“Not About Nightingales”

Written in 1938 and based on an actual newspaper story, the play follows the events of a prison atrocity that shocked the nation: convicts leading a hunger strike in a Pennsylvania prison were locked in a steam-heated cell and roasted to death. Williams later said: “I have never written anything since that could compete with it in violence and horror.” In early 1998, 60 years after it was written, “Not About Nightingales” had its world premiere at Britain’s Royal National Theatre, having been brought to the attention of the director Trevor Nunn by the actress Vanessa Redgrave. “Not About Nightingales” shows us the young playwright (only 26 and for the first time using his signature “Tennessee”) as a political writer, passionate about social injustice and reflecting the plight of outcasts in Depression Era America.

By Tennessee Williams, directed by Edward Torres.

Times and tickets for the UIC Theatre production.

Post-Show talks Sunday, April 14, with special guest artists.

High school matinee Tuesday, April 16; for special group pricing, contact 312-996-2939 or email theatre@uic.edu.