Ion Theatre Ignites a Second Season with Three American Classics 

Hot on the heels of launching downtown San Diego’s newest performance destination—New World Stage—ion ignites into a second season with The NATion Project: The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams directed by Glenn Paris, John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath adapted for the stage by Frank Galati, directed by Claudio Raygoza, and a benefit staged reading of Clifford Odets’ Awake and Sing! directed by Glenn Paris.

Delving into the torment and courage of American families facing the Great Depression, these works spotlight the search for cultural identity, the struggle against poverty, and the responsibilities inherent in fighting for freedom along with the many perils of intolerance—ideas we continue to grapple with today. Lyrical, romantic and ultimately heartbreaking, The Glass Menagerie catapulted Tennessee Williams to international fame when it debuted in 1945. Chronicling the trials and triumphs of the Wingfield family in Depression-era St. Louis, and richly laden with evocative language and imagery, this self-called “memory play” continues to resonate with modern audiences for its honest and tragic depiction of a family struggling against the burden of poverty and the fragility of their dreams. 

In the politically-charged The Grapes of Wrath, penned by one of the twentieth century’s most celebrated authors, John Steinbeck, we are witness to the Joad family driven off their Oklahoma homestead during the Dustbowl catastrophe of the 1930s and lured west only to find themselves enmeshed in a corrupt system of farm-labor exploitation. Written at a time of tremendous unrest in the country’s exploding labor movement, the novel continues to be banned in certain parts of the country due to its frank, striking and often brutal depiction of discrimination in America. Steinbeck’s epic, sweeping novel is faithfully adapted for the stage by Frank Galati who helmed its 1990 award-winning Broadway debut featuring the celebrated ensemble of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre. 

And in a benefit staged reading, Awake and Sing! by Clifford Odets: It is the Great Depression and the Bergers, a Jewish family in the Bronx circa 1935, are a mix of the optimistic, realistic and skeptical. Through an acute portrayal of three generations, Odets’ characters now embrace, now reject the American Dream in a struggle to determine their futures and destinies. 

Presented in extended repertory, the cast of The Glass Menagerie —Matt Scott, Dana Hooley, Sara Beth Morgan and Steven Lone—also feature in the cast for The Grapes of Wrath with Sherri Allen, Ed Eigner, Sylvia Enrique, Daeg Faerch, Dan Feraldo, John Garcia, Brystal Geu, McKenna Geu, Spencer Geu, Trina Kaplan, Andrew Kennedy, Daniel Logan, Brian Mackey, D'Ann Paton, Walter Ritter, Jon Sachs, Julie Sachs, Tim Schubert, Bill Tanner, Morgan Trant & Blair Whitcomb.

The Glass Menagerie opens on Saturday, October 28th at 8pm followed by a reception/celebration. The Grapes of Wrath opens on Saturday November 25th at 8pm with a pre-show reception, silent auction and post-show celebration. To be determined is the launch date for third facet of the NATion Project—a reading of Clifford Odets’ Awake and Sing! featuring members of the project ensemble joined by Jessica John of Backyard Productions. Please check the website for updates. 

FACT SHEET 

WHAT: ion theatre and New World Stage present: 

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams 

John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath adapted by Frank Galati Awake 

and Sing! by Clifford Odets—a benefit staged reading 

WHERE: New World Stage 917 Ninth Ave, San Diego, CA. 92101 

WHO: The Glass Menagerie, Director, Glenn Paris; Producer, Claudio Raygoza The Grapes of Wrath, Director, Claudio Raygoza; Producer, Glenn Paris The Grapes of Wrath, Assistant Director, Julie Anderson Sachs Awake and Sing!, (Staged Reading), Director, Glenn Paris The NATion Project, Dramaturgy, Kim Strassburger The NATion Project, Costume Design, Shulamit Nelson The NATion Project, Scenic/Sound/Lights, Claudio Raygoza The Glass Menagerie, Stage Management, Brian Pedersen The Grapes of Wrath, Original Music, Blair Whitcomb & Sylvia Enrique 

CAST: The Glass Menagerie: Dana Hooley, Steven Lone, Sara Beth Morgan & Matt Scott The Grapes of Wrath: Sherri Allen, Ed Eigner, Sylvia Enrique, Daeg Faerch, Dan Feraldo, John Garcia, Brystal Geu, McKenna Geu, Spencer Geu, Dana Hooley, Trina Kaplan, Andrew Kennedy, Daniel Logan, Steven Lone, Brian Mackey, Sara Beth Morgan, D'Ann Paton, Walter Ritter, Jon Sachs, Julie Sachs, Matt Scott, Tim Schubert, Bill Tanner, Morgan Trant & Blair Whitcomb 

DATES: Previews: The Glass Menagerie, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006, 7:30PM Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, 7:30PM 

Opens: Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006, 8PM Closes: Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006, 7PM SCHEDULE 

After opening night, Thursday-Friday-Saturday, performances @ 8PM Sunday performances @ 2PM and 7PM 

Previews: The Grapes of Wrath, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, 7:30PM Friday, Nov. 24, 2006, 7:30PM 

Opens: Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, 8PM 

Closes: Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006, 7PM SCHEDULE 

After opening night, Thursday-Friday-Saturday, performances @ 8PM Sunday performances @ 2PM and 7PM