Written by Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie is a memory play that examines a family's fragile dynamic as its members struggle between their desires for the past and their hope for the future.
Amanda Wingfield (Judy Heck Lowry) is a faded remnant of a Southern gentility who now lives in a dingy St. Louis apartment with her son, Tom (Zach "Hippie" Griswold), and her daughter, Laura (Madison Pulica), who has a physical handicap and debilitating shyness. The father has left home; Tom supports his mother and sister with a shoe-factory job he finds unbearable. When Amanda convinces Tom to bring home from his workplace a "gentleman caller" (Joshua Chaykin) for Laura, the illusions that Tom, Amanda, and Laura have each created in order to make life bearable collapse about them.
Directed by David J. Valdez, The Glass Menagerie is being presented through a special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, from February 17 through February 26.
Valdez is an award-winning director and Tampa native, having directed works locally at Jobsite Theater Company, Urbanite Theatre, New Tampa Players, and Carrollwood Players. BroadwayWorld.com named his production of The Normal Heart at Carrollwood Players as one of Tampa Bay's "top 10 most powerful productions of 2021." In addition, he adjudicates for Florida State Thespians' Mainstage Screening committee and for the Educational Theatre Association, where he serves as a Thespy Awards panelist and a Mainstage adjudicator throughout the United States. The Glass Menagerie marks his directorial debut at Carrollwood Cultural Center.
The Glass Menagerie - Amanda
Carrollwood Cultural Center, Feb. 17-26, 2023
The Glass Menagerie - Laura & The Gentleman Caller
Carrollwood Cultural Center, Feb. 17-26, 2023
The Glass Menagerie, Tom
The Glass Menagerie, Laura
The Glass Menagerie, Amanda & Tom
The Glass Menagerie
Cast and Creative team for The Glass Menagerie at Carrollwood Cultural Center
Cast
Judy Heck Lowry
Amanda Wingfield
Judy Heck Lowry is an award-winning actor, having performed locally with Carrollwood Players (Clairee, Steel Magnolias) and Plant City Entertainment (Kate, All My Sons; Mom, True West). She has appeared at the Billymunk Theatre and the Direct Theatre in New York City, Asolo Rep (Sarasota), Town & Country Playhouse (New Hampshire), and Huron Playhouse (Ohio), among others. Favorite roles include Eliza Gant, Look Homeward, Angel; Beatrice, A View from the Bridge; Dolly, The Grass Harp; Ceil, And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little; Miss Gilchrist, The Hostage; Carrie, The Great Nebula in Orion; Toby, The Gingerbread Lady; Irene, Hello, Dolly; Mother Abbess, Sound of Music; Aunt Eller, Oklahoma; and Karen, Applause. She trained at HB Studios (NYC), Asolo Conservatory and The Ohio State University. The Glass Menagerie marks her debut with Carrollwood Cultural Center. She is an ICF Master Certified Coach with Lifecoach.com.
Zach "Hippie" Griswold
Tom Wingfield
Zach “Hippie” Griswold returns to the Carrollwood Cultural Center mainstage after appearing in last year's Titanic. He has been active as a performer, director, and producer for community theatres all over Tampa. In his spare time he can be found performing at conventions and festivals all over the country, teaching stage combat.
Madison Pulica
Laura Wingfield
Madison Pulica is new to the Tampa theatre scene. She made the move from Iowa to Florida this fall to attend The University of Tampa for a BA in Theatre. This fall she worked for The Florida Theatre Conference as a Social Media Intern. There she got to combine her love of theatre, photography, and working with youth. Some of Madison’s favorite roles have been Janet, Rocky Horror, Molly, Peter and The Starcatcher, and Olivia, Twelfth Night.
Joshua Chaykin
The Gentleman Caller
Joshua Chaykin is an attorney by day and made his theatrical debut only one year ago in Carrollwood Player’s acclaimed production of The Normal Heart (also directed by David J. Valdez). Since then, he has also appeared as Peter in Luce (Carrollwood Players). This is his first production at the Carrollwood Cultural Center.
Laura Fleming
u/s Amanda, Laura
Laura Fleming is a ballet dancer, actor, and muralist who has worked with many productions over the past decade in the Tampa Bay area, both on and off stage. Some of her favorite credits include Sebastian (Twelfth Night, St. Pete Shakespeare Festival), Mary Debenham (Murder on the Orient Express, Stageworks), Dr. Emma Brookner (A Midsummer Nights Dream, CWP). Many Carrollwood Players productions have featured her murals, including Once Upon a Mattress, Plaze Suite, The Odd Couple, and Murder on the Nile.
Jonathan Hock
u/s Tom, Gentleman Caller
Jonathan Hock was born and raised in Ft. Wayne, IN, and began acting in high school at the age of 16. Since then, he has spent the last 15 years on stage and in front of the camera. Jonathan has been involved in other stage productions such as All My Sons, Fools, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, Father of the Bride, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Crucible, and Miracle on 34th Street, among others. Alongside theater, he has been a part of various independent feature and short films, as well as student films and commercials.
Creative Team
David J. Valdez
Director
David J. Valdez is an award-winning director and native Tampanian, having previously directed works locally at Jobsite Theatre Compnay, Urbanite Theatre, New Tampa Players, and Carrollwood Players. His production of The Normal Heart at Carrollwood Players was named by BroadwayWorld.com as one of Tampa Bay’s “top 10 most powerful productions of 2021.” He adjudicates for Florida State Thespians’ Mainstage Screening committee, and for the Educational Theatre Association, where he serves as a Thespy Awards panelist and a Mainstage adjudicator throughout the United State. The Glass Menagerie marks his directorial debut at Carrollwood Cultural Center. He lives in Citrus Park. MFA: Florida State University.
Jason King
Assistant Director
Jason King is excited to support this fantastic cast, crew, and director with his assistant directorial debut at Carrollwood Cultural Center. He has long enjoyed the theatre, but he also loves flying. He spends his spare time with airplanes: both piloting his own and jumping out of others’.
Zach Angel Zayas
Stage Manager
Zach Angel Zayas is stage managing their first production at Carrollwood Cultural Center. Zach previously stage managed The Normal Heart with David Valdez at Carrollwood Players. Previous acting credits include: A Funny Thing Happened… (Hysterium), The Wedding Singer (George), Cabaret (Victor/Max). Zach is the musical theatre director at Pepin Academies and has directed: Into the Woods Jr., R&H’s Cinderella, and Disney’s HSM Jr.