The Aquinas College Theatre Program Announces the Third Production of their 2006-2007
Season: A 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Tennessee Williams Masterpiece "The
Glass Menagerie"
Published on
Grand Rapids, Michigan (January 18, 2007) - The Aquinas College Theatre Program presents
a 60th Anniversary production honoring Tennessee Williams鈥� masterwork, 鈥淭he Glass
Menagerie.鈥� 鈥淭he Glass Menagerie鈥� is one of the great classic dramas of the twentieth
century, and the play that signaled Tennessee Williams鈥� arrival on the world stage.
Directed by Guest Director in Residence, Dr. Paul J. Little and starring a special
guest appearance of Anthony Guest, Director of the Aquinas College Theatre Program
as The Narrator, the outstanding cast also includes Nadia Andrus as Amanda, Patrick
Earl as Tom, Anne Tensen as Laura, and Adam Woolsey as Jim.
For this production, Director Paul Little has moved the time of the play from the 1930s to 1961 St. Louis. Set in the period just prior to the escalation of the war in Vietnam, Little hopes to expose the dissonant undertones present in this semi-autobiographical look at the early life of author, Tennessee Williams. "The Glass Menagerie" is a heartbreaking yet often funny "memory play" told from the perspective of Tom Wingfield. Moving through the bars and sex shops of a large city, the play鈥檚 narrator takes the audience back to a time when America was about to become more deeply involved in an un-popular war. It was a time when many young people were revolting against the establishment and the Bay of Pigs had exposed our national vulnerability. The play reveals a family desperate to break free of the burdens of their past and their present. Tom's mother, Amanda has been abandoned by her husband, and now lives only for her children. His unmarried sister, Laura, is a fragile and painfully shy creature who retreats into a world of glass animals and Tom himself is torn between his need for personal adventure and the responsibility of supporting his mother and sister. Each attempts to escape into their own personal "glass menagerie" as a means of eluding the pain of their own - and each other's - existence.
鈥淲e are fortunate to have Dr. Little bring to life this unique approach to 鈥楾he Glass Menagerie.鈥� He has a truly passionate take on this classic of the American theatre and we are pleased to be bringing his vision to our audiences. With an extraordinary cast and design team, this should be a menagerie to be remembered for years to come!鈥� said Anthony Guest, Director of the Aquinas College Theatre program.
鈥淭he Glass Menagerie鈥� will open on Thursday, February 15 and run through February 25. Performances for 鈥淭he Glass Menagerie鈥� will be Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sunday, February 25 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $4 for students, $6 for faculty, staff, seniors and Marywood seniors. There will be a Talk-Back Dialog with the director and members of the cast on Friday, February 23 immediately following the performance. For tickets, call the Aquinas College Theatre Box Office after January 29 from noon to 5 p.m. at (616) 456-6656.
About The Creative Team
Dr. Paul J. Little (Director) is an award-winning director from Southern California. He is a recipient of the 鈥淓xcellence in Theatre 鈥� award from the Southern California Educational Theatre Association and the 鈥淥utstanding Contribution to Southern California Theatre鈥� award from the Inland Empire Theatre League. He was the founder and Artistic Director of Camelot Productions, a Southern California regional theatre. He was the chairperson of the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Redlands and Dean of Fine and Performing Arts at Cypress College. The following examples of plays he has directed evidence the broad spectrum of his theatre interest: 鈥淥thello,鈥� 鈥淭he Firebugs,鈥� 鈥淲aiting for Godot,鈥� 鈥淭he Killer,鈥� 鈥淎 Flea in Her Ear,鈥� 鈥淢y Fair Lady,鈥� 鈥淎ntigone,鈥� 鈥淭he Visit,鈥� 鈥淭welfth Night,鈥� 鈥滾ysisrata,鈥� 鈥淏arefoot in the Park,鈥� 鈥漌ho鈥檚 Afraid of Virginia Woolf,鈥� 鈥淭he Fantasticks,鈥� 鈥淎 Member of the Wedding,鈥� 鈥淎belard and Heloise,鈥� 鈥淎 Man for All Seasons,鈥� and 鈥淐yrano.鈥� Two of the productions he directed, 鈥淭he Dinning Room鈥� and 鈥淎gnus of God,鈥� were selected for special recognition by The American College Theatre Festival. He has a Ph.D. in Humanities from Syracuse University and a certificate from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.
