Before snatching up tickets to see one of the most iconic pieces of American theatre, "The Glass Menagerie," be warned actress Kaylie Horowitz said she is trying to make her audience cry.
Horowitz, sophomore in theater, plays Amanda who is the mother of two of the main characters. She said the play is lovable but “beautifully sad” and said she hopes the audience can feel that through her character.
“Just because of Amanda’s part in the show I’m hoping I can get some tears out of that," Horowitz said. "Mainly I’m just hoping people come away feeling something at least because if an audience can feel something and talk about something from a show, I think it’s just probably one of the best feelings as an actor because you know you’ve gotten them to think about the message of the play at that point."
"The Glass Menagerie" will be brought to life by the Auburn University Theatre Department and is coming to the Telfair Peet Theatre Main Stage starting Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. The production will have eight shows running through Friday, Nov. 20.
Amanda Murphy, stage manager and junior in theater, is one of Auburn's three stage management majors. Murphy said although "The Glass Menagerie" has been brought to the stage numerous times, audience members can expect a fresh take on the story.
“I think people should expect something very different than what they think when they think of 'The Glass Menagerie,'" Murphy said. "It’s kind of a cliché theater show sometimes, but our director is great. He has worked with it many, many times, and there’s just a lot of interesting detail in every portion of the play from the sound to the lights to the set itself to every little movement the actors make."
Afsoon Pajoufar, guest set designer, said she looks forward to seeing how audience members who are familiar to the play react to this new portrayal.
“I’m really excited to see the audience reaction, especially the audience who has a lot of memory of this play from years and years ago," Pajourfar said. "I really like to see their reaction and their feedback to this story and how we tell it in a new way."
Murphy said she is excited to get people in seats and is confident the cast is ready to put on a great show.
“This is one of the most well-prepared that I’ve ever seen a cast, so I’m actually really excited to have an audience,” Murphy said. “That’s always a lot more fun than doing it for an empty room.”
Murphy, offering a tip for audience members, said to keep an eye on Laura, her favorite character in the play.
"She doesn’t have a lot to say during the play, but she is the person who is always there, always watching," Murphy said. "Carmen Carmello plays Laura, and I really enjoy watching her reactions to the scenes as they take place. So definitely keep an eye out for her. She doesn’t say a lot but she definitely has a lot going on in her face."
Student tickets are free and can be reserved here.
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