OBSERVE TENNESSEE IN NYC!


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• VIEW GLOSSARY


WOP: A derogatory term for Italians or people of Italian descent. Traditionally misunderstood as meaning “without papers” or “without passport,” the term originates from the Southern Italian dialect term “guappo,” roughly meaning “stud.” Pronounced “wah-po,” the term was appropriated by Americans as a slur during the early 1900s.


DAGO: A disparaging term referring to Italians or people of Italian descent. It is believed to be a reference to immigrants employed in day work, or as the “day goes.”


OUR LADY/ HOLY MOTHER: Another name for The Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus according to the Christian New Testament.


STREGA: The Italian word for “witch.” THE ROSE TATTOO UPSTAGE GUIDE 21


THE SET DESIGN


ONCE IN YOUR SEAT, LOOK AT THE SET. What’s the first thing that you notice? Take note of that part of the set. At intermission, reflect on how that element is influencing your observation of the play. Take a moment to notice the lighting in the theatre and on stage. What mood and atmosphere is the lighting designer creating? How does that change throughout the show?


Tennessee Williams is one of America’s most cherished playwrights. There have been multiple tributes to his canon over the years. A recent example of this was seen at The Morgan Library’s exhibit Tennessee Williams: No Refuge but Writing. Click HERE to read an archived collection of the works showcased in the exhibit.


How does what we know about Williams impact our reception of The Rose Tattoo?


Does The Rose Tattoo echo any of Williams’s life experiences? Refer back to the articles contained in this guide. What information would you highlight in your own biography of Williams?


READ KABUKI THEATER—HANAMACHI


The Rose Tattoo’s set designer has made very deliberate use of the hanamachi (the long walkway that extends further into the audience than the rest of the stage.) To look at other examples of hanamachi in theatre click HERE.


• What are the differences between other set designs and The Rose Tattoo’s use of hanamachi? VISIT THE ITALIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM IN LITTLE ITALY


Continue exploring the journey of Italian immigration to the United State of America. Located in New York’s Little Italy, the museum strives to “establish and maintain a museum dedicated to the struggles of Italian Americans and their achievements and contributions to American culture and society.” Learn more HERE.


DO


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