Tennessee Williams Theatre Company Joins Loyola University New Orleans In Professional Residency

The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans is officially in residence at Loyola University New Orleans! Based in the city that Williams called his home and his inspiration, the Tennessee William Theatre Company is the only professional theatre company in the U.S. committed solely to producing plays with a major focus on the works of America's greatest playwright.

The fun starts this month with a company performance of Suddenly Last Summer, which runs from March 28 to April 13 in Loyola's Lower Depths Theatre in collaboration with the annual Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. Following a pre-arranged performance this summer at the Marigny Opera House, the company will perform at Loyola.

"Loyola University New Orleans has a history of welcoming professional theatre companies and practitioners to campus, as a way of continuing to nurture our students' education and professional development," said C. Patrick Gendusa, who was announced this month as the new chair of Loyola's Department of Theatre Arts and Dance in Loyola's College of Music and Media.

"One of our goals is to develop an ongoing collaborative relationship and internship program with the Tennessee Williams Theatre Company, while enjoying the opportunity to bring an entire new audience to our campus."

Gendusa, who helped usher in Loyola's musical theatre degree program several years ago, this month directs Violet, a multi-award winning musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by Brian Crawley. Gendusa has lined up an exciting 2019-2020 theatre season, bringing exciting new directors to campus, including Bryan Batt and Tom Cianfini, Mark Routhier, and Anne-Liese Juge Fox.

Gendusa has also lined up master classes and visits to campus from leading artists, beginning with an upcoming master class for Loyola students with choreographer Phil Colgan, dance captain and company member for the national tour of Hamilton.

"We are excited to enter our fifth season with this exciting partnership," said Nick Shackleford, Co-Artistic Director for the Tennessee Williams Theatre Company. "We have rapidly grown as a newer theatre in town, and we are honored to call Loyola University New Orleans home for our artists and burgeoning audience-and of course, we look forward to creating meaningful opportunities for Loyola's diverse and talented student population."

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