Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:34:40 PM Wikipedia source
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a 1955 American three-act play by Tennessee Williams. The play, an adaptation of his 1952 short story "Three Players of a Summer Game", was written between 1953 and 1955. One of Williams's more famous works and his personal favorite, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955. Set in the "plantation home in the Mississippi Delta" of Big Daddy Pollitt, a wealthy cotton tycoon, the play examines the relationships among members of Big Daddy's family, primarily between his son Brick and Maggie "the Cat", Brick's wife. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof features motifs such as social mores, greed, superficiality, mendacity, decay, sexual desire, repression, and death. The dialogue throughout is often written using nonstandard spelling intended to represent accents of the Southern United States. The original production starred Barbara Bel Geddes, Burl Ives, and Ben Gazzara. The play was adapted as a film of the same name in 1958, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman as Maggie and Brick, with Ives and Madeleine Sherwood recreating their stage roles. Williams made substantial excisions and alterations to the play for a revival in 1974. This has been the version used for most subsequent revivals, which have been numerous.
Infobox
Written by
Tennessee Williams
Characters
mw- MargaretBrickBig DaddyBig MamaMae/"Sister Woman"Gooper/"Brother Man"Doctor BaughReverend Tooker
Date premiered
March 24, 1955
Place premiered
Morosco TheatreNew York City, New York
Original language
English
Subject
Death, mendacity, relationships, loneliness, homosexuality, alcoholism
Genre
Drama, Southern Gothic
Setting
Brick and Margaret's room on the Pollitt plantation in Mississippi
Tables
· Notable casts
1955
1955
Character
1955
Broadway
1958
West End
1974
Broadway Revival
1990
Broadway Revival
2003
Broadway Revival
2008
Broadway Revival
2013
Broadway Revival
2018
London Revival
2022
Off-Broadway Revival
2024
Margaret
Margaret
Character
Margaret
Broadway
Barbara Bel Geddes
West End
Kim Stanley
Broadway Revival
Elizabeth Ashley
Broadway Revival
Kathleen Turner
Broadway Revival
Ashley Judd
Broadway Revival
Anika Noni Rose
Broadway Revival
Scarlett Johansson
London Revival
Sienna Miller
Off-Broadway Revival
Sonoya Mizuno
London Revival
Daisy Edgar-Jones
Brick
Brick
Character
Brick
Broadway
Ben Gazzara
West End
Paul Massie
Broadway Revival
Keir Dullea
Broadway Revival
Daniel Hugh Kelly
Broadway Revival
Jason Patric
Broadway Revival
Terrence Howard
Broadway Revival
Benjamin Walker
London Revival
Jack O'Connell
Off-Broadway Revival
Matt de Rogatis
London Revival
Kingsley Ben-Adir
Big Daddy
Big Daddy
Character
Big Daddy
Broadway
Burl Ives
West End
Leo McKern
Broadway Revival
Fred Gwynne
Broadway Revival
Charles Durning
Broadway Revival
Ned Beatty
Broadway Revival
James Earl Jones
Broadway Revival
Ciarán Hinds
London Revival
Colm Meaney
Off-Broadway Revival
Christian Jules le Blanc
London Revival
Lennie James
Big Mama
Big Mama
Character
Big Mama
Broadway
Mildred Dunnock
West End
Bee Duffell
Broadway Revival
Kate Reid
Broadway Revival
Polly Holliday
Broadway Revival
Margo Martindale
Broadway Revival
Phylicia Rashad
Broadway Revival
Debra Monk
London Revival
Lisa Palfrey
Off-Broadway Revival
Alison Fraser
London Revival
Clare Burt
Gooper
Gooper
Character
Gooper
Broadway
Pat Hingle
West End
Alan Tilvern
Broadway Revival
Charles Siebert
Broadway Revival
Kevin O'Rourke
Broadway Revival
Michael Mastro
Broadway Revival
Giancarlo Esposito
Broadway Revival
Michael Park
London Revival
Brian Gleeson
Off-Broadway Revival
Adam Dodway
London Revival
Seb Carrington
Mae
Mae
Character
Mae
Broadway
Madeleine Sherwood
West End
Daphne Anderson
Broadway Revival
Joan Pape
Broadway Revival
Debra Jo Rupp
Broadway Revival
Amy Hohn
Broadway Revival
Lisa Arrindell Anderson
Broadway Revival
Emily Bergl
London Revival
Hayley Squires
Off-Broadway Revival
Tiffan Borelli
London Revival
Pearl Chanda
Doctor Baugh
Doctor Baugh
Character
Doctor Baugh
Broadway
R.G. Armstrong
West End
Launce Maraschal
Broadway Revival
William Larsen
Broadway Revival
Jerome Dempsey
