The Glass Menagerie Program

The Glass Menagerie

BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

DIRECTED BY

LE E WIL SON

JANUARY 19 - 28 2024 ESSEX HALL THEATRE PRESENTED BY UNIVERSIT Y PL AYERS

UNIVERSITY PLAYERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR PRESENTS

The Glass Menagerie

BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS January 19-28, 2024 ESSEX HALL THEATRE

There will be one 15-minute intermission

DIRECTE D BY LE E WIL SON SET DESIGNER COSTUME DESIGNER LIGHTING DESIGNER SOUND DESIGNER SCENIC ARTIST INTIMACY DIRECTOR DANCE COACH

DAVID COURT AGATHA KNELSEN KIRSTEN WAT T DAVE GAUTHIER NANCY PERRIN ME AGHEN QUINN LOUISE PAQUET TE

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DIRECTOR ’S NOTES I first saw The Glass Menagerie when I was training to be an actor at Toronto Metropolitan University.

The production was starring Canadian acting icon Martha Henry as Amanda Wingfield, and the play was directed by Diana LeBlanc at The Tarragon Theatre. It would become a seminal moment in my career as an actor and director because it cemented and inspired the type of work I wanted to do. My connection to the characters was so real, and I was swept up in the nostalgic world created by Williams.

At the time, I didn’t realize it was an autobiographical play, but I could feel the longing, pain, and regret with such masterful use of memory and illusion that you knew this story was personal. The best plays are those where the story feels so personal that the simplicity of the writing evokes emotion in the human soul when we least expect it. The play becomes timeless because, no matter where and when it is performed, we as human beings can relate to it in our own way, on our own personal level.

One could say The Glass Menagerie is Tom’s story. He conjures up his audience to help him come to terms with his own past and the choices he has made. Yet another could argue that this play is very much about Laura, his sister. In the end, Williams has created four characters who are trying to escape reality and are ultimately victims of society and their own destructive forces.

Lee Wilson Director

CAST AIDAN ROBERTSON TOM WING FIE LD ALEX A DIMOUL AS AMANDA WING FIE LD, HIS MOTHER SEQUOIA COOPER L AU R A WING FIE LD, HIS SISTER JACK MEADOWS JIM O’CONNOR THE GENTLEMAN CALLER

SPECIAL THANKS Maggie Pinsonneault, for the glass unicorn used in our promotional photos with the cast Barker Builds, for fabricating the railings used on set

MEET THE CAST & CREW LEE WILSON - DIRECTOR Lee has had an international career as an actor, artistic director, director, dramaturg, and professor of acting and directing. He is currently training as an intimacy professional with Intimacy Directors & Coordinators in the United States (IDC) and is being certified as a Presence, Speech, and Voice coach with Patsy Rodenburg in England. For UP: Tinker Bell, If We Were Birds, A Woman of No Importance, Hedda Gabler, Picnic. Directing credits include: (Upcoming) Much Ado About Nothing, The Sweetest Thing. (Past) AFLAID (Edinburgh Fringe), Eurydice Project and East of Berlin (Project Arts Centre), Running with Dinosaurs (New Theatre), The Sea Brothers (O’Reilly Theatre), all in Dublin, Ireland. Mucking in the Drift (Sudbury Theatre Centre), Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night (Resurgence Theatre), Merry Wives of Windsor and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatre by the Bay).

Associate Director: A View from the Bridge (Gate Theatre, Dublin, Ireland) Assistant Director: The Who’s Tommy, The Tempest, As You Like It (Stratford), Rosmersholm, The Magic Fire, Arms and the Man (Shaw). Birmingham Conservatory and Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Directors (Stratford), Intern Director (Shaw), Inaugural Training Company (Soulpepper).

AIDAN ROBERTSON - TOM WINGFIELD Aidan Robertson is so excited for his fourth and final season with the University Players. Born and raised in the bustling city of Windsor, Ontario, he has been captivating audiences since his theatrical career began at the wee age of three, playing a rock in a production with his local library. Aidan is so thankful for his amazing friends and family for continuing supporting him throughout his work.

