The Hope Players have announced a cast that includes three newcomers to the group for their upcoming production of Tennessee Williams’ classic drama, “The Glass Menagerie, “ which will be presented Feb. 29 and March 1 at 7:30 p.m. and March 2 at 2 p.m. at Harrison-Hopedale Elementary School.
The play is directed by Charles Calabrese of Wintersville. Hope Players Executive Director Andrew Pelegreen III of Hopedale is executive producer.
“The Glass Menagerie” is described by Williams as a “memory play.” It is a memory of the Wingfield family living in a tenement apartment in St. Louis, in the late 1930s. The memories are those of the son, Tom, as he describes the efforts of his mother, Amanda, to find a man for her extremely shy and slightly disabled daughter, Laura. To this end, she enlists Tom to bring home a co-worker, Jim O’Connor, to meet Laura.
Pete Fernbaugh of Avella, Pa. is making his Hope Players debut in the role of Tom Wingfield. Fernbaugh has appeared in productions at the Towngate Theatre (”The Left Hand of Justice,” “The Christmas Carol Radio Show” and “Run for Your Wife”), the Brooke Hills Playhouse (”A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Sgt. Fenshaw of the Mounties” and “Rumors”) and West Liberty State College (”Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”).
Also appearing on the Hope Players’ stage for the first time is Rebecca Bratten of Hopedale, who will play the part of Amanda Wingfield. Bratten has appeared in Shakespeare Society and Agora Players productions in Chapel Hill, N.C., including “The Madwoman of Chaillot” and “Twelfth Night” and directed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
A third cast member working with the players for the first time is Brendan Weiss of Hopedale. Weiss will portray Jim O’Connor, the gentleman caller of the play, His past theatrical experience includes a number of high school productions in acting and technical capacities.
A Hope Players veteran at the age of 16, Elizabeth Gray of Hopedale will play the part of Laura Wingfield. The versatile Gray, who also designed the set for “The Glass Menagerie,” has performed in Hope Players productions of “The Orphan Train,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Peter Pan,” “Lost in Yonkers,” “Little Women,” “The Sound of Music” and “The Da Vinci Dupas.” She also served as set designer for “Peter Pan.”
Two other Hope Players veterans, Cerra Atkins and Christopher Gray, both of Hopedale, are cast as standbys for the male and female roles in “The Glass Menagerie.” Standbys do not perform unless a regular cast member becomes ill or incapacitated. Atkins, who also serves as assistant director-stage manager, is the standby for Amanda and Laura. She was seen previously in Hope Players productions of “The Wizard of Oz,” “Little Women” and “The Da Vinci Dupas” and was choreographer for “The Sound of Music.”
Christopher Gray is the sound designer for “The Glass Menagerie,” in addition to being the standby for Tom and Jim. He has appeared in Hope Players productions of “The Orphan Train,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Peter Pan,” “Lost in Yonkers” and “The Da Vinci Dupas.” He also has worked behind the scenes on a number of productions.
Advance tickets for “The Glass Menagerie” are available from any cast member or at the Hopedale Municipal Building Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. or by calling 740-937-2208 or 740-937-2629. Tickets also will be sold at the door.