Broadway Revival
Edwin C. Owens
Broadway Revival
Count Stovall
Broadway Revival
Brian Reddy
London Revival
Richard Hansell
Off-Broadway Revival
Jim Kempner
London Revival
Guy Burgess
Reverend Tooker
Reverend Tooker
Character
Reverend Tooker
Broadway
Fred Stewart
West End
Roger Winton
Broadway Revival
Wyman Pendleton
Broadway Revival
Nesbitt Blaisdell
Broadway Revival
Patrick Collins
Broadway Revival
Lou Myers
Broadway Revival
Vin Knight
London Revival
Michael J. Shannon
Off-Broadway Revival
Milton Elliott
London Revival
Derek Hagen
| Character | Broadway | West End | Broadway Revival | Broadway Revival | Broadway Revival | Broadway Revival | Broadway Revival | London Revival | Off-Broadway Revival | London Revival |
| 1955 | 1958 | 1974 | 1990 | 2003 | 2008 | 2013 | 2018 | 2022 | 2024 | |
| Margaret | Barbara Bel Geddes | Kim Stanley | Elizabeth Ashley | Kathleen Turner | Ashley Judd | Anika Noni Rose | Scarlett Johansson | Sienna Miller | Sonoya Mizuno | Daisy Edgar-Jones |
| Brick | Ben Gazzara | Paul Massie | Keir Dullea | Daniel Hugh Kelly | Jason Patric | Terrence Howard | Benjamin Walker | Jack O'Connell | Matt de Rogatis | Kingsley Ben-Adir |
| Big Daddy | Burl Ives | Leo McKern | Fred Gwynne | Charles Durning | Ned Beatty | James Earl Jones | Ciarán Hinds | Colm Meaney | Christian Jules le Blanc | Lennie James |
| Big Mama | Mildred Dunnock | Bee Duffell | Kate Reid | Polly Holliday | Margo Martindale | Phylicia Rashad | Debra Monk | Lisa Palfrey | Alison Fraser | Clare Burt |
| Gooper | Pat Hingle | Alan Tilvern | Charles Siebert | Kevin O'Rourke | Michael Mastro | Giancarlo Esposito | Michael Park | Brian Gleeson | Adam Dodway | Seb Carrington |
| Mae | Madeleine Sherwood | Daphne Anderson | Joan Pape | Debra Jo Rupp | Amy Hohn | Lisa Arrindell Anderson | Emily Bergl | Hayley Squires | Tiffan Borelli | Pearl Chanda |
| Doctor Baugh | Armstrong | Launce Maraschal | William Larsen | Jerome Dempsey | Edwin C. Owens | Count Stovall | Brian Reddy | Richard Hansell | Jim Kempner | Guy Burgess |
| Reverend Tooker | Fred Stewart | Roger Winton | Wyman Pendleton | Nesbitt Blaisdell | Patrick Collins | Lou Myers | Vin Knight | Michael J. Shannon | Milton Elliott | Derek Hagen |
· Awards and nominations › Original Broadway production
1955
1955
Year
1955
Award ceremony
New York Drama Critics' Circle
Category
Best American Play
Nominee
Tennessee Williams
Result
Won
Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
Year
Pulitzer Prize
Award ceremony
Drama
Category
Won
1956
1956
Year
1956
Award ceremony
Tony Award
Category
Best Play
Nominee
Nominated
Best Actress in a Play
Best Actress in a Play
Year
Best Actress in a Play
Award ceremony
Barbara Bel Geddes
Category
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Year
Best Director
Award ceremony
Elia Kazan
Category
Nominated
Best Scenic Design
Best Scenic Design
Year
Best Scenic Design
Award ceremony
Jo Mielziner
Category
Nominated
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 1955 | New York Drama Critics' Circle | Best American Play | Tennessee Williams | Won |
| Pulitzer Prize | Drama | Won | ||
| 1956 | Tony Award | Best Play | Nominated | |
| Best Actress in a Play | Barbara Bel Geddes | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | Elia Kazan | Nominated | ||
| Best Scenic Design | Jo Mielziner | Nominated | ||
· Awards and nominations › 1974 Broadway revival
1975
1975
Year
1975
Award ceremony
Tony Award
Category
Best Actress in a Play
Nominee
Elizabeth Ashley
Result
Nominated
Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
Year
Drama Desk Award
Award ceremony
Outstanding Actress in a Play
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Set Design
Outstanding Set Design
Year
Outstanding Set Design
Award ceremony
John Conklin
Category
Nominated
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 1975 | Tony Award | Best Actress in a Play | Elizabeth Ashley | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Play | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Set Design | John Conklin | Nominated |
· Awards and nominations › 1990 Broadway revival
1990
1990
Year
1990
Award ceremony
Tony Award
Category
Best Actress in a Play
Nominee
Kathleen Turner
Result
