Tennessee Williams’s classic The Glass Menagerie will kick off Town Players of Newtown’s 2014 season on Friday, April 25.

A faded, tragic remnant of Southern gentility, Amanda Wingfield lives in poverty in a drab, gloomy St Louis apartment with her adult children, Tom and Laura. Despite — or perhaps because of — their mother's attempts to give direction to her life and theirs, Tom and Laura both seek escape using different methods. Tom uses alcohol and frequent trips to the cinema, while the crippled Laura withdraws into herself. Ultimately, Amanda’s efforts to provide Laura with at least one “gentleman caller” have unintended consequences.

An exquisite family drama from one of America’s most celebrated playwrights, filtered through the memories of Tom, The Glass Menagerie is a show that, according to the New York Daily News, “should break your heart.”

Directed by Marla Manning of Easton, The Glass Menagerie features Alex Clapp of Wilton as Laura, Miles Everett of Thomaston as Tom, Chris Luongo of Bethel as Jim, and Karen Pope of Bridgewater as Amanda.

The production crew includes producers Tracy Nashel and Pam Meister Jones, both of Newtown, stage manager Lynn Alexander of Southbury, assistant stage manager Sydney Chirarito of Newtown, set designer Timothy Huebenthal of Southbury, lighting designer Jose Helu of Ridgefield, sound designer David Bass of Danbury, and costume designer Barbara Norman of Brookfield.

Performances will run April 25 through May 17. Curtain times are 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays, with 2 pm matinees on Sundays, April 27 and May 4.

Tickets are $20 for evening shows, $15 for matinee performances.

Reservations may be made by calling the box office at 203-270-9144 or by sending an email to reservations@newtownplayers.org. For further information, visit www.newtownplayers.org or email info@newtownplayers.org.

Note that Friday, May 2 is a sold-out benefit performance. (Tickets that evening are $25, which includes refreshments served at 7:30. A benefit for Newtown Congregational Church’s Circle of Hope, the evening will also include raffles. Call 203-426-9024 for details.)

Town Players is a community theater, currently in its 79th season. It operates out of The Little Theatre, at 18 Orchard Hill Road in Newtown.