Broadway star and North Carolina native Penny Fuller will play the strained matriarch Amanda Wingfield in Charlotte Repertory Theatre's revival of The Glass Menagerie,Sept. 7-29, marking the beginning of the first full season under the producing artistic directorship of Michael Bush.

Tennessee Williams' famed memory play, about the frustrated son of a controlling former belle and his fragile sister, Laura, is directed by Joseph Hardy.

Opening night is set for Sept. 12, at the Booth Playhouse at the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

Director Hardy's credits include helming the original production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, the Broadway revival of The Night of the Iguana, and Child's Play, for which he won a Tony Award.

According to production notes, Hardy recounts a conversation he had with the playwright when Hardy was directing Williams' The Night of the Iguana: "He told me I should do The Glass Menagerie," Hardy said, "because he didn't like the way it was usually done. Tennessee Williams loved to laugh, and he thought the characters he created were much more amusing than the way they were usually played." Hardy said, "I don't see this play as depressing. It's a story of freedom for one of the characters, and it shows how love can sustain people in the hardest circumstances."

Joining Fuller (of Broadway's Applause and The Dinner Party, which earned her Tony Award nominations) are Michael Milligan as Tom, Caitlin Muelder as Laura and Daniel Travis as Jim, The Gentleman Caller.

Designers are Joe Gardner (set and lighting), Michael Barger (costume), Joel Silberman (sound) and Shannon Brice (props).

Tickets range $24-$31.50. For information, call (704) 372 1000 or visit charlotterep.org.

— By Kenneth Jones