Your surroundings shape you, especially at a young and impressionable age, and Tennessee Williams was hammered, formed and stamped by the Mississippi Delta and specifically Clarksdale.
He burst upon Broadway in his 30s to become one of America’s most famous playwrights. And many of the characters, places and story lines found in his play can be found in Clarksdale.
Clarksdale and Coahoma Community College will host the 31th Annual MS Delta Tennessee Williams Festival (MDTWF), this weekend, with its traditional line up of favorite events and a number of new one, too.
This year's festival will include a tour through the Delta, as the event tries to immerse festival-goers in the larger community – the region of the world – that shaped Tennessee Williams.
A special festival reunion will bring the community together and look at festivals past and how they have benefitted Clarksdale and spread the news about Tennessee Williams and the impact he had on Broadway and the nation.
This year the 1956 film Baby Doll will be screened. The two plays that inspired it, The Unsatisfactory Supper and 27 Wagons Full of Cotton will also be reviewed.
On Thursday the Cutrer Mansion will host a “A Toast to Dr. W. Kenneth Holditch” featuring performance by the Coahoma Community College Choir under the direction of Dr. Kelvin K. Towers.
The 2023 MDTWF is dedicated to the late Dr. W. Kenneth Holditch, Professor Emeritus at the University of New Orleans and World Renowned Williams Scholar. Holditch was one of the original consultants for the Clarksdale festival and served as the keynote speaker for many years as well.
All Tennessee Williams Festival events are free but those that serve food do require the purchase of a ticket.
On Friday morning a series of lectures will be held at Coahoma Community College on Friars Point Road.
Friday afternoon will see the Clarksdale Woman’s Club host a presentation by Karen Kohlhaas, “A Hollywood Review: On Location in the Mississippi Delta.” Kohlhaas will tell the story of the Hollywood movie whose production took over the lives of many residents in Benoit and Greenville, when the cast and crew of Baby Doll came to town.
The festival favorite “Porch Plays” begin Friday afternoon and again Saturday afternoon.
This year’s Master of Festivities is Dr. Clay Motley, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University.
There are more than two dozen events planned for the three day weekend. For a complete lineup go to deltawilliamsfestival.com or stop by the Cutrer Mansion at 109 Clark Street during regular business hours.
