Larger than life - a fable, a Greek tragedy, a comedy, a melodrama - the Tony Award-winning The Rose Tattoo is a valentine from Tennessee Williams to anyone who has ever been in love. In the midst of her anger and grief over news that her late husband had been unfaithful, Serafina delle Rose is courted by a Sicilian truck driver who has the virile body of her husband and the face of a clown - his name, Mangiacavallo, means "eat a horse" in Italian. Teary-eyed, he declares, "I am a human being that drives a truck for bananas." His clumsy flirting unlocks Serafina's fiery passion, wit and eventually, her capacious love.

Being Rob Crawley's old lady requires an inner strength that Tina Douglas lacks. The perfect, red Mary Magdalene rose inked on the nape of her neck becomes a touchstone in times of stress and anxiety, which are many. Tina views her future as bleak and dire and sees herself trapped "in a web of her own making."Rob, a full-patch member of the Cascade Warriors MC, dominates almost every aspect of her life, but he allows Tina one freedom, the opportunity to attend Valley Secondary School, and complete her high school education, which she believes will lead to a brighter future. By commencement day, Rob regrets his decision and takes Tina's graduation as an affront. He perceives his image with fellow gang members tarnished and plots his revenge.On the evening of the graduation dinner dance, Rob insists they leave the party early. He spirits Tina off to an isolated cabin in the hills at the south end of Stoney Lake. What transpires there sends her life into a tailspin until fate intervenes, and she crosses paths with Jenny Travis. Jenny becomes Tina's protector, ally, mentor, and best friend, helping her face the unrelenting vengeance of Rob and his henchmen.

Published as a trade paperback for the first time, with a new introduction by the acclaimed playwright John Patrick Shanley (Doubt) and the one-act on which The Rose Tattoo was based. The Rose Tattoo is larger than life—a fable, a Greek tragedy, a comedy, a melodrama—it is a love letter from Tennessee Williams to anyone who has ever been in love or ever will be. Professional widow and dressmaker Serafina delle Rosa has withdrawn from the world, locking away her heart and her sixteen-year-old daughter Rosa. Then one day a man with the sexy body of her late Sicilian husband and the face of a village idiot, Mangiacavallo (Italian for “eat a horse”), stumbles into her life and clumsily unlocks Serafina’s fiery anger, sense of betrayal, pride, wit, passion, and eventually her capacious love. The original production of The Rose Tattoo won Tony Awards for best play and for the stars, Eli Wallach and Maureen Stapleton. Anna Magnani received the Academy Award as Best Actress for the 1955 film version. This edition of The Rose Tattoo has an Introduction by playwright John Patrick Shanley, the author’s original foreword, the one-act The Dog Enchanted by the Divine View that was the germ for the play, and an essay by noted Tennessee Williams scholar Jack Barbera.

A Study Guide for Tennessee Williams's "The Rose Tattoo," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Drama For Students. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Drama For Students for all of your research needs.

Martin Beck Theatre, Cheryl Crawford presents "The Rose Tattoo," by Tennessee Williams, directed by Daniel Mann, with Maureen Stapleton, Eli Wallach, settings designed by Boris Aronson, costumes designed by Rose Bogdanoff, incidental music by David Diamond, lighting by Charles Elson, production associate Bea Lawrence.