Tennessee Williams’ Classic Epic Tale “The Glass Menagerie” Opens at Memorial Opera House, June 13th

rot1This semi-autobiographical tale by novelist Tennessee Williams is the latest production in The Memorial Opera House’s 2014 theater season. The historic downtown Valparaiso venue, located at 104 East Indiana Avenue, was built in 1893 to honor fallen Union Army Civil War Veterans and offers intimate performances coupled with state of the art production.

The Glass Menagerie first premiered in 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame. The play has strong autobiographical elements, featuring characters based on Williams himself, his histrionic mother, and his real life mentally fragile sister. In writing the play, Williams drew on an earlier short story and screenplay he had written titled, The Gentleman Caller.

Williams' shattering classic tells the tale of Amanda Wingfield, an aging Southern Belle who longs for her youth and dreams of a better life for her children. Her restless son Tom (Williams’ real name is Thomas) is a would-be poet who narrates the story of how he gets swept up in his mother's funny and heartbreaking schemes to find his painfully shy sister, Laura, a suitor or, as she puts it, “a gentleman caller.”

A drop out of both high school and a secretarial course, Laura’s acute shyness makes her a virtual recluse who wiles away her hours sitting at home with her collection of little glass animals. Pressed by his mother to help find a man for his sister, Tom invites a work acquaintance home for dinner who just happens to be the same boy Laura was attracted to in high school years earlier.

The Glass Menagerie enjoyed a 2013 Broadway revival and remains one of America’s most popular stage dramas. The Opera House promises an imaginative take on this beautiful tale.

Performances: Fridays June 13, 20, and 27 / Saturdays June 14, 21, and 28 / Sundays June 15, 22, and 29. Performances are 8:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:00 p.m. Sundays.

TICKETS: Adults $21, seniors (57+) $18, students and military (with valid ID) $18. Group rates are available by contacting the Memorial Opera House box office at (219) 548-9137.

The Memorial Opera House in downtown Valparaiso at 104 East Indiana Avenue has stood as a beacon for the Arts for 120 years and is a regional treasure. View photos, a video and learn more by visiting our website: www.memorialoperahouse.com.