Tag Archives: Tennessee Williams

The Key to Streetcar Named Desire is Stella, and Don’t Let Anyone Tell You Different: A Review of Who Am I This Time? (1982)

Posted on October 24, 2012 by sheila

A re-post, because I’ve got love and theatre on the brain. Is it not monstrous that this player here, But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, Could force his soul so to his own conceit That from her … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Does My Family Know Me Well Or What?

Posted on September 16, 2012 by sheila

A gift from my cousin Liam.

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

In Praise of Laurette Taylor: “The Rocks Became Real.”

Posted on August 29, 2012 by sheila

If you know about 20th century American theatre, you know about Laurette Taylor. I never saw her live. How could I? She died in 1946, right after her triumphant raise-the-bar-for-everyone-for-all-time performance as Amanda Wingfield in the premiere production of Tennessee … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors | Tagged , | 9 Comments

R.I.P. Ben Gazzara

Posted on February 3, 2012 by sheila

It was my favorite type of career. Long-lasting, diverse, a little bit chaotic, not overly managed, with moments of brilliance, moments of just good workmanship … and you can tell, you can just tell, that his career has been about … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, RIP | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

2011 Books Read

Posted on December 31, 2011 by sheila

Here is my annual roundup of all of the books I read this year. Not quite up to the pace I normally am (although 2009 was an all-time low), but movies and writing have become nearly full-time pursuits for me … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

The Books: Accidentally on Purpose: Reflections on Life, Acting and the Nine Natural Laws of Creativity, by John Strasberg

Posted on November 20, 2011 by sheila

Daily Book Excerpt: Theatre Next book on the acting/theatre shelf is the classic Accidentally on Purpose: Reflections on Life, Acting and the Nine Natural Laws of Creativity, by John Strasberg I took an intense acting workshop with John Strasberg, son … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , , , , | 28 Comments

The Books: Tom: The Unknown Tennessee Williams, by Lyle Leverich

Posted on November 4, 2011 by sheila

Daily Book Excerpt: Biography Next biography on the biography shelf is Tom: The Unknown Tennessee Williams, by Lyle Leverich Tried writing yesterday. Did some work on Stairs to the Roof. Not much energy but accomplished something. Even coffee doesn’t wake … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Centennial Tribute: Tennessee Williams

Posted on March 26, 2011 by sheila

Tennessee Williams was born on March 26, 1911. I have written a centennial tribute for him and it’s up now over on Edward Copeland’s excellent site. Make voyages! — Attempt them! — there’s nothing else … – Tennessee Williams, Camino … Continue reading →

Posted in On This Day, writers | Tagged | 1 Comment

On This Day: March 24, 1955

Posted on March 24, 2011 by sheila

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opened on this day, in 1955, in New York. Brooks Atkinson, one of Williams’s staunchest critic supporters, wrote: “[The play seemed] not to have been written. It is the quintessence of life.” The performances … Continue reading →

Posted in On This Day, Theatre | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Camino Real: “Make voyages! — Attempt them! — there’s nothing else …”

Posted on December 31, 2010 by sheila

Tennessee Williams had a long relationship with New Directions Publishing, due to his close relationship with James (Jay) Laughlin, founder of the company (at age 22!). Laughlin was committed to modernist writers, the ones experimenting with new forms and expressions. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , | 1 Comment