FACES of Tennessee Williams St. Louis
Tennessee Williams St. Louis exists because of the generosity of our community…and it’s impact is felt throughout the region, by the many who get involved in the Festival each year and the hundreds who attend the events as audience members and participants.
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St. Louis has come to know TWStL for its award-winning productions of Tennessee Williams' works. Get to know some of the faces behind the productions, the lives that have been impacted by the work of this organization!
Meet some of the individuals from the community who bring our world to life.
Tammy O’Donnell,
Actor and Volunteer
Tammy studied literature at Washington University and began volunteering for TWStL in 2018, drawn to the Festival by her love of Tennessee Williams. In 2022, Tammy was cast in the new play readings and began a journey back to a childhood passion: performing!
“Someday…I'd love to do a Tennessee Williams play. After all, it was Tennessee that got me back involved! See, I'm from the south and my mother was southern so I saw all of that drama: "Oh, the world is gonna end! How COULD you?"
After seeing Tammy on stage, and the joy it brought her, her fiancé Kevin J Whalen felt compelled to tell her: "Take a year. Go after this. See what you can do."
And that's what she's doing, full steam ahead. Since August, Tammy has built sets for Clayton Community Theatre, acted in readings with the Soulard Writer's Group, participated as an actor in a study in UMSL's psychology department and recently performed as Helga ten Dorp in Deathtrap, by Ira Levin at Webster Groves Theatre Guild.
Julia Crump, Actor
Julia has been a part of TWStL since the beginning, performing in the pre-official-Festival production of Stairs to the Roof in 2015.
“I was amazed by the beautiful poetry of [Williams’] words and how relatable the characters were. Up until that point, I had only been familiar, like most people, with some of his most famous plays and movies, but it has been a privilege over the last few years to not only learn about the life and legacy of Tennessee Williams, but to be included in the festival.”
…as a participant in The Tribute
A graduate of Saint Louis University, Julia appears in productions around the city and is proud to have performed with TWStL in You Lied to Me About Centralia, The St. Louis Rooming House Plays and The Rose Tattoo.
“One memorable experience was helping Carrie to bring David Kaplan's production of Camino Real to St. Louis. This production was amazing—the actors were all the way from the National Theatre of Ghana. I was really touched by my time on this production. Having had the opportunity to see the show multiple times, I was really amazed by both the specificity and universality of the script and the story, which was done incredible justice by the troupe of amazing actors.”
…in The Rooming House Plays
“Tennessee Williams, to me, comes alive every year during the Festival season. There is nothing more exciting than being in the show—it's always a huge learning experience both professionally and personally. The quality of the productions and the creativity is unmatched, but spending time with the works always makes me walk away with a greater understanding of people. Tennessee's works still hold up a mirror to our everyday lives (but in the most beautiful of ways). Working with his writing, from his one act plays, to poems, to essays, to his most famous plays has influenced my creative spirit deeply and leaves me inspired to find beauty, even in the most mundane situations.”
Oliver Hoven and Jeremy Price
Oliver and Jeremy, high school juniors, attended the TWStL Theatre workshop at University City High School (Tennessee Williams' alma mater) in May 2022. Later, for the 7th Annual Festival in August, they worked as ushers at a production of The Rose Tattoo at The Big Top.
"The workshop was very fun because it got us into our bodies figuring out how we move in the space and it gave us a closer connection to other kids in our class." --Oliver
"I had never been an usher before. It was cool to know that I can help out at a show, and then get to see it! I'd never seen anything like The Rose Tattoo before." --Jeremy
Dunsi Dai, Scenic Designer
Dunsi Dai has lent his impressive skill as a scenic designer to Tennessee Williams St. Louis over several years.
Dunsi grew up in China and went on to receive his BA in scene design from the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, his MA in theatre History and Stage Design from Stanford University, and his MFA in scene design from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champing.
He has designed both Off-Broadway as well as at regional theatres across the country and began working with TWStL in 2017.
"It feels great to work with TWStL. Creativity and imagination are highly encouraged and supported. A designer's dream indeed."
John H. Grizzell, TWStL Board Member and Program Designer
John H. Grizzell founded the consultancy of Grizzell & Co. in 1992. His work includes campaigns, design, and branding for a multitude of organizations—locally and nationally. He holds degrees from Webster University and Western Kentucky University, attended the Kansas City Art Institute and Harvard University- studying under such designers as Massimo Vignelli and Victor Papanek.
A long-time resident of Saint Louis, he has been a patron and supporter of the Tennessee Williams Festival since its inception.
For their excellent work on the TWStL program design, Grizzell & Co has been given several awards. See program covers from 2016 - 2022 below.
Art by Al Hirschfeld. Image design by John Grizzell.
