Caitlin Hart plays the part of Laura in Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie,” opening this Friday in Billings.
“The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams, one of the most celebrated plays in American history, will open a three-weekend run Friday night in the Black Box at NOVA Center for the Performing Arts, 2317 Montana Ave.
The play will be presented by Yellowstone Repertory Theatre, Billings’ only professional repertory company.
“’The Glass Menagerie’ is the kind of play we love to do,”Artistic Director Craig Huisenga said. “It has challenging roles for actors, rich language, and is both funny and heartbreaking. We’re looking forward to sharing this American classic with Billings audiences.”
The Yellowstone Rep Artistic Ensemble features founders Dina Brophy as Amanda and Caitlin Hart as Laura, Chas Llewellyn as Tom, and Daniel Nickerson as Jim, the Gentleman Caller. Hart and Nickerson were seen most recently in Yellowstone Rep’s debut production of “Doubt, A Parable” by John Patrick Shanley. Llewellyn has appeared in many stage productions in Billings and is the leader of the Projectile Comedy Improv Troupe.
“The Glass Menagerie” tells the story of Tom Wingfield, his mother, Amanda, and his sister, Laura. It’s a memory play. Tom speaks directly to the audience and shows us the events that led him to leave his family in St. Louis and follow in the footsteps of his absent father, “a telephone man who fell in love with long distance.”
“Menagerie” was Williams’ first successful play. After premiering in Chicago in 1944, it won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play in 1945. Since then, there have been many successful stage revivals, two film versions and two television adaptations.
It is one of those plays that is probably always being produced somewhere in the world. Famous American actors who have appeared in stage or screen versions include Katherine Hepburn, Joanne Woodward, Kirk Douglas, John Malkovich, Hal Holbrook, Maureen Stapleton, Jessica Tandy, Jessica Lange and Sally Field.
Sets for this production will be designed by Robert Gunderson, with costumes by Leah Ford, lighting by Davison Schanno and sound by Ryan Gage. Original music was composed by Billings violinist and teacher Lauren Carr.
The show opens Friday, March 2, and will run through Saturday, March 17. Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m., with one Sunday matinee on March 11, at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $22 for adults and $15 for students. Discounts are available for buyers of Season Tickets, Flex Passes and groups of eight or more, or student groups of 10 or more. For tickets or more information, visit the company’s website. Tickets can also be bought at the door or by calling 1-800-838-3006.
