Tennessee Williams Headshot

Tennessee Williams

Date of Death: February 25, 1983 (71)

Birth Place: Columbus, MS, USA

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Tennessee Williams BIO

One of America's greatest playwrights and certainly the greatest ever from the South, Tennessee Williams wrote fiction and motion picture screenplays, but he is acclaimed primarily for his plays, nearly all of which are set in the South, but which at their best rise above regionalism to approach universal themes. Tennessee Williams drew heavily on his family experiences in his writings. When The Glass Menagerie hit Broadway in 1945, it not only changed Tennessee Williams' life, it revolutionized American theatre. A Streetcar Named Desire, The Night of the Iguana and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof are some of his other masterpieces. Among his many awards, Williams won two Pulitzer Prizes and four New York Drama Critics Circle Awards. In addition to 25 full-length plays, Williams produced dozens of short plays and screenplays, two novels, a novella, 60 short stories, more than 100 poem and an autobiography. His works have been translated into at least 27 languages, and countless productions of his work have been staged around the world.

Tennessee Williams Photos

Tennessee Williams Awards and Nominations

Olivier Awards - 2003 - Best Revival

Tennessee WilliamsA Streetcar Named Desire

Tony Awards - 1999 - Best Play

Tennessee Williams, Not About Nightingales

Olivier Awards - 1995 - Best Revival of a Play or Comedy

Tennessee WilliamsSweet Bird Of Youth

New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1962 - Best American Play

Tennessee Williams, The Night of the Iguana

Tony Awards - 1962 - Best Play

Tennessee Williams, The Night of the Iguana

Evening Standard Awards - 1958 - Best Play

Tennessee WilliamsCat on a Hot Tin Roof

Tony Awards - 1956 - Best Play

Tennessee Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

The Pulitzer Prize - 1955 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Tennessee Williams, Cat on A Hot Tin Roof

Tony Awards - 1951 - Best Play

Tennessee Williams, The Rose Tattoo

New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1948 - Best American Play

Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire

Tennessee Williams Videos

Tennessee Williams News


STRANGER THINGS' Cara Buono Comes to New Jersey

'An Evening with Cara Buono,' television and film star of 'Stranger Things' and Emmy Nominated for 'Mad Men,' will be held at New Jersey's Mahwah High School on Saturday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. Learn more about the event here!

LoMotion Live Opens Season With TENDERLY:THE SONGS OF ROSEMARY CLOONEY

LoMotion Live will open their season with the cabaret, TENDERLY:THE SONGS OF ROSEMARY CLOONEY with Susan Speidel and Joseph Regan. Learn more about the production and how to get tickets here!

Cast and Crew Announced For World Premiere Adaptation Of THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER

The cast and crew have been announced for the World Premiere adaptation of THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, opening on October 29. Brian Pastor will direct Shawna Tucker's original adaptation of the Davis Grubb novel. Get event and ticket information here!

Pasadena Playhouse to Present First Ever Playhouse Family Play Day Featuring Rachel Bloom

Join Rachel Bloom and enjoy a day of family-friendly activities at Pasadena Playhouse's inaugural Playhouse Family Play Day.

Matthew López's Hilarious THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE At Center REP, November 4- 26

Center Repertory Company will present The Legend of Georgia McBride, written by Tony and Olivier Award winner Matthew López (The Inheritance, The Whipping Man, Somewhere, the book of the Broadway musical Some Like it Hot, and Amazon Studios' Red, White & Royal Blue).

Daphne Rubin-Vega and Tim Daly Will Lead THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA Off-Broadway

Daphne Rubin-Vega and Tim Daly will lead The Night of the Iguana Off-Broadway this December. Learn more about the play here!

World Premiere Of GRIEF AT HIGH TIDE Announced At Vivid Stage

Experience the world premiere of 'Grief at High Tide' at Vivid Stage. Don't miss this captivating new production exploring the depths of loss and healing.

The Valley Players to Present THE GLASS MENAGERIE Beginning This Month

The Valley Players present a classic of American theater, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, a hauntingly poetic play about a struggling family in Depression-era St. Louis. Directed by Michael Halloran, the show runs from September 29-October 15 at the Valley Players Theater in Waitsfield.

Photos: ARTEFACT & SOMETHING UNSPOKEN at the Playground Theatre

Production photos have been released from Artefact & Something Unspoken at the Playground Theatre. 

City Lit Theater to Present Excerpts from Top Challenged Books for Banned Books Week

Discover the power of literature as City Lit Theater showcases excerpts from the top challenged books of the year. Join us for a thought-provoking event in observance of Banned Books Week.

Ana Isabelle to Star in Off-Broadway Premiere of LONE STAR at Ruth Stage

Ana Isabelle will star as ‘Elizabeth’ inRuth Stage's upcoming off-Broadway premiere of James McLure’s dark comedy Lone Star, playing Theatre Row this fall. Learn how to purchase tickets!

Corey Stoll, Natalie Gold & Alyssa Emily Marvin to Join Sarah Paulson in APPROPRIATE

Golden Globe Award nominee Corey Stoll (“House of Cards,” “Billions”), Natalie Gold (“Succession”), and Alyssa Emily Marvin (Grey House) join Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award winner Sarah Paulson in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ APPROPRIATE at Second Stage Theater, directed by Lila Neugebauer.

