The Glacity Theater Collective began in 2007 with a presentation of Edward Albee’s classic play, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” Since the beginning, this University of Toledo faculty and alumni group has presented avant-garde, progressive plays. The group will continue presenting two of Albee’s notable one-act plays, “The American Dream” and “The Sandbox.”
Holly Monsos, executive director of The Glacity Theatre Collective and associate dean in the College of Communication and the Arts at the University of Toledo, believes that avant-garde and non-traditional theater should have a prominent place in our town. “We are interested in providing a resource for the theatrical artists in the area and a different kind of theater for our residents,” Monsos explained.
Albee’s absurdist classics will be directed by Assistant Artistic Director Megan Aherne. In the past, the theatrically passionate and young Aherne has worn many hats—her sense of comedy and artistic vision were memorable during her co-written and co-directed live-action and interactive Collingwood Arts Center Halloween performances of Satanarium in October 2014, and For the Devil Tells Me So in 2013.
While Aherne is a seasoned performer and artist, she describes the upcoming Albee plays as “the tamest show I’ve ever had my name on.” After encountering the plays in college, they quickly became her favorite, as she “relates to the struggle to maintain face” as well as complicated family dynamics.
Aherne describes “The American Dream” as “essentially a sitcom; very dark, funny, fast and a little sexy. ‘The Sandbox’ confronts the audience, placing them in a position as a voyeur.” This positioning of the audience hints at Aherne’s past affection for extreme audience interaction, but she will have to engage a different way to the material this time around.
“I knew it would be hard for me,” Aherne reflected, “there is a tension to not implant myself in Albee, which would prevent the true meaning. It is hard to not make it all about me, but I am sticking true to the text. Albee has a way of breaking the fourth wall, making people a little uncomfortable, and engaging the audience.”
With The Glacity Theatre Collective’s history of thoughtful productions and Aherne’s personal relation to the text, this production will provide the audience with an intimate experience showcasing Aherne’s passion.
8pm Thursday, January 15 through Saturday, January 17. 2pm Sunday, January 18. $15/general, $10/students. Thursday night “Pay What You Can,” tickets only available at the door. University of Toledo Center for Performing Arts, Towerview Blvd. & Campus Dr. W. glacity.tix.org.