Nominated
Best Featured Actor in a Play
Best Featured Actor in a Play
Year
Best Featured Actor in a Play
Award ceremony
Charles Durning
Category
Won
Best Featured Actress in a Play
Best Featured Actress in a Play
Year
Best Featured Actress in a Play
Award ceremony
Polly Holliday
Category
Nominated
Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
Year
Drama Desk Award
Award ceremony
Outstanding Revival
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Year
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Award ceremony
Charles Durning
Category
Won
Outer Critics Circle Award
Outer Critics Circle Award
Year
Outer Critics Circle Award
Award ceremony
Outstanding Revival of a Play
Category
Won
Outstanding Actor in a Play
Outstanding Actor in a Play
Year
Outstanding Actor in a Play
Award ceremony
Charles Durning
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Actress in a Play
Outstanding Actress in a Play
Year
Outstanding Actress in a Play
Award ceremony
Kathleen Turner
Category
Nominated
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 1990 | Tony Award | Best Actress in a Play | Kathleen Turner | Nominated |
| Best Featured Actor in a Play | Charles Durning | Won | ||
| Best Featured Actress in a Play | Polly Holliday | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Revival | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Charles Durning | Won | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Revival of a Play | Won | ||
| Outstanding Actor in a Play | Charles Durning | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Actress in a Play | Kathleen Turner | Nominated | ||
· Awards and nominations › 2003 Broadway revival
2004
2004
Year
2004
Award ceremony
Tony Award
Category
Best Featured Actress in a Play
Nominee
Margo Martindale
Result
Nominated
Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
Year
Drama Desk Award
Award ceremony
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Category
Ned Beatty
Nominee
Won
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Year
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Award ceremony
Margo Martindale
Category
Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award
Outer Critics Circle Award
Year
Outer Critics Circle Award
Award ceremony
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Category
Ned Beatty
Nominee
Won
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Year
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Award ceremony
Margo Martindale
Category
Nominated
Drama League Award
Drama League Award
Year
Drama League Award
Award ceremony
Distinguished Revival of a Play
Category
Nominated
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2004 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Play | Margo Martindale | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Ned Beatty | Won | |
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Margo Martindale | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Ned Beatty | Won | |
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Margo Martindale | Nominated | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Revival of a Play | Nominated | ||
· Awards and nominations › 2008 Broadway revival
2008
2008
Year
2008
Award ceremony
Outer Critics Circle Award
Category
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Nominee
James Earl Jones
Result
Won
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2008 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | James Earl Jones | Won |
References
- Joseph Pulitzer Jr. pressured the prize jury into presenting the Prize to Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which the jury consider
- Williams, Tennessee. Plays 1937–1955. Mel Gussow and Kenneth Holditch, eds. New York: Library of America, 2000, .mw- .mw
- Parker, Brian: "Swinging a Cat", as published within Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, p. 175. New York: New Directions Publishing
- Williams, Tennessee: "Notes for the Designer", Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, p. 15. New Directions Publishing Corporation, 2004
- Williams, Tennessee: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, p. 173. New Directions Publishing Corporation, 2004.
