Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis Launches TEN for TENN Anniversary Season for 2025
by Grayling Holmes
This year, the Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis (TWSTL) makes history. It kicks off its tenth year of filling the senses of fans and followers with the works of the Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright and toast of the St. Louis theatrical world, the inimitable Tennessee Williams. Dubbed the TEN for TENN Anniversary Season, the St. Louis Metro area and beyond will witness the brilliant legacy of what many consider to be America’s greatest playwright with a series of events slated through Fall 2025.
“To celebrate our 10th Annual Festival, we bring to you something old…and something new. The best of the best and the best that is yet to come,” said TWSTL Executive Director Carrie Houk.” After a seven-year hiatus we bring you one of Tennessee William’s most iconic plays, “A Streetcar Named Desire” seen through a new lens and directed by famed director and actor, Austin Pendleton,” she added. “In addition to our annual pool party, walking tour, book-signings , talk-backs, panel discussions and social events, we will be welcoming other beloved St Louis arts organizations to participate in our Tennessee Williams Tribute.”
After a seven-year hiatus TWSTL brings one of Tennessee William’s most iconic plays, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” back to the stage.
The anniversary season was launched at a fundraiser at Katie’s Pizza and Pasta Osteria’s Ballpark Village location in downtown St. Louis. The day and evening were a parade of all things Tennessee. Starting at noon, on Tuesday, January 28, patrons gathered to hear the official announcement of the events comprising the TEN for TENN Anniversary Season.
The TEN for TENN TWSTL ANNIVERSARY SEASON was launched at Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria’s Ballpark Village location at January’s end.
Patrons of the fundraising-announcement event at Katie’s were encouraged to celebrate Tennessee by eating, drinking and enjoying themselves as they soaked in the festive atmosphere. At lunchtime, the announcement was made by TWSL Executive Director Carrie Houk. In the late afternoon and throughout the evening, partygoers gathered for dinner and enjoyed Katie’s award-winning Italian food and drinks, and listened to lively music. A screening of the film version of “A Streetcar Named Desire” took place at 7pm, allowing the gathered crowd to “preview” what TWSTL will bring to the stage later this season in August. “We are delighted to host the kickoff event of the Tennessee Williams Festival,” said Katie. “As part of our Giveback Tuesday program, the entire day’s profits will be given to TWSTL so that they can continue provide St. Louis with quality theater and events surrounding this amazing artist.”
Famed director and actor, Austin Pendleton (pictured left) will direct “A Streetcar Named Desire” at the festival this August.
A Look Back How at Ten Years of TENNesee
Season 1 - 2016
“The St. Louis Rooming House Plays”:
“The Pink Bedroom”
“The Man in The Over-stuffed Chair”
“Hello From Bertha”
“In Our Profession"
“The Two Character Play” (THE Midnight Company )
“The Glass Menagerie” (UPSTREAM Theater )
Jeremy Lawrence Tennessee Williams One-Man Show
TWSTL 2016, “Two Character Play,” Michelle Hand, Joe Hanrahan, photo by Ride Hamilton.
Season 2 - 2017
“Small Craft Warnings”
“Deseo” (SPANISH -Language “A Streetcar Named Desire”
“Tennessee Rising” / One-man show Jacob Storms
“Bertha in Paradise”
TWSTL 2017, “Bertha In Paradise”, photo by Ride Hamilton.
Season 3 - 2018
“A Streetcar Named Desire”
“Will Mr. Merriweather Return From Memphis?”
“Tennessee Rising” / Jacob Storms
“Interior Panic"
TWSTL 2018, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Sophia Brown, Amy Loui. photo by Ride Hamilton.
Season 4 - 2019
“The Night of the Iguana”
“Dear Mr. Williams” / Bryan Batt)
“A Lovely Sunday for Creve Couer”
TWSTL 2019, The Night of the Iguana , Kelley Weber, Maggie Wininger, Julie Layton, Ellie Schwetyephoto, photo by Prophotostl
TWSTL 2019, “The Night of the Iguana,” James Andrew Butz, Nizi Sturgis, photo by Prophotostl.
TWSTL 2019, “A Lovely Sunday” actors Kelley Weber, Maggie Wininger, Julie Layton, Ellie Schwetye, photo by Prophotostl.
Season 5 - 2020
“Something Spoken: Tennessee Williams on the Air” / Classic 107.3
“This Property is Condemned”
“Hello From Bertha”
"Summer at The Lake”
“The Glass Menagerie” / Classic 107.3
“Glass” / by Michael Aman / Classic 107.3
“The Man in the Overstuffed Chair” / Classic 107.3
Season 6 - 2021
“The Glass Menagerie” / Tennessee Williams residence Central West End
“Something Spoken” Tennessee Williams on the Air” / Classic 107.3
“The Case of The Crushed Petunia” / Classic 107.3
“Sunburst” / Classic 107.3
“Something unspoken” / Classic 107.3
TWSTL 2021, The Glass Menagerie, actors Brenda Currin, Bradley James Tejeda, photo by ProPhotoSTL.com
TWSTL 2021, The Glass Menagerie, actors Chauncy Thomas, Elizabeth Teeter, photo by ProPhotoSTL.
Season 7 - 2022
“The Rose Tattoo”
2022, Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis, “The Rose Tattoo.”
Season 8 - 2023
“ Suddenly Last Summer “
“Something Unspoken”
“The Glass Menagerie” / TEATRE BAZ
Naima Randolph as the traumatized Catharine Holly in an impeccably staged “Suddenly Last Summer,” was the centerpiece of the 2023 Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis.