ALEX A DIMOUL AS - AMANDA WINGFIELD Alexa Dimoulas is absolutely thrilled to be a part of the University Players 65th season! Alexa is a 4th year BFA Acting student originally from Toronto, Ontario. Alexa is ecstatic about having another opportunity to perform on the Essex stage, catch her as Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie and Meg March in Little Women. She would love to thank her family, friends and professors for their constant support!

SEQUOIA COOPER - L AUR A WINGFIELD Originally from Brampton, Sequoia Cooper is in her 4th and final year of the BFA Acting program at the University of Windsor. She is extremely excited to be a part of the two University Players productions this 2023/2024 season. She made her University Players debut in the production of Mac Beth, playing the role of Macduff. She is thrilled to be playing the role of Laura Wingfield in Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie.

JACK MEADOWS - JIM O’CONNOR Jack is a 4th year BFA student excited to take on the role of Jim O’Connor. Previously appearing as Ensemble in 365 Days/365 Plays in 2023, it is his second time on the magnificent Essex Hall Theatre stage. He loves his parents very much. Catch his next performance in Little Women this March, playing the role of Laurie.

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MEET THE CAST & CREW NATASHA FISHMAN - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Natasha is super excited to return to University Players for her third and final season! She will be playing Macbeth in Mac Beth and Sandra/Florence Colleymoore in The Play That Goes Wrong. She is especially grateful to work in the costume shop this season as well as Assistant Direct The Glass Menagerie.

She would like to thank her professors, mentors, friends and family for their continuous support and guidance.

K YLIE VIOLETTE - STAGE MANAGER Kylie is a 4th year dramatic arts student involved in many UP productions this season. This is her third time stage managing a production and she is so grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside such an empowering cast and crew. She expresses sincere gratitude to all those, family and friends, who supported her through the stresses and rewards of this production.

CHLOE BRESCIA - ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Chloe is in her fourth year of the Concurrent Education and Drama program and this is her third season with University Players and is delighted to be part of the stage management team for The Glass Menagerie. Her most recent theatrical credit was her work as the stage manager for Lionel Walsh’s production of Almost, Maine.

“I’d like to send a tremendous thank you to my support system. I am who I am because of your love.”

DAVID COURT - SET DESIGNER David Court holds a BA (Honours) in Drama from the University of Windsor and is a graduate of The Hilberry Repertory Company in Detroit. He received his MFA in Scenic Design from Wayne State University and received a Certificate in Scenic Design from Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia. David has also designed scenery for The Bonstelle Theatre, Hilberry Theatre, The Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Sudbury Theatre Centre, Port Stanley Festival Theatre, The Chrysler Theatre and The Capitol Theatre. David teaches Scene Painting for the Theatre, Drawing for the Theatre, Rendering for the Theatre, Scenic Design and Studies in Design.

AGATHA KNELSEN - COSTUME DESIGNER Agatha is a proud alum of the University of Windsor, having graduated with a BA in Drama. She worked in professional theatre for over a dozen years before returning to play dress up for a living here.

Favourite designs include Les Liaisons Dangereuses (University of Windsor), Evita (Drayton Theatre), Pirates of Penzance (St. Jacob’s Theatre), The Boyfriend (Huron Country Playhouse), Jesus Christ Superstar (Chrysler Theatre), Pelagie (St. Clair College). Of her professional achievements, Agatha lists first that she still loves what she does for a living. Having designed well over 100 productions, each one has helped remind her how incredibly blessed she is to do what she does.

KIRSTEN WATT - LIGHTING DESIGNER Kirsten’s previous designs for University Players include: 365 Days/365 Plays, Beauty and the Beast, Othello, God of Carnage, The Penelopiad, Journey’s End, A Streetcar Named Desire, Mr. Burns, Big Love, The Dining Room, Lion in the Streets, and The Crucible. Elsewhere, Kirsten has designed lighting for: the Shaw Festival, Drayton Entertainment, the Segal, Centaur, Rideau Vert, Neptune, Watermark, Gros Morne Theatre Festival, Sudbury Theatre Centre, Magnus, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Green Light Arts, Carousel Players, Hart House, George Brown and Sheridan.

Kirsten attained her Bachelor of Arts (Drama) from the University of Alberta, and specialized in lighting design at the National Theatre School of Canada.

