The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle a unique memoir of survival and resiliency told through the eyes of a young girl. It is the saga of the restless Walls family, led by a crusty eccentric and his volatile artist wife. The author, Jeannette Walls, and her siblings are often left to fend for themselves as the family’s precarious lifestyle necessitates frequently doing “the skedaddle.” Meanwhile, they cherish the vision of “genius” Dad’s creation of a fabulous home, the glass castle.

[Live performance of The Glass Castle]

This Literature to Life Award winner adapted in 2006 features sixty minutes of verbatim performance from the best selling memoir.  From the very first emotionally raw moments of the show where our protagonist sees her mother rifling through a garbage can we are launched into the controversial and complex world of the Wall’s family.  The actress plays upwards of seven characters including the alcoholic father, Rex Walls, who the author loves with a fierce loyalty. Through the portrayal of these alternately eccentric and abusive parents, audiences will vacillate between outrage and adoration but will walk away with a sense of the extraordinary strength of our young heroine.  Having premiered at the Donnell Library in New York City this piece marked the first contemporary memoir to be adapted for Literature to Life.  Surrounded by a pre and post show interactive discussion audiences will explore themes including poverty in America and alcoholism.