Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival Gala at Historic Hotel
NEW ORLEANS, La (press release) — The Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival will host a gala on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. at Hotel Peter and Paul. The gala celebrates the 75th anniversary of Tennessee Williams’ play “The Rose Tattoo,” which premiered in Chicago in December 1950, and this year’s Tennessee Williams Distinguished Arts Awards recepients.
“Tennessee Williams loved a party, he loved the arts and he loved New Orleans,” said Festival President Gregory Gajus. “Our Gala is a celebration of all the things he loved. But, most importantly, we are bestowing the namesake Tennessee Williams Awards on artists and activists who have made significant impacts on our cultural life, here in New Orleans and beyond.”
The Tennessee Williams Distinguished Arts Awards recognize those who have had a significant impact on the literary arts. This year’s honorees receiving their awards are:
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Excellence in Literary Arts, Mona Lisa Saloy
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Excellence in Performing Arts, John Patrick Shanley
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Excellence in Arts Advocacy, The John Burton Harter Foundation and Poppy Tooker
The evening begins for VIPs at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails, appetizers and table seating. At 7 p.m., doors open for general admission ticket holders to enjoy the bar, hors d’oeuvres and music.
The evening will also include:
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Music by DJ Sailor Hank and the Delta Revues
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A tableau featuring Tsarina Hellfire, Stanley Roy and the Mudlark Puppeteers
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A silent auction
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Libations and Sicilian-inspired cuisine by local chefs, including Dickie Brennan’s Tableau
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Tarot readings
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Tiny rose tattoos by Hell or High Water Tattoo
Tickets to the gala and sponsorship information are available online.
Photo from Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival website
The 2026 Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival will be March 25-29, with the Stella Shouting Contest kicking off the Festival the weekend before. Already confirmed are Pulitzer Prize winner Jericho Brown, National Book Award winner Justin Torres, NPR book reviewer Maureen Corrigan and authors Ethan Brown, Addie Citchens, Margot Douaihy, Skye Jackson, Rodger Kamenetz, Thomas Mallon and more.