The producer of 鈥淭he Glass Menagerie鈥� has assembled an award-winning design team. The set design is by James Korf. The lighting design is by Catie Dreher. William Dunkel is the costume designer and the Technical Director is Don Wilson. The Stage Manager for this production is Aquinas College Sophomore Theatre student, Stephanie Cavalier.
The Aquinas College Theatre Program is dedicated to bringing the finest-quality college theatrical productions to Grand Rapids. The theatre is located on the Aquinas College campus, 1607 Robinson Road, Grand Rapids, MI. For further information, call (616) 632-2158.
For this production, Director Paul Little has moved the time of the play from the 1930s to 1961 St. Louis. Set in the period just prior to the escalation of the war in Vietnam, Little hopes to expose the dissonant undertones present in this semi-autobiographical look at the early life of author, Tennessee Williams. "The Glass Menagerie" is a heartbreaking yet often funny "memory play" told from the perspective of Tom Wingfield. Moving through the bars and sex shops of a large city, the play鈥檚 narrator takes the audience back to a time when America was about to become more deeply involved in an un-popular war. It was a time when many young people were revolting against the establishment and the Bay of Pigs had exposed our national vulnerability. The play reveals a family desperate to break free of the burdens of their past and their present. Tom's mother, Amanda has been abandoned by her husband, and now lives only for her children. His unmarried sister, Laura, is a fragile and painfully shy creature who retreats into a world of glass animals and Tom himself is torn between his need for personal adventure and the responsibility of supporting his mother and sister. Each attempts to escape into their own personal "glass menagerie" as a means of eluding the pain of their own - and each other's - existence.
鈥淲e are fortunate to have Dr. Little bring to life this unique approach to 鈥楾he Glass Menagerie.鈥� He has a truly passionate take on this classic of the American theatre and we are pleased to be bringing his vision to our audiences. With an extraordinary cast and design team, this should be a menagerie to be remembered for years to come!鈥� said Anthony Guest, Director of the Aquinas College Theatre program.
鈥淭he Glass Menagerie鈥� will open on Thursday, February 15 and run through February 25. Performances for 鈥淭he Glass Menagerie鈥� will be Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sunday, February 25 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $4 for students, $6 for faculty, staff, seniors and Marywood seniors. There will be a Talk-Back Dialog with the director and members of the cast on Friday, February 23 immediately following the performance. For tickets, call the Aquinas College Theatre Box Office after January 29 from noon to 5 p.m. at (616) 456-6656.
About The Creative Team
Dr. Paul J. Little (Director) is an award-winning director from Southern California. He is a recipient of the 鈥淓xcellence in Theatre 鈥� award from the Southern California Educational Theatre Association and the 鈥淥utstanding Contribution to Southern California Theatre鈥� award from the Inland Empire Theatre League. He was the founder and Artistic Director of Camelot Productions, a Southern California regional theatre. He was the chairperson of the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Redlands and Dean of Fine and Performing Arts at Cypress College. The following examples of plays he has directed evidence the broad spectrum of his theatre interest: 鈥淥thello,鈥� 鈥淭he Firebugs,鈥� 鈥淲aiting for Godot,鈥� 鈥淭he Killer,鈥� 鈥淎 Flea in Her Ear,鈥� 鈥淢y Fair Lady,鈥� 鈥淎ntigone,鈥� 鈥淭he Visit,鈥� 鈥淭welfth Night,鈥� 鈥滾ysisrata,鈥� 鈥淏arefoot in the Park,鈥� 鈥漌ho鈥檚 Afraid of Virginia Woolf,鈥� 鈥淭he Fantasticks,鈥� 鈥淎 Member of the Wedding,鈥� 鈥淎belard and Heloise,鈥� 鈥淎 Man for All Seasons,鈥� and 鈥淐yrano.鈥� Two of the productions he directed, 鈥淭he Dinning Room鈥� and 鈥淎gnus of God,鈥� were selected for special recognition by The American College Theatre Festival. He has a Ph.D. in Humanities from Syracuse University and a certificate from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.
The producer of 鈥淭he Glass Menagerie鈥� has assembled an award-winning design team. The set design is by James Korf. The lighting design is by Catie Dreher. William Dunkel is the costume designer and the Technical Director is Don Wilson. The Stage Manager for this production is Aquinas College Sophomore Theatre student, Stephanie Cavalier.
The Aquinas College Theatre Program is dedicated to bringing the finest-quality college theatrical productions to Grand Rapids. The theatre is located on the Aquinas College campus, 1607 Robinson Road, Grand Rapids, MI. For further information, call (616) 632-2158.