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“Then and there the theatre and I found each other for better or for worse. I know it’s the only thing that saved my life.” - 1972. Tennessee williams. Born: Thomas Lanier Williams March 26, 1911 in Mississippi Moved to St. Louis in 1918. Tennessee williams.
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“Then and there the theatre and I found each other for better or for worse. I know it’s the only thing that saved my life.” - 1972 Tennessee williams
Born: Thomas Lanier Williams March 26, 1911 in Mississippi Moved to St. Louis in 1918 Tennessee williams
Nicknamed “Tennessee” by classmates for his thick southern accent Father was a manager in a shoe warehouse One sister, Rose Tennessee williams
Two years older, close friends She suffered from declining emotional stability Labeled “different” and described as lonely and forlorn In 1937, Rose received a pre-frontal lobotomy Williams learned of this through a letter from his mother She remained in hospitals (with caregivers) for life Tennessee & Rose williams
Published writer from a young age (16) Enrolled at University of Missouri in 1929 Withdrew as a junior to work for his father In 1935, had an emotional breakdown and moved to Memphis Tennessee williams
Around this time came to terms with his homosexuality Graduated from University of Iowa in 1937 As an adult, lived in New Orleans, many other cities Tennessee williams
Turning point in his career Premiere of The Glass Menagerie Tennessee williams & 1944
Wrote over 25 full-length plays, as well as many shorter ones, novels, essays, poems, short stories A Streetcar Named Desire (1948) Pulitzer Prize Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955) Pulitzer Prize Tennessee williams as playwright
Death of his longtime partner, Frank Merlo Began a period of depression and addiction Died in NYC in 1983 in a hotel from choking on a pill bottle cap Tennessee williams post-1961