New Direction Community Theater To Perform The Glass Menagerie, A Timeless Story of Family, Hope And Struggle

ST. LEONARD, Md. — Calvert’s talented local performers are gearing up for a performance of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie,” a classic play that follows a young man’s familiar choice: stay in his hometown to support his family, or chase his own ambitions?

Tickets are on sale now. The show takes place in the black box theater at the Long Beach Community Center at 5845 Calvert Blvd., St. Leonard. Performances take place June 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 7 p.m., and June 21 at 2 p.m.

Sherry Mervine, a founding member of the New Direction Community Theater, said that the theater puts on three plays a year and always makes sure one of them is a classic piece of theater. The classics let people connect with work they may have studied in class and can show how much we still have in common with the people who came before us — whether it’s the writers, the characters or people in our own lives whose stories resonate with the events of the play.

“It shows that family dynamics are timeless,” Mervine said. “Even though the setting is a hundred years in the past, the daily struggles even back then are still mirrored today. It makes a connection to the way culture has grown through the years.”

Plus, it gives the many talented performers in Calvert County the opportunity to sink their teeth into meatier characters and really consider how to portray them. They’re not just working to deliver funny lines with perfect timing, they’re getting to know that character before the play starts and after it ends.

“It gives the actor a chance to explore what their own life experiences are and apply it to the character,” Mervine said.

In addition to providing space for people to connect to the work, New Direction strives to create a place that Calvert graduates know they can come back to. With thriving theater programs in Calvert high schools, community theater offers a chance for artists to continue their work after graduation or after they go on to college or careers.

As for the audience, Mervine says that this play is a can’t-miss.

“Our cast is fantastic,” she said. “They’re working these characters and bringing this story to life. The main character is struggling with life decisions and I know that’s something a lot of us can relate to.”

In a black box theater, the audience is fully immersed in the story and the action, allowing the audience to help shape each show.

“There’s nothing like being part of an audience, especially in a black box theater,” Mervine continued. “Come be a part of this. What are you waiting for?”

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