The Department of Theatre at Hope College will present “The Glass Menagerie” on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16 and 17, and Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 22-24, at 7:30 p.m., with an additional free matinee on Sunday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m. All performances will be in the DeWitt Center main theatre.
Directed by department chair Daina Robins, “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams tells the story of the Wingfield family. Recalled through the eyes of Tom, the memory play shares the story of his mother, Amanda, and his sister, Laura. As a young girl, Amanda was a fêted debutante with a life of comfort and admiration. Amanda now worries especially about the future of her daughter. As an extremely shy 23-year-old, Laura has yet to find a suitor. Instead, she spends most of her time quietly arranging her glass animals. Tom is a writer who feels trapped in a dead-end warehouse job and dreams of a more adventurous life. As each escapes into a personal “glass menagerie” the play provides a glimpse into a family that is desperate to break free of the burdens of its past and present.
“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work on this great American classic,” Robins said. “It is a beautifully written play, and we are fortunate to have Jean Bahle, an adjunct professor in our department, play Amanda, the matriarch of the Wingfield family. Jean is a wonderful role model for our students in terms of professional discipline, openness, and generosity. And she is a marvelous actor.”
In addition to Robins, the production team includes faculty members Michelle Bombe as costume designer, Perry Landes as lighting and sound designer, and Richard Smith as scenic and properties designer. Staff members Paul Anderson and Darlene Veenstra serve as technical director and costume shop manager. Sophomore Makeya Royer of Boston, Massachusetts, is serving as stage manager with first-year student Peter Hayward of Beaverton, Oregon, as assistant stage manager. Sophomore Gracen Barth of Dallas, Texas, is assistant dramaturg.
In addition to Bahle, the cast includes sophomore Maxwell Lam of Holland, junior Shanley Smith of Holland and sophomore Jacob Starr of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Tickets are $10 for regular admission, and $7 for senior citizens, Hope faculty and staff. Tickets are free for Hope College students and children 18 and under, and are available at the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.).
The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at 616-395-7890. Patrons may purchase tickets in person, online or by calling the ticket office.
The DeWitt Center is located at 141 E. 12th St., facing Columbia Avenue between 10th and 13th streets.