Tennessee Williams Headshot

Tennessee Williams

Date of Birth: March 26, 1911

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

West Coast Premiere of GARDEN OF ALLA is Coming to Theatre West This Summer

Theatre West will present playwright and performer Romy Nordlinger in the West Coast premiere of Garden of Alla: The Alla Nazimova Story. Learn how to purchase tickets!

Pasadena Playhouse To Receive 2023 Regional Theatre Tony Award

The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced that based on the recommendation by the American Theatre Critics Association, Pasadena Playhouse, in Pasadena, California, will be the recipient of the 2023 Regional Theatre Tony Award. The honor is accompanied by a grant of $25,000, made possible by City National Bank's generous support. 

Scottish Ballet Brings A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE to Kirkwall

Following the hugely successful mainland tour of A Streetcar Named Desire, and an exciting US premiere tour of The Crucible, Scottish Ballet will take the full production of Streetcar to Kirkwall, as part of the St Magnus Festival, and then to Stornoway on Lewis.

The Actors Studio to Present AREYTO Celebration of Latine Scene Work, Poetry, Song & Dance

This weekend, The Actors Studio will continue its 75th Anniversary celebration as the world’s most celebrated and influential membership association for professional actors, directors and playwrights.

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA Comes to Shakespeare in Clark Park in July

 Shakespeare in Clark Park has announced a fresh and exciting take on their annual summer Shakespeare with a musical adaptation of Two Gentlemen of Verona.

REVIEW: Tennessee Williams' SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER Is Presented With Simplicity At Ensemble Theatre

Shaun Rennie (Director) allows Tennessee Williams’ words to be the hero of the night as he presents a captivatingly simple expression of SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER at Ensemble Theatre.

NEXT TO NORMAL to Launch Paramount's Second Bold Series in July

Prepare to be spellbound by the award-winning musical Next to Normal, playing July 26-September 3, 2023 in Paramount Theatre’s intimate new Copley Theatre in downtown Aurora.

Tennessee Williams St. Louis Receives Whitaker and MHC Grants

Tennessee Williams St. Louis has received the generous support of the W H I T A K E R  F O U N D A T I O N for its mainstage production of Suddenly Last Summer to be presented in COCA's Berges Theatre during the 8th Annual Tennessee Williams Festival September 7 - 17.

TENNESSEE RISING: THE DAWN OF TENNESSEE WILLIAMS to Return Off-Broadway For Pride Month

The newly renovated AMT Theater in midtown will host a special LGBT+ Pride return engagement of the Off-Broadway Premiere of TENNESSEE RISING: THE DAWN OF TENNESSEE WILLIAMS, a solo play written and performed by Jacob Storms.

City Lit Sets 2023-24 Season; Producer/Artistic Director Terry McCabe to Retire

City Lit Producer and Artistic Director Terry McCabe announced that the theatre’s 2023-2024 season—its forty-third—will be his last on its staff. 

ON THE FLY 2023: THEN & NOW to be Presented at The Actors Studio This Weekend

This weekend, The Actors Studio continues its 75th Anniversary celebration as the world’s most celebrated and influential membership association for professional actors, directors and playwrights.

Review: PORCA MISERIA, Barbican Theatre

Sometimes show titles are spot-on perfect, albeit unintentionally. Porca Miseria is, in the Italian vernacular, an expression of frustration, something I would use when losing a cufflink or after sitting through a three hour-plus triptych of dance works that is, in the English vernacular, patently bobbins.

Angela Davis, A.B. Spellman & More to Join BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT: THEN AND NOW

Harlem Stage has announces details for the Black Arts Movement: Then and Now Conference, curated by Harlem Stage Associate Artistic Director/Artist-in-Residence Carl Hancock Rux and exploring the legacy of the groundbreaking, influential, and controversial movement of the 1960s and ‘70s.

Leslie Bramm's New Play, MOLLY JONES STEALS HOME Will Be Presented At Alchemical Studio

Leslie Bramm's new play, Molly Jones Steals Home, will be presented at Alchemical Studio in NYC at May 21 st 7pm. Directed by Saki Kawamura.

Previews: THE CHILDREN'S HOUR at Allways Lounge

Two staged readings focusing on women who love women will occur at the Allways Lounge Twilight Room on May 12 at 7 p.m.

Shann Smith's BLACKOUT Now Running at The Tank

This premiere of Blackout can be found at the Tank, the foremost location for Original Work in the city. Performances are throughout May for this powerful story.

The Everyman Launches A Stellar Summer Season

The Everyman has announced its summer 2023 programme. The season's highlight will be The Everyman's production of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams which runs from Wednesday, Augiust 2nd to Saturday, August 26th. It will be directed by Emma Jordan, director of the acclaimed production of Enda Walsh's The New Electric Ballroom (The Gate Theatre) which toured to the theatre earlier this year.   

JULIETA TIENE LA CULPA to be Presented at Ground floor Theater This Summer

Central Drama will present its first in person production directed by Alejandro Pedemonte. With performances by Verónica Pomata, Lorena Elias and Peruvian actress Lilian Schiappa-Pietra.

SLAP&TICKLE Immersive Theatrical Experience is Coming to The Eagle NYC This Spring

Boundless Theater's New York premiere of Slap&Tickle, a thought-provoking, comedic, and sensual play written by David James Parr will be presented as an immersive theatrical experience at The Eagle NYC.

Television Stars and Award-Winning Theatre Come to Pleasance this Edinburgh Fringe

The third Edinburgh Fringe announcement for the Pleasance Theatre Trust features further huge theatrical and comedic names, noteworthy newcomers, international inspirational talent and insightful talks. 

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).

Best Revival (Olivier Awards) for A Streetcar Named Desire , Best Play (Tony Awards) for Not About Nightingales , Best Revival of a Play or Comedy (Olivier Awards) for Sweet Bird Of Youth , Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for The Night of the Iguana , Best Play (Tony Awards) for The Night of the Iguana , Best Play (Evening Standard Awards) for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof , Best Play (Tony Awards) for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof , Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof , The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Cat on A Hot Tin Roof , Best Play (Tony Awards) for The Rose Tattoo Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for A Streetcar Named Desire and Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for The Glass Menagerie .

Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for The Night of the Iguana, Best Play (Evening Standard Awards) for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Cat on A Hot Tin Roof , Best Play (Tony Awards) for The Rose Tattoo Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for A Streetcar Named Desireand Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for The Glass Menagerie.

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