Coahoma Community College News March 23, 2012 Delta Literary Tour Visitors Applaud Tennessee Williams History, Porch Plays CLARKSDALE - Clarksdale's influence as the childhood home of premiere American playwright Tennessee Williams became a reality this week for members the Delta Literary Tour visiting the Mississippi Delta. More than 40 visitors from California to Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi applauded porch plays from classic Williams dramas in the historic district and scholarly lectures inside the 100-year-old St. George's Episcopal Church where the Rev. Walter Dakin, his grandfather, served as rector for 16 years. Arriving on a tour bus after viewing handmade quilts at the Tutwiler Community Education Center, the visitors attending the annual Conference for the Book at the University of Mississippi were greeted by members of Coahoma Community College's Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival. Dr. Colby Kullman, Ole Miss English professor who teaches a class on Tennessee Williams and plays a major role in Clarksdale's Williams Festival described the close ties between the playwright and his grandfather. He distributed papers listing the many sites and residents of Clarksdale that later were transformed into settings and characters in the playwright's great Delta plays. Earlier Dr. Anne Connell of Memphis, a tour group member and former Clarksdale resident, talked about the church history, its positive community outreach, and the popularity of Reverend Dakin. During a lunch of Southern cuisine favorites in the church parish hall, Ranchero Restaurant owner Chris Card related the history of her family's restaurant and its numerous sports celebrity diners. Welcoming visitors, the Rev. Jason Shelby, current church rector, commented on the strong support the playwright received as a child from his grandparents when he was living in the rectory. With enthusiasm he also informed the group about the Tennessee Williams memorabilia collection and renovation under way on the second floor of the former rectory. Presenting a paper following lunch was Williams scholar Jack Barbara of Oxford. Performing scenes from "A Streetcar Named Desire" with references to the Moon Lake Casino were Theatre Oxford actors Alice Walker as Blanche DuBois and Jared Davis as Stanley Kowalski. Sundance Film Festival award-winning actor Johnny McPhail, also of Theatre Oxford, presented excerpts from "The Last of My Solid Gold Watches," a Tennessee Williams one-act play set in Clarksdale's Alcazar Hotel. All three actors perform each October at the annual Williams Festival. The 2012 festival is scheduled for Oct. 12-13, 2012. For updates, view www.coahomacc.edu/twilliams. The Delta Literary Tour is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at Ole Miss with Jimmy Thomas as tour director. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.