Season 9 - 2024
“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”
“The Magic Tower”
“In Our Profession”
“The Fat MAn’s Wife"
The 2024 cast of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” by the Tennessee Williams Festival.
Season 10 - 2025
“A Streetcar Named Desire”
About A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire was Williams’s second major success, following The Glass Menagerie. Streetcar opened on Broadway in 1947 and won his first Pulitzer Prize in 1948. It is considered one of the most acclaimed plays of the 20th century. “It has been performed countless times throughout the years and still has the power to arrest the attention of audiences, mesmerize them and captivate them with the riveting power only Tennessee can bring to the medium,” said Houk. For 2025, TWSTL one his most iconic plays to the stage again. “A Streetcar Named Desire” will be seen through a new lens and directed by famed director and actor, Austin Pendleton. Big , bright and bold - Blanche DuBois will be thrust into the cacophonous world of New Orleans- the same world that Tennessee Williams tumbled into when he left St. Louis,” she continued.
TWSTL has brought in award-winning director Pendelton this year. “With awards under his belt such as the L.A. Drama Critics Award - Best Writing (Orson's Shadow); Clarence Derwent Award (Hail Strawdyke); Obie Award (The Last Sweet Days of Isaac), we are indeed fortunate to have someone of his caliber,” said Houk.
Said Pendleton, “The first time I saw "A Streetcar Named Desire," in my hometown of Warren, Ohio, in an excellent production by our community theater, I wandered around in a daze. It was the first time I ever had the experience of worrying about a character. I was haunted by thoughts of what was going to happen to her. I wanted, actually, to stop her. I found myself speaking to her as if she were right there beside me. And then I realized that I was going to be haunted by Tennessee.”
"A Streetcar Named Desire is one of the significant American plays everyone should see in their lifetime. The Tennessee Williams Festival is excited to present this masterpiece this year at our 10th anniversary season,” said TWSTL Board President Ted Wight.
TEN for TENN TWSTL 10th Anniversary Season-At-A-Glance
February 17, 2025
Call for Submissions Tennessee Williams St. Louis Playwriting Initiative
sponsored by Trio Foundation of St. Louis
April 2025
Book Launch / Left Bank Books (TBD)
“Early Stories by Tennessee Williams”
Tom Mitchell, Editor Thomas Keith , Contributor
Early Stories by Tennessee Williams by Tom Mitchell and Thomas Keith.
July 14, 2025
2025 Season Preview: St Louis County Library
Featuring Artists and Designers TWFest 2025
July 20, 2025
Tennessee Williams Annual Pool Party (fundraiser)
August 7-17
10th Annual Tennessee Williams Festival
The Link Auditorium and Central West End
“A Streetcar Named Desire” /Director Austin Pendleton
“A Conversation with Director Austin Pendleton”
Tennessee Williams Tribute :
A special evening of readings, song, dance and music celebrating the work of Tennessee Williams. A collaboration of other major St. Louis Arts Organizations including Opera Theater of St. Louis
Stella Shouting Contest / Grand Center
August 9 & 1
Panels and Presentations
Full day of panels addressing themes of the 2025 Festival
Led by Thomas Mitchell and various TW scholars
Central West End Walking Tour
“Costume or Couture?”
Discussion of costume design influence on everyday fashion with designers of both. Fashion show.
Fall 2025
Trio Foundation of St Louis Playwriting Initiative Finalists Staged Readings / Fall 2025 “Flight”
About the Festival
Award-winning producer, casting director, actor, and educator Carrie Houk.
In 2014, award-winning producer, casting director, actor, and educator Carrie Houk produced Williams’ Stairs to the Roof with such success that the ongoing annual Festival was established. The Festival, which aims to enrich the cultural life of St. Louis by producing an annual theater festival and other artistic events that celebrate the artistry and life of Tennessee Williams, was named the Arts Startup of the Year Award by the Arts and Education Council at the 2019 St. Louis Arts Awards. In its eight iterations since 2016, the Festival has attracted thousands to its readings, panel discussions, concerts, exhibitions, and productions, has reached hundreds of young people through its educational programming, and has garnered 13 awards from the St. Louis people through its educational programming, and has garnered 13 awards from the St. Louis
Theater Circle and was recently nominated for a St. Louis Theater Circle awards for Outstanding Performer in a Drama, Female or Non-Binary Role for 2023’s Suddenly Last Summer. TWSTL offices are located at 3301 Washington Ave. Suite 2F, St. Louis, MO 63103.
About Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams, early years.
Born Thomas Lanier Williams III in 1911 in Mississippi, Williams moved to St. Louis at age seven, when his father was made an executive with the International Shoe Company (where the City Museum and the Last Hotel are now located). He lived here for more than two decades, attending
Washington University, working at the International Shoe Company, and producing his first plays at local theaters. He credited his sometimes-difficult experiences in St. Louis for the deeply felt poetic essence that permeates his artistry. When asked later in life when he left St. Louis, he replied, “I never really left.” Most people are familiar with the famous works that have garnered multiple Pulitzer Prizes, Tony Awards, and Academy Awards, such as The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Suddenly Last Summer. He also wrote hundreds of additional plays, stories, essays, and poems, many of which are only now seeing the light of day as his estate permits greater access. He is today considered by many leading authorities to be one of America’s greatest playwrights.
Tennessee Williams, later years.