Image design by Carrie Houk and John Grizzell
Image Design by Carrie Houk and John Grizzell
Art by Peter Shank
Art by Carlos Zamora
Art by Peter Shank
J. Myles Hesse
During his years with Tennessee Williams St. Louis Myles has used his many talents and skills in a variety of roles, Myles worked as Administrative Assistant for the 2021 Festival, and acted as Assistant Stage Manager for The Glass Menagerie. He also lent his considerable knowledge on one of the scholarly panels, "The Glass Menagerie: Themes and Variations." For the 2022 Festival Myles acted as Assistant Stage Manager for The Rose Tattoo. His play Fishing Talk was one of the five featured plays in the New Plays Reading.
"Working on Tennessee Williams' plays has taught me so much about American drama. Through the lyrical tragedy and well-crafted structure of his plays shines a flickering hope that perhaps humanity will some day be able to break down the barriers of division. And having been a member of the Tennessee Williams Festival - St. Louis for several years, I have learned that this is an organization capable of kindling that hope."
Myles is currently stage managing for the Westport Playhouse and his play, The Lily and the Mantis, will be produced by St. Charles Community College this spring. To crown his many exploits, he is also in pursuit of his PhD in English Literature at SLU!
Michele Friedman Siler
Michele Friedman Siler's costume designs have been seen all across the city, with companies like New Jewish Theatre, Moonstone, Upstream, St. Louis Shakespeare and The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis..
Tennessee Williams St. Louis has been thrilled to have her skill and talent for three productions over the years: A Streetcar Named Desire, The Glass Menagerie, and The Rose Tattoo.
"I am fascinated by the culture of Tennessee Williams fandom...theatre professionals and theatre-goers alike. Tennessee Williams hits a chord in many people. Even though none of us have lived his life, he connects to people in a strangely universal way. One of my favorite characters is Mitch from A Streetcar Named Desire. In all of humanity, he’s the Everyman. He cares so deeply…and because of that, we care so deeply."
In addition to her creative offerings as a costume designer in the St. Louis theatre community, Michele was recently named one of St louis Jewish Lights 2022 Unsung Heroes, for volunteering in the community.
A Streetcar Named Desire, photos by Ride Hamilton
The Glass Menagerie, photos by ProPhotoStl
The Rose Tattoo, photos by Suzy Gorman
Elizabeth Teeter
Elizabeth is a St. Louis native with a growing list of Broadway credits. In 2021, she won a St. Louis Theatre Award for her beautiful performance as Laura in the Tennessee Williams St. Louis production of The Glass Menagerie. Since then, she has returned to Broadway, to perform in Beetlejuice.
“Working with TWStL has been magical. Getting to speak William’s words on the very fire escape where he set The Glass Menagerie is something I’ll never forget. TWStL brings community together to experience such beautiful classics. I’m lucky to be a part of the family.”
Elizabeth has been seen on Broadway in The Crucible, The Audience and Mary Poppins and Off-Broadway in The Secret Life of Bees. In St. Louis she has graced the stage at The MUNY, the Rep, Opera Theatre St. Louis and Variety Theatre.
Chauncy Thomas
Tennessee Williams St. Louis has been delighted to feature Chauncy's talent and skill in both the 2020 on-air Festival, "Something Spoken," and in the outdoor production of The Glass Menagerie in 2021.
“Even in 2022, it’s rare for a company to be able to envision a black actor in the world of Tennessee Williams. My initial acting training focused heavily on classic works; TWSTL allows me to bring all of my truth and humanity to a body of work I truly love.”
Chauncy is a former St. Louisan, currently residing in New York City. He studied Drama and Psychology at Washington University and has worked locally at St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, The Rep, St. Louis Actors Studio and New Jewish Theatre. In New York, Chauncy has worked with Lincoln Center Education, RIPT Theater Company and Bay Street Theatre and he also has credits with the Alabama and Illinois Shakespeare Festivals.
Bradley James Tejeda
Bradley is a Tejano actor born and raised in Harlandale, San Antonio,Texas. He found his way to St. Louis in 2021 and lent his talents to Tennessee Williams St. Louis in his performance as Tom in The Glass Menagerie, then returned in 2022 to charm us all with his turn as Alvaro Mangiacavello in The Rose Tattoo. Bradley speaks of the poetry of Williams' words:
"There’s something wildly supernatural that happens when a lonely, lost soul, abandoned somehow along the way, conjures the strength to awake from their dreams to the reality of being bereft of tender love and affection.This feeling and belief haunts the shadows of static silence that wait patiently at the end of the old scratchy phonograph music. They harmonize in dissonant concert with the minor vibrant gusts that blow the sheer curtain of the open window.The bed is rigid, the air is thick, and the unwilling walk back home feels like that same wind can blow you off the edges of light and into those bottomless shadows, consumed by the fatal mud of a landslide of shame. All of this is seen in the perpetual present time and space in which Mr. Thomas Lanier Williams’ characters move to and from."
Bradley's career has taken him around the country, performing in regional theaters, on Broadway and and recently as Adam/Leo in a run of The Inheritance at The Geffen.