VALERIE BONASSO - PROPS MASTER Valerie Bonasso is graduate of the University of Windsor School of Dramatic Art earning a BA. She has also recently earned an MBA from the Odette School of Business which included an internship at the Cirque du Soleil HQ in Montreal. Valerie was a founding Artistic Partner with Breathe Art Theatre Project, a critically acclaimed cross-border theatre company. Directing credits for Breathe Art: True West and Hedwig and The Angry Inch; for Korda Artistic Productions: She Kills Monsters. She has also worked as the Crew Supervisor for The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor – working with such acts as Billy Joel & Celine Dion. Valerie is also currently the resident Stage Manager for the St Clair Music Theatre Program.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Saturday, February 3, 2024, 7:30pm SoCA Jazz Faculty Concert at the Capitol Theatre Featuring Shahida Nurullah, Mike Karloff, Mike Palazzolo, Bob Fazecash, Steve Wood, Miles Finlayson and Nicholas Papador Visit the Capitol Theatre Website for tickets: www.capitoltheatrewindsor.ca

IN THE COMMUNITY

COMING SOON

THEATRE POLICIES THEATRE POLICIES LATECOMERS are seated at a suitable break in the performance and at the discretion of the House Manager. Please refrain from leaving your seat during the performance as patrons leaving the theatre during the performance will be reseated at the house manager’s discretion.

CAMERAS AND CELLULAR PHONES must be turned off during the entire performance.

WATCH AND PHONE ALARMS and the SOUND OF CANDY WRAPPERS are distracting. We ask that all chimes, alarms or notifications be turned off and patrons refrain from unwrapping candies during the performance.

We ask that you be considerate of those in the audience who might have ALLERGIES TO COLOGNE AND PERFUME. FOOD AND BEVERAGES are not permitted in the theatre. Patrons are asked to dispose of all garbage in the theatre lobby. Water is permitted in a sealed container.

University Players is sympathetic to those patrons who find SMOKING ON THE STAGE objectionable. In order to address audience concerns we make every effort to eliminate any smoking that is called for in a play script. Should smoking be absolutely necessary, every effort is made to curtail or modify the action, particularly by using prop cigarettes.

In the event of an EMERGENCY, the house lights will be turned on and you will hear a voice-recorded announcement in the theatre. Please follow the directions of the ushers and front of house personnel in the evacuation procedures of the theatre.

The photographing, videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production or distributing recordings on any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited.

We thank you for your patronage and co-operation.

SCHOOL OF DRAMATIC ART UNIVERSITY PLAYERS STAFF AND PRODUCTION CREW Technical Coordinator Dave Gauthier Master Carpenter Justin Yelle Head of Wardrobe Agatha Knelsen Marketing Coordinator Kristen Siapas Props Master and Scene Shop Coordinator Valerie Bonasso Scenic Designer/Artist Nancy Perrin Secretarial Staff Martha Boismier, Melissa Lewis Committee Co-Chair David Court, Lee Wilson FACULTY David Court, Director, School of Dramatic Art Professor Dr. Michelle MacArthur Professor Alice Nelson Professor Dr. Tina Pugliese Professor Meaghen Quinn Professor Esther Van Eek Professor Lionel Walsh Professor Lee Wilson SESSIONAL INSTRUCTORS & GUEST ARTISTS Dian Marie Bridge Laura Quigley Kelly Winney Mary Donohue Kirsten Watt Paula Wing Kerry Ann Doherty EMERITUS PROFESSORS Professor Emerita Dr. Erica Stevens Abbitt Professor Emerita Gina Lori Riley Professor Emerita Diana Mady Kelly Professor Emeritus William Pinnell Professor Emeritus Brian Rintoul Professor Emeritus Brian Taylor Professor Emeritus Bernie Warren

STUDENT PRODUCTION CREW STAGE MANAGER Kylie Violette ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Natasha Fishman ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS Chloe Brescia

Micah Franklin ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER Rose Malinowski WARDROBE SUPERVISORS Natasha Sangemino

