FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 18, 2010

Tennessee Williams scholars at MUW

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Carrier Chapel, on the campus of Mississippi University for Women, will host several scholars of local celebrity playwright Tennessee Williams on Friday and Saturday afternoon, Sept. 10 and 11, as part of the annual Tennessee Williams Tribute, which begins
Sept. 6.

The Scholars' Panel is sponsored by the Mississippi Humanities Council, The Tennessee Williams Tribute Committee and The Center for Women's Research and Public Policy at MUW. Director of the Scholars' Panel Dr. Bridget Smith Pieschel says, “We are very fortunate to have scholars of this caliber presenting on our campus during the Tennessee Williams Tribute week. Their creative ideas and perceptive comments help all of us to understand the international significance of one of Columbus ' most famous sons.”

Presentations are free and open to the public and provide a range of interesting topics connected to Tennessee Williams' life and work. From audience members who consider themselves Tennessee Williams experts to those who just dabble in drama, everyone will enjoy hearing these scholars' insights and ideas.

Friday afternoon at 2 p.m., Dr. Ralph Voss, professor of English at The University of Alabama, will present his talk “With Friends Like These…Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote.”

Following Dr. Voss, at 3 p.m. Dr. Kim Whitehead, assistant professor of English and religious studies at MUW, will speak about “Misread Magdalens: Blanche DuBois and the Penitent Mary.”

On Saturday morning at 10 a.m., Dr. Colby Kullman, professor of English and Film at the University of Mississippi , will open the scholars' panel with “Tennessee Williams' ‘Spring Storm' and the Games People Play.”

At 11 a.m., Dr. John Gronbeck-Tedesco, professor of theatre at the University of Kansas , will conclude the scholars' presentations with “Williams and the ‘American Religion': From Gnosis to Light.”

For more information about the scholars' panel, email Dr. Pieschel at pieschel@muw.edu , call (662) 241-6125 or visit the CWRPP events website at http://web2.muw.edu/index.php/en/womens-research-events.html .

For more information about the Tennessee Williams Tribute, visit http://www.muw.edu/tennesseewilliams/ or call (662) 328-0222.