New Hamilton County theatre opens inaugural production Feb. 10-12 with play by Tennessee Williams
The Hyperion Players, a new community theatre serving Hamilton County, will present Tennessee Williams’ award-winning memory play, The Glass Menagerie, Feb. 10-12 at the Ivy Tech Auditorium in Noblesville.
A drama of great tenderness, charm, and beauty, The Glass Menagerie is one of the most famous plays of the modern theatre. Set in 1930s St. Louis, the story follows the impoverished Wingfield family: Amanda Wingfield is a faded remnant of Southern gentility who lives with her son, Tom, and her daughter, Laura. Amanda strives to give meaning and direction to her children, though her methods are ineffective and irritating. Tom is driven nearly to distraction by his mother’s nagging and seeks escape in alcohol and the world of the movies. Laura also lives in her illusions. The crux of the action comes when Tom invites a friend to dinner, and the world the Wingfields have striven to create begins to collapse about them.
(Clockwise, from top left) Amanda Wingfield (played by Lauren Taylor of Noblesville), Jim O’Connor (played by Zach Catlin of Indianapolis), Laura Wingfield (played by Emily Hauer of Noblesville), and Tom Wingfield (played by Adam Fike of Indianapolis). (Photo courtesy Callie Cox)
“Through this story, Williams deftly unspools themes of memory, family, and how people look to escape from their everyday realities,” said director Ian Hauer. “There’s a reason this play is constantly revived by professional and amateur companies alike, and we are thrilled to continue that tradition in Noblesville.”
The Glass Menagerie is the inaugural production for Hyperion, which incorporated as a nonprofit in late 2021 and publicly launched in January 2022. The company’s pilot season, consisting of three shows coming in 2022-23, will be announced in May.
Hyperion’s Mission Statement
Hyperion will be a collaborative, welcoming theatre that constantly strives for artistic excellence; we will deliver authentic stories that engage, inspire, challenge, and delight; and we will raise up our community through the power of the performing arts.