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Tennessee Williams Headshot

Tennessee Williams

Date of Death: February 25, 1983 (71)

Birth Place: Columbus, MS, USA

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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.

Photos

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


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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


winner
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


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New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1955 - Best American Play

Tennessee Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof


winner
The Pulitzer Prize - 1955 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Tennessee Williams, Cat on A Hot Tin Roof


winner
Tony Awards - 1951 - Best Play

Tennessee Williams, The Rose Tattoo


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

Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1945 - Best American Play

Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie

Videos

News


KOWALSKI Extends Run at At The Duke on 42nd Street at New 42 Studios

Gregg Ostrin’s Kowalski, directed by Colin Hanlon, has extended its Off-Broadway run at The Duke on 42nd Street. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
DIE GLASMENAGERIE Comes to Theater Basel This Month

Die Glasmenagerie is coming to Theater Basel this month. Tennessee Williams' classic about the disillusionment of a family was first performed in German in Basel in 1946.
Cast Set For A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at Theatre 29

This spring Theatre 29 is set to stage a production of the Pulitzer prize winning “A Streetcar Named Desire”. Learn more about the cast here!
Photos: Robin Lord Taylor and Brandon Flynn in KOWALSKI

Performances are now underway for Kowalski, a new play by Gregg Ostrin, directed by Colin Hanlon. Kowalski delves deep into the mind of one of America's most iconic playwrights, Tennessee Williams, as he meets Marlon Brando for the first time. Check out first photos of the cast in action.
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Licensing Available to High Schools Through Broadway Licensing

Water for Elephants is now available for licensing exclusively to high schools. This exciting opportunity allows high schools to stage the show beginning in early fall 2025, alongside the launch of the musical’s First National Tour.
Previews: THE PEOPLE DOWNSTAIRS at Stageworks Theatre

On stage, February 7-23, at Stagework Theatre is Natalie Symons's 'The People Downstairs.' Symons, an avid actor since childhood, recalls, 'Even as a kid, I demanded my little friends be actors in my fully staged backyard productions... I was a nightmare.' Despite her early retirement from acting to concentrate on writing, she found playwriting to be a natural evolution of storytelling.
South Florida Symphony Orchestra Announces Valentine's Day Program

South Florida Symphony Orchestra will present an adventurous Valentine's Day program featuring three orchestra premieres, headlined by the return of R. Strauss' Don Juan. Led by SFSO's award-winning music director Sebrina María Alfonso and featuring soprano Amy Shoremount-Obra, the concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 14, at the Tennessee Williams Theatre at The College of the Florida Keys.
Review: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at Imago Theatre

Williams' meditation on truth, desire, and survival still resonates, and his masterful writing ensures that even after three hours, the final moments of STREETCAR remain as powerful as ever.
THE GLASS MENAGERIE to be Presented at Detroit Mercy Theatre Company

Detroit Mercy Theatre Company present Tennessee Williams' classic American play The Glass Menagerie at the Marlene Boll Theatre inside Detroit's Boll Family YMCA. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
Cast and Creative Team Set for THE GLASS MENAGERIE at Alley Theatre

The Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre has revealed the cast and creative team of Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
John Douglas Thompson To Be Honored At Red Bull Theater Benefit

Red Bull Theater has announced that John Douglas Thompson will be presented with the Matador Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Classical Theater at the Running of the Red Bulls Gala Benefit.
THIS IS GOVERNMENT by Nina Kissinger Wins the 2025 Stanley Drama Award

Wagner College Theatre has announced that Nina Kissinger is the winner of the 2025 Stanley Drama Award for her dark comedy, THIS IS GOVERNMENT. The play follows three interns trapped in a lockdown as they navigate the chaos of political disarray-and confront the question of what power, if any, they truly possess.
KOWALSKI Begins Performances This Week At The Duke On 42

Kowalski, a new play by Gregg Ostrin, directed by Colin Hanlon, that delves deep into the mind of one of America's most iconic playwrights, Tennessee Williams, as he meets Marlon Brando for the first time.
Joanna Vanderham Joins A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at Crucible Theatre

Joanna Vanderham will join the cast as Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire at Sheffield Theatres. Learn more about the show here!
THE SONDHEIM SESSIONS Comes To The Green Room 42

The Green Room 42 will present Bligh Voth, Joel de Candio, and Nolan Bonvouloir in 'The Sondheim Sessions'. The popular NYC Sondheim series returns following successful shows in 2023 and 2024.
See Linda Eder, Derek Klena & More Next Week at 54 Below

Next week, 54 BELOW will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Linda Eder, Derek Klena and more.
Tennessee Williams Festival To Host a Ball in January

In keeping with the spirit of Carnival season, the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival will host a ball at the Hotel Peter & Paul. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
Los Altos Stage Company Presents THE GLASS MENAGERIE

Los Altos Stage Company has announced its upcoming presentation of a classic of American theater, the unforgettable and haunting memory play, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.
Derek Klena, Kerry Ellis & More to Perform at 54 Below in January

In January, 54 BELOW will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Derek Klena, Kerry Ellis, and many more! Learn how to purchase tickets.
Edward Albee's A DELICATE BALANCE Announced At Island City Stage

Family secrets, friendship and loyalties drive the heart of Island City Stage's milestone production of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play A Delicate Balance, running January 16 – February 9.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Tennessee Williams written?

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).

What awards has Tennessee Williams been nominated for?

Tennessee Williams has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of his 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."

What awards has Tennessee Williams won?

Tennessee Williams has won several awards for his plays. Some of his notable wins include 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 received 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." Additionally, Williams was honored with the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

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