Tennessee Williams' plays find new licensing steward as part of 'next chapter'

Licensing of Tennessee Williams’ plays is to be overseen by a global company committed to managing literary and theatrical estates, as part of a tie-up with the American university that owns his catalogue of work.

International Literary Properties, which runs offices in both New York and London, is to partner with liberal arts college University of the South (familiarly known as Sewanee) to help deliver the rights for Williams’ stage productions, as well as future film and television adaptations of his plays.

Williams, who died at 71 in 1983, gifted his collected writings to the state of Tennessee’s University of the South in his will, in honour of a familial connection to the institution.

Williams is best known for plays such as A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie, and secured two Pulitzer prizes for his output.

But going forward, the university tasked with looking after his writing is to work with ILP, allowing the company to manage Williams’ copyrighted material and oversee stock and amateur licensing.

ILP will work closely with existing key partners, including the properties’ key representatives and publishers, including Casarotto Ramsay & Associates in London and Concord Theatricals, for stock and amateur licensing.

ILP chief executive of the company’s theatrical division, Michael Barra, said: "It is an honour to join with our esteemed colleagues at the University of the South to help steward the masterworks of Tennessee Williams and bring them to new generations of theatre fans across all media and markets."

University of the South vice chancellor and president Rob Pearigen added: "The university’s partnership with ILP marks an important next chapter in Sewanee’s stewardship of the Tennessee Williams estate and promotion of the playwright’s extraordinary legacy."