The play is a portrayal of Tennessee Williams as a man in his prime, after he's had success, and after he's suffered the loss of the great love of his life. Tennessee laughs too loud, drinks too much, takes too many pills. He appears extroverted in order to compensate for the introverted, painfully shy Tom inside. Michael shows us the real man, the self-destructive, fearful poet who loves too much, and makes us love him in the process. Louanne Moldovan directs.

Michael J. Teufel has been making theater in Portland for many years. Last year, he was in Extraordinary People, when he worked with both Louanne and Sandra. Michael is delighted as always for the opportunity of collaborating with them.

Louanne Moldovan is thrilled to helm Sandra de Helen’s new work, and to collaborate with the talented Michael Teufel once again. Louanne is Artistic Director of Cygnet Productions, the acclaimed ‘literary cabaret’ theater company founded in her former husband’s rare bookstore, David Morrison Books, over 25 years ago. With Cygnet, she produces and directs works derived from diverse forms of literature. The goal is to commingle talented artists – actors, writers, musicians, designers – nurturing the exchange of passionate theatrical ideas and producing socially conscious, politically relevant performance art with vibrant, provocative results. She won the Oregon Book Award in 2007 as co-author of a play about the Algonquin Round Table writers.

Sandra de Helen's dramas and comedies have been performed all over the United States as well as Internationally. Her writings are archived in the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Collection at Ohio State University. Sandra studied with Maria Irene Fornes, and with Matt Zrebski. With Kate Kasten, she co-founded Actors’ Sorority in Kansas City, Missouri. Later Sandra founded the Portland Women’s Theatre Company as well as Penplay. Today, she is a member of Dramatists Guild, International Centre for Women Playwrights, and Honor Roll!

Michael J. Teufel, Louann Moldovan, and Sandra de Helen worked together for the 2024 Fertile Ground production of de Helen's Extraordinary People.

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