The play premiered on April 2, 1972 at the Off-Broadway Truck and Warehouse Theatre and later moved to the New Theatre on the upper East Side. Richard Altman directed a cast that included Helena Carroll as Leona and William Hickey as Steve. During the course of the run, Irish actor Patrick Bedford assumed the role of Quentin, James Seymour appeared as Bobby, and Tennessee Williams himself took over the role of Doc. Candy Darling, a transsexual performer from the Warhol stable of "superstars," played the role of Violet, a bewitching, trampy girl whom most of the male characters desire.