Festival Director, Scott Davis says of the Tennessee Williams Festival: “Playhouse Creatures began the Festival in 2013 to remind people of the importance of Williams’ work- and its relevancy and impact on current theatre makers. The Festival has grown into a three-day event, which, this year, will include panels, a jazz trio performing to the poetry of Tennessee, and 3 one-acts. In the past, the Festival has drawn great artists such as Emily Mann, Austin Pendleton, Lee Breuer, Maude Mitchell, Thomas Keith, Cosmin Chivu, Karen Kohlhaas, Jodie Markell, Geneva Carr- and many others. This year we are honored to have Michael Wilson and Jeff Cowie discussing the director/designer relationship, moderated by Travis Lemont Ballenger (The Drama League); and an amazing closing-night panel of women playwrights (Paola Lozaro, Anne Garcia-Romero, Nicole Gandolfo, and Maren Lavelle), with Morgan Jenness leading a discussion focusing on the struggles women playwrights face bringing their work to the stage.”

The Festival Schedule is as follows:
Thursday, June 22-
6:00-7:00- Michael Wilson and Jeff Cowie in Conversation with Travis Lemont Ballenger.
7:00-8:00- “Wine, Williams, poetry and JAZZ!” Curated by Bessie Nellis. Jazz trio: Keith Boratko, Taylor Harlow, Leon Hinata.
8:00-9:00pm- A Tennessee Triptych, presentations of: “The Chalky White Substance,” directed by Jade Ziane, “Why Do You Smoke So Much, Lily?,” directed by Dana Greenfield, and, “Ivan’s Widow,” directed by Scott Davis.
Friday, June 23-
6:00-7:00- Conversation with a SPECIAL guest.
7:00-8:00-“Wine, Williams, poetry and JAZZ!” Curated by Bessie Nellis. Jazz trio: Keith Boratko, Taylor Harlow, Leon Hinata.
8:00-9:00pm- A Tennessee Triptych, presentations of: “The Chalky White Substance,” directed by Jade Ziane, “Why Do You Smoke So Much, Lily?,” directed by Dana Greenfield, and, “Ivan’s Widow,” directed by Scott Davis.
Saturday, June 24-
6:00-7:00-A conversation with playwrights Paola Lazaro, Anne Garcia-Romero, Nicole Pandolfo, and Maren Lavelle. Morgan Jenness will moderate this discussion of the struggles women dramatists face bringing their work to the stage.
7:00-8:00pm- Jazz, Williams Poetry, and Wine: curated by Bessie Nellis.Jazz trio: Keith Boratko, Taylor Harlow, Leon Hinata.
8:00-9:00pm- A Tennessee Triptych, presentations of: “The Chalky White Substance,” directed by Jade Ziane, “Why Do You Smoke So Much, Lily?,” directed by Dana Greenfield, and, “Ivan’s Widow,” directed by Scott Davis.
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The Festival is produced by Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company, Joseph W. Rodriguez, Producing Artistic Director, Scott Davis Festival Director, Jade Ziane and Dana Greenfield, Festival Coordinators.
The PCTC Tennessee Williams Festival will be held at The Duo Multicultural Arts Center, 2nd floor. 62 East 4th Street, between Bowery and 2nd Ave. Take the F train to 2nd Ave or 6 train to Astor Place. There is no wheelchair access. Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2961176. $10 each night. $25 for a 3-night pass.

In the Duo Multicultural Arts Center, a beautiful theatre reminiscent of Tennessee Williams’ New Orleans, The Playhouse Creatures have mounted their own Tennessee Williams Festival. Each evening of the three-day festival features A Tennessee Triptych, comprised of one-acts “The Chalky White Substance,” directed by Jade Ziane; “Why Do You Smoke So Much, Lily?”, directed by Dana Greenfield; and “Ivan’s Widow,” directed by festival director Scott Davis. Seeing Williams’ lesser-known works is always interesting. On the evening I attended, the triptych was preceded by a fascinating conversation with director Austin Pendleton, and actors Irene Glazos and Joseph W. Rodriguez. Pendleton is directing Glazos and Rodriguez in an upcoming production of Williams’ final work, The Two-Character Play. Pendleton had personally known and worked with Williams prior to his death in 1982, and regaled the audience with stories of how Williams had regarded his own work objectively while still caring about the characters very deeply. He told of a tech rehearsal for A Streetcar Named Desire when Williams burst out laughing and proclaimed, “Blanche is the funniest character I ever wrote!” Pendleton also tol …Read more