SANTA MARIA — The drama students at Pioneer Valley High School are getting ready to tackle their most challenging play yet, Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece, The Glass Menagerie. The Glass Menagerie is the play that earned Williams the reputation of being America’s greatest playwright and is credited as having brought Broadway back to life after World War II. This autobiographical piece focuses on a family struggling during pre-WWII America with family issues, which are as relevant today as they were when Williams wrote the play in 1944.
Director Shawnah Van Gronigen cast some of her most seasoned performers to take on this challenge. “The goal of having the drama students perform this classic piece of American literature is to broaden their strengths as performers and for our student body to be able to actually see a live production of what many consider to be the best American play ever written,” says Van Gronigen. This is the play that features the famous “Gentleman Caller” scene, which is performed in drama classrooms around the world.
Senior Edianna Ysip plays the leading role of Amanda who is trying to hold her family together as a single mom with senior Naomi Mau as Laura, her daughter who is as fragile as a piece of glass, and junior Isaias Maldonado as Tom, the restless son struggling with his role in the family. Maldonado says, “This is my favorite show that I’ve done at PVHS because of how up-close and personal it is.” Rounding out the small cast is senior Robert Zarate, just back from attending the prestigious California State Summer School for the Arts, who plays the gentleman caller, the only realistic character in the play.
The students enrolled in the Technical Theater I and Technical Theater II courses have been working on the costumes, props, lights, sound and projections used in this show. Students enrolled in the Wood Technology class are building set pieces for the play. Daniel Cruz, a senior enrolled in the Songwriting class is writing original theme music for the play.
The show runs September 25-28 at 7pm in the Performing Arts Center located on the campus of Pioneer Valley High School. Seating is very limited so it is advised to arrive early. Due to the mature nature of the show and the extremely limited seating, The Glass Menagerie is recommended for students who are middle school aged and older. General admission is $10.00 with students and senior citizens $6.00. Tickets can be purchased online at PVHSpanthers.org, at the PVHS business office during school hours, or at the door the night of the performance.