Tennessee Williams’ name is most often associated with stage classics such as “The Glass Menagerie,” “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” However, the acclaimed late playwright, who was born in Columbus March 26, 1911, is also known for his poetry and short stories. The 14th annual Tennessee Williams Tribute and Tour of Victorian Homes celebrates that work with Tennessee Williams’ Poetry Out Loud Sunday, Sept. 13.
The 1:30 p.m. program in the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library conference room is free to the public. Elizabeth Simpson will moderate the event that also features area readers Sid Caradine, Joy Carino, Dr. Kendall Dunkelberg, Kathryn Hintz, Deborah Johnson, Dr. Jack White and Dr. Kim Whitehead. The audience will also hear a recording of Williams reading his own poetry.
“We have several young people and adults participating in the program this year,” said Simpson. “One feature we have will be a selection from a just-published short story Tennessee Williams wrote called ‘The Eye That Saw Death.'” Sid Caradine will present the excerpt from this early work thought to have been penned when Williams was still in high school. It was published this past spring in The Strand Magazine.
Planning the Poetry Out Loud event has been a joy for Simpson.
“This poetry is very close to the heart,” she said. “It’s very intimate, an expression of strong feeling.”
Tribute audiences have always been receptive and responsive, she added.
Young violinist Aiden Dunkelberg of Columbus will contribute music for the afternoon occasion that precedes a tour of Victorian homes that will be open from 2-5 p.m.
A Tennessee Williams memorabilia collection, housed at the library, will also be open for viewing Sept. 13 and throughout the Tribute, which is Sept. 6-13. Visit muw.edu/tennesseewilliams for a schedule of the week’s events, or contact Brenda Caradine, 662-328-5413.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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