Dominique Joslin WARDROBE SHADOW Ever Maracle-Moore STITCHERS Natasha Fishman

Natasha Sangemino WARDROBE CREW Sasha Taylor

Corrine Companion

Hayley Boydell SOUND OPERATOR Cam Giffin LIGHTING OPERATOR Maddison Williams RUNNING CREW Ethan Redfearn

Jenna Walton LIGHTING ASSISTANTS Hayley Boydell, Micah Franklin, Pritham Suresan, Mary Wilkins, Maddison Williams PRODUCTION CREW Charlie Kerwin, Tara Quesnel, Calvin Mcintyre, Nikita Genoway, Haileigh Prinselaar, Pritham Suresan, Khloe Gamble, Sarah Fleet, Olivia Chapados, Fernando garcia, Mckenna Lumley, Jasmine Pole FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGERS

Patricia Arndt Steven Hewgill

USHERS Dominika Dudzik, Matthew Elegah, Emma Gaudet, Evan Hayward, Mia Milosevski, Cara Minama, Noelle Pearson, Emily Pinkney, Giancarlo Savoni, Hannah Sutherland-Sebo, Sela Taylor, Jared Vecchio BOX OFFICE Yousef Al Khatib, Jack Debresser-Knowler, Mya Lavigne, Abigail Martin, Jaiden Nickles

THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 DONORS University Players wishes to thank the following individuals for their much appreciated support of entertaining live theatre. This list reflects donations given in the 2022 calendar year.

LEADING ROLES : $2,500+ Doug and Randi Fox FEATURED ARTISTS: $1,000-$2,499 The Rev. Canon John Riddle & Jody Ness RISING STARS: $500-$999 Joe Branget Lenore & Richard Langs Tina Pugliese A. Sheila Wright UNDERSTUDIES: $250-499 Fred Eldridge Elizabeth Gowanlock Don & Tina Hunt Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale & Sanford Tyndale Jane & Tony Meriano Brenda Porter Bruce Tucker Marie Walker SUPPORTING CAST: $100-$249 Rhonda Bertolo Anne Forrest Larry and Twyla Glassford Elizabeth Gowanlock Marie and John Guthrie Ann M. Lafreniere Janine Levadoux Linda Menard-Watt Dr. Kathleen McCrone Bob and Michelle Marchand Antoinette & Ernest Pecaski Robert Russell C. Dawn Wheeler

Although every effort has been made to keep accurate records of all of our members, inaccuracies can occur.

Please let us know if any Information is incorrect or omitted.

For more information, or to make a donation, please contact Kristen Siapas at 519-253-3000 ext. 2818.

LIFETIME GIVING We are grateful to the many committed donors who support the School of Dramatic Art including University Players, student scholarships, endowments and capital projects and are honoured to acknowledge the cumulative gifts of this extraordinary group whose contributions over the years have truly made a difference. $1 000 000+ The Province of Ontario $750 000-$999 999 The Jackman Foundation $10 000-$24 999 Jane Black Club SODA Doug & Randi Fox Paul Huschilt $250 000-$499 999 Hutchinson Charitable Fund Estate of Ernest Waddell Mady Dentistry Scotia Bank Jaqueline Sperandio The Joan & Clifford Hatch Foundation UWSA Universal Studios Canada Ltd. Lionel Walsh Bill & Jean Wright $100 000-$249 999 $500 000-$749 999 Caesars Windsor Henry N. R. Jackman Foundation

Windsor Endowment for the Arts $5000-$9999 Anne Winterbottom Jeff Berryman & Carol McDermott BMO Bank of Montreal $50 000-$99 999 Mina Grossman-Ianni George Marshall Dennis Hastings JMB Wealth Management Inc. $25 000-$49 999 Local 58 Benefit Fund FCA Canada Gina Lori Riley Jeanette McGrath Diana Mady Kelly and Don Park Sun-Brite Foods Inc. Tina Pugliese $10 000-$24 999 The Rev. Canon John Riddle & Jody Ness Jane Black Barbara Heartwell & Keith Taylor Club SODA Drew Verdam Doug & Randi Fox A. Sheila Wright Paul Huschilt Bernice Zub Hutchinson Charitable Fund Mady Dentistry Jaqueline Sperandio UWSA Lionel Walsh Bill & Jean Wright

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