Review: BAÑO DE LUNA (BATHING IN MOONLIGHT) at GALA Hispanic Theatre

The tantalizing notion of a forbidden romance was part of Tennessee Williams’ “The Night of the Iguana,” Colleen McCullough’s novel “The Thorn Birds” (made into a TV miniseries with Richard Chamberlain), and the hot priest that tantalized Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag.” 

LoMotion Live Opens Season With TENDERLY: THE SONGS OF ROSEMARY CLOONEY

LoMotion Live will open their season with the cabaret, TENDERLY:THE SONGS OF ROSEMARY CLOONEY with Susan Speidel and Joseph Regan. Learn more about the show and how to get tickets here!

Review: SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER at COCA's Catherine B Berges Theatre

TWSTL’s SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER is a fairly well-constructed production of Tennessee William’s play. There is a lot to unpack in the 90-minute psychological drama including maternal obsession, malice, repressed homosexuality, mental illness, manipulation, pedophilia, greed, and cannibalism. Most of it works, some of it doesn’t, and leads to a conclusion that may leave the audience unsatisfied.

Rebecca Aronson, Alicia Elkort, And Mary Morris To Read Poetry At Teatro Paraguas

​​​​​​​Teatro Paraguas will host a poetry reading with Rebecca Aronson, Alicia Elkort, and Mary Morris on Sunday, October 8th as part of the ongoing Poetry at Paraguas series.  The reading begins at 5:00 p.m.

Interview: Daniel K. Isaac Has Many BRILLIANT THINGs in His Life

Currently in previews, Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe’s Every Brilliant Thing opens September 14, 2023, at the Geffen. Colm Summers directs Daniel K. Isaac in this comic view on depression and suicide. Daniel keeps it in the same light vein in answering my queries.

Photos: First Look at A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE At The Sherry Theater

Collaborative Artists Ensemble presents 'A Streetcar Named Desire' by Tennessee Williams, opening Friday, September 8th. Check out all new photos here!

Broadway Licensing Group Acquires HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD Amateur Licensing Rights for School Productions

Broadway Licensing Group, Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions have announced an exciting partnership to bring Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the award-winning record-breaking hit play, to high school and secondary school theatre programs worldwide starting in 2024.

COAL MINE THEATRE Kicks Off 2023-24 Season With APPROPRIATE Beginning September 24

In September, COAL MINE THEATRE begins their 9th thrilling season with the Canadian Premiere of the 2015 Obie Award-winner for Best New American Play, Brendan Jacob's Jenkins' APPROPRIATE.  Directed by COAL MINE co-founder Ted Dykstra, APPROPRIATE runs September 24 – October 15.

Tennessee Williams FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Tennessee Williams has written 35 shows including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Playwright), You Touched Me (Playwright), Summer and Smoke (Playwright), Orpheus Descending (Lyricist), Garden District (Playwright), Sweet Bird of Youth (Playwright), I Rise in Flames, Cried the Phoenix (Playwright), The Purification (Playwright), Period of Adjustment (Playwright), The Night of the Iguana (Playwright), The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore (Playwright), The Rose Tattoo (Playwright), The Seven Descents of Myrtle (Playwright), In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel (Playwright), Camino Real (Playwright), Out Cry (Playwright), Battle of Angels (Playwright), Serafina (Source Material), Summer and Smoke (Playwright), Vieux Carre (Playwright), Clothes for a Summer Hotel (Playwright), Ten by Tennessee (Playwright), Kingdom of Earth (Playwright), The Red Devil Battery Sign (Playwright), Not About Nightingales (Playwright), Tennessee Williams Remembered (Author), Something Cloudy, Something Clear (Playwright), Five By Tenn (Playwright), The Glass Menagerie (Playwright), A Streetcar Named Desire (Playwright), Suddenly Last Summer (Playwright), The Eccentricities Of A Nightingale (Playwright), The Two-Character Play (Playwright), 2 By Tennessee Williams (Playwright), Talisman Roses (Playwright).

Tennessee Williams has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of the notable nominations include Best Revival at the Olivier Awards for "A Streetcar Named Desire," Best Play at the Tony Awards for "Not About Nightingales," Best Revival of a Play or Comedy at the Olivier Awards for "Sweet Bird Of Youth," Best American Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "The Night of the Iguana," Best Play at the Tony Awards for "The Night of the Iguana," Best Play at the Evening Standard Awards for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," Best Play at the Tony Awards for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," Best American Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," The Pulitzer Prize for Drama for "Cat on A Hot Tin Roof," Best Play at the Tony Awards for "The Rose Tattoo," Best American Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "A Streetcar Named Desire," and Best American Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "The Glass Menagerie."

Tennessee Williams has won several awards throughout his career. He received the Best American Play award from the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "The Night of the Iguana," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "A Streetcar Named Desire," and "The Glass Menagerie." He also won the Best Play award from the Evening Standard Awards for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and the Tony Award for Best Play for "The Rose Tattoo." In addition, Williams was honored with the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

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