Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Brick, an alcoholic ex-football player, drinks his days away and resists the affections of his wife, Maggie. His reunion with his father, Big Daddy, who is dying of cancer, jogs a host of memories and revelations for both father and son.

This program considers the unique synergy between Method acting and poetic realism, as Ellen Adler and Tom Oppenheim, of the Stella Adler Conservatory, and author William Simon track the changes in American theater from pre– to post–World War II society. America’s newfound place on the world stage is spotlighted, along with the careers of Paul Robeson, Canada Lee, and Marlon Brando; milestone plays such as A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Bus Stop, and The Crucible; and the iconic stature of Times Square, the heart of New York’s mainstream theater. The program also sums up more than 200 years of American life as reflected by the theater that has shaped the nation’s cultural history.

This outstanding program traces the life of Tennessee Williams, revisiting the locations in the Southern states that were his inspiration. Scenes from Williams’ most memorable works, including The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire, evoke the atmosphere, characters, and conflicts of the Deep South, while footage of a rare television interview and a dramatic reenactment of the life of the young Tennessee provide new insights into one of America’s greatest playwrights.