Under Milk Wood at 70

Seventy years ago tonight, on May 14, 1953, the lights dimmed in 92NY’s Kaufmann Auditorium for the premiere of poet Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood — an audaciously inventive “play for voices,” as Thomas called it, blurring the line between poetry and theater. Thomas himself read several of the roles. Under Milk Wood became one of Thomas’ signature works, a classic in the modernist pantheon that would go on to influence generations of writers, and the evening at 92NY went down in literary history — May 14 is now celebrated as International Dylan Thomas Day. Looking ahead to our upcoming 150th anniversary, the Poetry Center has commissioned four exceptionally original, award-winning contemporary poets — Aracelis Girmay, Ilya Kaminsky, Danez Smith, and Alice Oswald — to create new dramatic works, inspired by 92NY’s role in shepherding Under Milk Wood to the stage. We look forward to sharing more about these exciting productions in the months to come.

And starting today, for one week only, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Under Milk Wood’s premiere by offering free access to the exceptional performance directed by and starring Michael Sheen in October of 2014 on Thomas’ centenary, broadcast live on BBC Radio Wales. Featuring a cast of all Welsh actors — Kate Burton, Karl Johnson, Mark Lewis Jones, Francine Morgan and Matthew Aubrey — the performance bristles with electricity, a celebration of Thomas’ legacy and the singular role that 92NY played in bringing it to fruition. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear it for free, May 14-20, online only.