- Williams, Tennessee: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, p. 14. New Directions Publishing Corporation, 2004.
- Parker, Brian: "Swinging a Cat", published within Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, p. 177. New Directions Publishing Corporation,
- Parker, Brian: "Swinging a Cat", published within Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, p. 181. New Directions Publishing Corporation,
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
- "Tony Awards"http://www.tonyawards.com/p/tonys_search?start=0&year=&award=&lname=Elia+Kazan&fname=&show=
- theguardian.comhttps://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/sep/30/cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof
- [8] Williams, Tennessee. Plays 1937–1955, pp. 1034–1035.
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: The Playbill for the Morosco Theatre
- Theatre World Annual (London) number nine [editor: Frances Stephens], London 1958
- Albee, Edward: "Introduction" for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, p. 8. New Directions Publishing Corporation, 2004.
- Williams, Tennessee: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, p. 13. New Directions Publishing Corporation, 2004.
- theatricalia.comhttps://theatricalia.com/play/5kr/cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof/production/c90
- www.thisistheatre.comhttp://www.thisistheatre.com/londonshows/catonahottinroof.html#2001
- Belvoir St Theatrehttps://web.archive.org/web/20210927105458/https://belvoir.com.au/news/cat-goes-to-theatre-royal/
- "Cat West End"http://www.catwestend.com/
- Playbillhttps://web.archive.org/web/20130103134414/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/170231-Benjamin-Walker-Debra-Monk-and-Ciaran-Hinds-Will-Join-Scarlett-Johansson-in-Broadways-Cat-on-a-Hot-Tin-Roof
- troyrecordhttps://www.troyrecord.com/opinion/john-grays-fade-to-gray-column-beaver-on-a-hot-tin-roof/article_2b6a9d02-f09a-54d0-8288-0f028d2153fa.html
- "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/cat-on-hot-tin-roof-nt-at-home
- www.theatermania.comhttps://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-starring-sienna-miller-joins_92006.html
- "Ruth Stage and the Little Cat on a Hot Tin Roof That Can | Playbill"https://www.playbill.com/article/ruth-stage-and-the-little-cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-that-can
- Almeida Theatrehttps://almeida.co.uk/whats-on/cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof/#cast-creatives
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/sep/20/daisy-edgar-jones-star-cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-tennessee-williams-almeida-theatre-normal-people
- Playbillhttps://www.playbill.com/production/cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-anta-playhouse-vault-0000005262
- Playbillhttps://www.playbill.com/production/cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-eugene-oneill-theatre-vault-0000004704
- Playbillhttps://www.playbill.com/production/cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-music-box-theatre-vault-0000002570
- Playbillhttps://www.playbill.com/production/cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-broadhurst-theatre-vault-0000001990
- Playbillhttps://www.playbill.com/production/cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-richard-rodgers-theatre-vault-0000013984
- Williams, Tennessee: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, p. 12. New Directions Publishing Corporation, 2004.
- emanuellevy.comhttps://emanuellevy.com/review/cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-1958-9/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2021/film/news/antoine-fuqua-cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-exclusive-1234956683/
- Fischer, Heinz-Dietrich & Erika J. Fischer. The Pulitzer Prize Archive: A History and Anthology of Award-Winning Materia