression in a one bedroom, back alley apartment in St, Louis, MO. Tom, a restless dreamer, yearns to break free from a dead end job and his domineering mother, Amanda. However, he is torn by the thought of abandoning his emotionally fragile sister, Laura, a recluse hiding behind her collection
of glass figurines.

The Glass Menagerie is the second main stage production of the 97th season of The
Players Guild of Leonia, one of the longest continuously active community theatre
groups in the country. It will run from January 13 to January 29 of 2017, with
performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm at the Civil War Drill
Hall Theatre, 130 Grand Avenue, Leonia, NJ 07605.

Purchase your tickets now online at www.leoniaplayers.org or by phone at
201-947-9606.

First produced on Broadway in 1945, The Glass Menagerie has since become a
beloved favorite for generations of theatre audiences. Autobiographical in nature, the
play merited Tennessee Williams a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best
American Play and propelled the young playwright to instant fame.

"This play has such a big heart!" says Michael Wurl, director. "It glows with love," he
continues. "Tennessee Williams wrote it for his sister and, he poured his soul into it. And
I think that's why it has endured for so long and is produced year after year. We not
only identify with the characters, but we deeply empathize with them. Whether it's
laughter or tears, we immediately feel, on a very deep level, our own family experiences
through the Wingfields.

The ensemble cast includes Cheryl Crabtree Woertz (Alpine, N.J.) as the mother,
Amanda Wingfield, Dan Giordano (Leonia, N.J.) as the son, Tom Wingfield, Alison Miller
(Leonia, N.J.) as the daughter, Laura Wingfield and Chris Caira (Closter, N.J.) as Jim
O'Connor, the gentleman caller.

In addition, director Michael Wurl has honored Tennessee Williams' original request
for musical accompaniment to support the action on the stage. "Let there be music!"
sings Wurl. To help with this special demand, Wurl has enlisted the talents of local
musician and teacher, Michael Holak (Parsippany, N.J.) to compose a musical score for
the entire play, which he will perform live in the theatre on cello and piano during every
show. "We are so lucky to have Michael Holak adding his musical genius to this
production. It changes the whole mood of the play. Every moment is heightened by the
presence of music," says Wurl. Michael Holak is Director of the Strings Program at
Anna C. Scott Elementary School in Leonia, N.J. and at the Leonia Middle School. He
also is the Musical Director for the Leonia High School Theatre's Limelighters, Musical
Assistant to Summer Stage at Leonia and performs as a cellist in the Livingston
Symphony Orchestra of N.J.

The Players Guild is presenting Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie under
special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

The Players Guild of Leonia is one of the oldest community theatre groups in New
Jersey, and in the United States. Last year it was voted Best Place in New Jersey for
Non-Equity Theatre by the readers of New Jersey Stage Magazine.
The shows are presented in the historic Civil War Drill Hall Theatre at 130 Grand
Avenue in Leonia. The intimate 95 seat theatre lets the audience feel as though they
are in the middle of the onstage action.

Following The Glass Menagerie at the Players Guild will be Love, Loss & What I
Wore, February 24 - March 12 and Hair, May 5 - 21.

Tickets for The Glass Menagerie can be purchased online by visiting the Players
Guild website, www.leoniaplayers.org, and clicking on "Productions" or reserved by
calling 201-947-9606 and leaving a message. Tickets are $20 general admission, $18
for seniors and $10 for students with I.D.

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