Much of the play is set in a shirt factory in St. Louis and chronicles the daily frustrations of white-collar workers who find themselves stuck in dead-end jobs that stifle creativity. Williams' protagonist, Benjamin Murphy, finds release through frequent trips to the washroom, where he writes poetry, and through a romantic affair with a co-worker. He finds his ultimate escape hatch when he discovers an unused staircase that leads to the roof -- and a wide world beyond. William's called it a prayer for the wild of heart who are kept in cages and dedicated it to all the wage earners of the world. It features a fantastic, sci-fi style ending that predates the likes of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Trek by several decades. The theme is clear and still resounds today: whether man can control technology or technology controls man.
Stairs to the Roof premiered at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, CA in February 1947 under the direction of Gilmor Brown.