Tennessee Williams' Drafts of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and More Up for Auction

For the mere price of $500,000, you could own a piece of American theatre history.

Delve inside the mind of one of the country's greatest playwrights -- Tennessee Williams -- in a collection of papers to be auctioned off at Sotheby's on Monday, December 14. Among the lot are Williams' first drafts of the play A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, including the final scene, his letters back and forth with director Elia Kazan, his notes on the screenplay for the 1951 film adaptation, and more.

According to Sotheby's website, "The most famous line in the play, 'Whoever you are-I have always depended on the kindness of strangers,' was first written as 'Whoever you are-I place myself at your mercy!' Williams also wrote a lengthy last speech for Blanche, in which she reflects on her life and how it will end. This revealing monologue was, of course, cut from the play before opening night."

The collection was previously in the care of Williams' partner Frank Merlo. Among the items are personal mementos, including a draft of the eulogy Williams wrote for Merlo's funeral in 1963 and photographs of the couple.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE opened on Broadway in 1947, directed by Kazan and starring Jessica Tandy, Karl Malden, Kim Hunter, and then-newcomer Marlon Brando. It received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948.

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