Tennessee Williams’ 1953 play, Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen, will be staged by the University of Iowa Theater Department at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in 172 Theater Building.

Williams, who attended the University of Iowa early in his career, moved on to become what many believe is one of the best playwrights in American history.

“We had this moment of ‘Whoa, he went here,’ ” director Annie Levitz said. “A big reason that I wanted to do this show is because I’m graduating and when else am I going to have such an opportunity to do Tennessee Williams?”

Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen is one of the UI alum’s lesser-known plays, telling the story of a dysfunctional couple with a communication problem.

“These two characters are disconnected, but there’s this one moment when they’re on the same page and I think there’s something really beautiful about that,” said UI sophomore and actor Emma Genesen said. “Having those moments of clarity are very beautiful.”

The actors will also perform an improvisational piece prior to the play, exploring Williams’ writing process and the hardships of his life.

“Being here, there has been an opportunity to explore his artistic process at the place that it started, so that’s really cool,” Genesen said.

THEATER