TWStL 2023 Announces 8th Fest & Additional Programs

ST. LOUIS - April 6, 2023 - PRLog -- This year's fall Festival will give center stage to Suddenly Last Summer, a drama by Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright Williams, directed by award-winning director, Tim Ocel at the Catherine B. Berges Theatre at Center of Creative Arts (COCA) on September 7-17.

This fresh retelling of Suddenly Last Summer, first performed in 1957, focuses on the life and death of closeted gay poet Sebastian Venable, who is brutally murdered while on a trip to Italy with his cousin Catharine. After the recent tragedy, Mrs. Venable will stop at nothing to keep her son's (and her own) secrets safe. Generally accepted as a modern-day horror story, this play has autobiographical roots from Williams' own family life.

"University City Years" will be a focus for the fall Festival. In addition to the Williams family living in U. City from 1926-1937,

Originally performed as a curtain raiser for Suddenly Last Summer and billed as the "Garden District Plays," Something Unspoken features Brenda Currin and Julie Layton, reprising their roles from the Classic 107.3 radio performance. The play will be performed site-specifically at the magnificent home of University City Mayor prior to select Suddenly Last Summer performances at COCA.

The following panels which will further shed light upon the themes of the play and draw connections between Williams' life in St. Louis and his artistry, will take place at COCA.

—The Civil Rights Era, Tennessee Williams and St. Louis
—Tennessee's "Madness"
— University City as Inspiration to a Young Writer

Other events include:

• Workshop Reading of The Vengeance of Nitocris
• Book Signing & Discussion of Tom Mitchell's new publication of Williams' short stories: Caterpillar Dogs: and Other Early Stories
• A Walking Tour of University City
• Late Night Beatnik Jam at Blueberry Hill
• TW Tribute featuring cast members & favorite STL actors
• Film screening of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in collaboration with Cinema St. Louis

Before the Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis (TWStL) returns this fall, the organization will kick off its eighth year with a reprise of their Something Spoken radio series late April and an intimate cabaret performance and fundraiser early summer.

"Something Spoken: Tennessee Williams on the Air" will air April 29, May 6, 13, 20 at 4:00 PM on Classic 107.3 (live and online).

On May 31, at 7:30pm, a fundraiser performance of The Brass Menagerie cabaret with Amy Jo Jackson - a campy romp through the women of Tennessee Williams…in SONG! will be presented at The Curtain Call Lounge in Grand Center. An additional public performance will take place June 1^st at 7:30pm.

Festival event details can be found at twstl.org (https://www.twstl.org/).