FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Livermore Valley Arts
Contact: Ruth Egherman (925) 583-2306
Contact: Stephanie Prentice (925) 443-2273
An American Classic, in an Unforgettable Space, at The Bankhead This May
Livermore, CA – (April 21, 2026) – Livermore Valley Arts is thrilled to be partnering with neighboring Tri-Valley arts organization SPARC Theater to present a real American classic in a truly remarkable space this spring. Indeed, no play in the modern theater has so captured the imagination and heart of the American public as Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie has done. Presented for five (5) performances from Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 3, SPARC Theater and Livermore Valley Arts invite audiences into a rare live, up-close experience with The Glass Menagerie. This powerful play will be at the Stage Door Lounge at the beautiful Bankhead Theater in Downtown Livermore.
At a time when entertainment is increasingly consumed through screens, SPARC Theater is offering something far less common: a shared, live experience, just feet from the actors. This May, Livermore Valley Arts presents SPARC’s production of The Glass Menagerie in an intimate, immersive staging at the Stage Door Lounge at the Bankhead Theater, where audiences will be directly onstage alongside the performers, for a deeply personal encounter with one of the most celebrated plays of modern American theater.
Running May 1–3, 2026, this limited engagement transforms Tennessee Williams’ iconic “memory play” into an immediate, close-up experience—where every glance, pause, and breath is shared. Directed by Gary Armagnac, the production features veteran actress Emilie Talbot (A.C.T., Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Mark Taper Forum) as Amanda Wingfield, Eliot Hall as Tom Wingfield, Isadora Zucker as Laura Wingfield, and James Crutcher as Jim, the Gentleman Caller. Set in 1930s St. Louis, The Glass Menagerie follows Tom Wingfield as he reflects on his family’s fragile world—his overbearing mother, Amanda; his painfully shy sister, Laura; and the quiet heartbreak that defines their lives. Through memory and longing, the play explores timeless themes of hope, responsibility, and escape. “In a world where so much of our connection happens through devices, there’s something profoundly powerful about sharing space with a story like this,” said Armagnac. “This production invites audiences not just to watch, but to feel the play in a direct and immediate way.”
The Stage Door Lounge’s setting offers multiple onstage seating options, blurring the line between audience and performer. Cafe tables with seating for two make up the front row. Floor and riser seating wrap around the family’s living room on three sides. A small bar is available adjacent to the seating area, enhancing the communal atmosphere. With a bar open during the performance, the environment is both intimate and inviting, encouraging audiences to settle in and fully engage.
For SPARC, the production reflects a broader commitment to keeping live, professional theater vibrant and accessible—creating meaningful, shared experiences that cannot be replicated on a screen, and LVA is proud to help share in this mission by providing an unforgettable venue for this remarkable piece of theatre. Members of the press are invited to attend and review the Livermore engagement. To request press comps or additional information, please contact Stephanie Prentice at [email protected].
Tickets for shows in the 2025—2026 Bankhead Presents season are available online, by calling 925-373-6800, or at the box office windows. For a complete list of events, visit LivermoreArts.org.
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Livermore Valley Arts is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit offering wide-ranging programs that provide access to the arts for the Tri-Valley community and beyond. The Bankhead Theater and Bothwell Arts Center are home to eight resident performing arts companies, over 40 studio artists, and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
Show: SPARC Theater: The Glass Menagerie
Date/Time: Friday, May 1, through Sunday, May 3, 2026
Evenings at 7:30pm, Saturday & Sunday Afternoon at 2:00pm
Tickets: $45—$75 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20% Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org
