The production, aimed at teachers, students and families, officially opens Oct. 25 and features James T. Alfred as Tom, Shanésia Davis as Amanda, Anthony Fleming III as The Gentleman Caller and Nambi E. Kelley as Laura. Peformances play to Nov. 9 in the Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, in Chicago.

Tickets are available to the general public for weekend performances only, with all additional shows reserved for school groups.

This unique production of the classic "memory play" features an all African-American cast. According to Steppenwolf, "Delicately weaving truth and imagination, The Glass Menagerie centers on the Wingfield family in Depression-era St. Louis: Tom, an aspiring poet who spends his days in a warehouse, eager to start out on his own life's journey; his overbearing mother, Amanda who yearns for the glamour of the past and his incredibly shy sister, who dreams of a brighter future and a happiness that seems just out of reach."

Hallie Gordon is artistic and education director of Steppenwolf for Young Adults.

Ensemble member Peyankov appeared in Steppenwolf's 2007-08 production of Superior Donuts, a world-premiere play by Pulitzer Prize-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts. He is the co-founder of Chicago's European Repertory Company and an associate professor and director of theatre studies in the performing arts department at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has directed at UIC, European Rep and Rushfort in Los Angeles. The design team includes Martin Andrew (sets), Natasha Vuchurovich Djukich (costumes), Keith Parham (lights) and Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (original music and sound). Cassie Wolgamott is the stage manager.

For ticket information call (312) 335-1650 or visit www.steppenwolf.org.

For information on Steppenwolf for Young Adult weekday school performances, contact the SYA Education Coordinator at (312) 654-5639.

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Steppenwolf for Young Adults is Steppenwolf's educational program for students, teachers and families, "and is focused on making the theatre accessible to the most underserved populations in Chicago." Steppenwolf for Young Adults "consists of complementary programming components that are designed to enhance education, build self-esteem and social tolerance and encourage lifelong appreciation of the arts. At the core of Steppenwolf for Young Adults are the professional, full-scale productions produced specifically for young adult audiences each season."