Bay Area Premiere

Make a beeline for the Shelton Theatre as they celebrate 25 years in the Bay Area this fall with this brand new staging of the 'sinful' 1956 film based on a one-act play by Tennessee Williams, adapted by Emily Mann and Pierre Laville. A controversial release 60 years ago, this dark comedy is a tale of rivalry, seduction, and revenge set in the antebellum South.

What is the story of Baby Doll?

Virgin bride Baby Doll Meighan is beholden to her husband, the unfavorable, middle aged drunk Archie Meighan. Currently safe from his carnal attentions due to a promise made to her dying father, she is soon approaching the time limit on her maidenhood - her 20th birthday. Regressing to childlike behaviour and ultimately trapped, her life changes when Archie's cotton gin business begins to fail, bringing with it his business rival Silva Vacarro, a man who'll stop at nothing to posses everything Archie has...

As a bitter tale of revenge unfolds, Baby Doll is caught up in the fight between the two men, locked away from her own agency until its too late.

Simmering with sexuality and lust, hatred and boiling anger, don't miss your chance to see this intriguing new production for the first time in San Francisco.

Did you know?

In addition to popularising the 'Baby Doll' nightgown, the movie was also the celluloid debut of Rip Torn.