Feature: Aaron Nichols on A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

This upcoming weekend, the South Bend Civic Theatre will be opening their newest drama, A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams. The director of the production, Aaron Nichols, had these words to share on the play that is considered one of the greatest works of theatre from the 20th century:

"Seventy years ago, 36-year-old Tennessee Williams set the world on fire with his incendiary Southern Gothic tragedy. A Streetcar Named Desire bellowed and brawled, creating poetry from the gritty reality of its characters and setting. Now considered one of America's greatest plays, Streetcar unflinchingly explores the solitary wars we wage: refinement versus vulgarity, love versus lust, who we are versus who we wish to be.

Williams once said, "there is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go." These characters are bold but have reached the end of their maps. Stella has left the claustrophobic comforts of gentility for sensual but frugal freedom; Blanche has left career and reputation to search for an uncertain security; and Stanley, dropped back into civilian life after the virtuous violence of WWII, is left cocksure but unprepared for life "in a house with women."

When Williams was asked what the play was about, he gave one word: fidelity. We now enter Blanche and Stanley's tug of war for the love of Stella. We join their fight to be faithful to each other, to themselves, and to their ghosts. Hold on tight as our Streetcar leaves the station; it's going to be a wild ride."

A Streetcar Named Desire is running at the South Bend Civic Theatre from March 31st until April 9th. For more information, please visit: http://sbct.org/shows/2017/a-streetcar-named-desire/

Aaron Nichols is the Audience Development Manager for Shakespeare at Notre Dame and believes in theatre's ability to engage, connect, uplift, and transform. Since returning from Chicago in 2002, he has been active as a director, actor, designer, and adjudicator. Favorite local directing credits include Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (New World Arts), Acting: The First Six Lessons (The Acting Ensemble), Shadowlands (Bethel College), It Can't Happen Here (Notre Dame Film, Television, and Theatre), and the award-winning The Other Place (South Bend Civic Theatre). He is currently directing A Streetcar Named Desire for South Bend Civic Theatre.

Photo Credit: Jon Gilchrist

1. Anastasia Spalding as Blanche