The writings of Tennessee Williams are once again taking centerstage as organizers prepare to showcase his work next week.
Starting Thursday and running through Sept. 14, the Tennessee Williams Tribute and Columbus Arts Council will host six events, including theatrical performances, a poetry slam, a cocktail hour and more to celebrate the legacy of the Columbus-born playwright.
“This is the birthplace of Tennessee Williams, and he is one of the most renowned playwrights that ever lived,” TWT board member Jerry Fortenberry said. “And we need to take hold of that and embrace it in Columbus.”
Tennessee Williams was born in Columbus in 1911 before moving to Clarksdale, where he grew up. His birthplace, relocated to Main Street from its original location on College Street, now serves as a museum and as a welcome center for the city.
The tribute was started by Brenda Caradine back in 2001 and has continued to act as a way to showcase Williams’ work and bring attention to his birthplace, Fortenberry said.
Going into its 24th year, Fortenberry said the tribute is important to the community and should be kept alive. That led the group to partner with the Columbus Arts Council in 2023 because of the additional resources they could provide to ensure the tribute’s continued existence, Fortenberry said.
“We don’t have the pool of volunteers that some organizations have, and we both are active in a lot of other stuff, so it’s kind of hard to devote the kind of time that we need to this,” Fortenberry said. “And so it’s wonderful having some support from (the arts council).”
This year’s tribute will include three showings of Williams’ 1944 play “The Glass Menagerie” at the Lyceum at Lee. The first two performances are set for 7 p.m. next Friday and Saturday, with a cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m. before the Friday showing. The third performance is set for 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
In the four-person play, narrator Tom Wingfield recounts his upbringing in 1930s St. Louis with his mother Amanda and his sister Laura and her suitor Jim O’Connor. The show, which will be directed by Gabe Smith, is based on Williams’ own life and his upbringing in St. Louis. The four characters will be played by Amari Williams, Jennifer Browning, Tiffany Winter and Nick Brock.
Executive Director Garrett Torbert said the Golden Triangle Theatre this year wanted to produce one of Williams’ more well known plays for the tribute this year.
“Works like these are kind of fading into the background nowadays,” Torbert said. “And especially with his notoriety and him being a native of Columbus, we just hope to continue to educate our community and the surrounding communities about him and his works.”
Tickets for “The Glass Menagerie,” can be purchased at goldentriangletheatre.com. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children.
The four-day tribute will also include readings of the top three winning plays from Mississippi University for Women’s fifth annual 10:4 TENN 10-minute playwriting competition. The readings will begin at 3 p.m. Sept. 12 in the Second Stage Theatre at the Cromwell Center on The W campus.
There will also be a poetry slam at noon Sept. 13 in the Omnova Theatre at the Columbus Arts Council’s Rosenzweig Arts Center.
CAC Executive Director Quan Walker said she hopes there’s a great turnout for the slam poetry night and for future poetry events held by the arts council.
“I think everyone can do more together, and that’s what we’re doing here,” Walker said.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
