Upcoming Tennessee Williams Festival 40th Anniversary Details
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival returns to the historic French Quarter for its 40th anniversary celebration of contemporary literature, theatre, New Orleans culture and, of course, Tennessee Williams.
Over 100 events in five days are scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, through Sunday, March 29. Most of the events are in or near the Hotel Monteleone, the festival’s host hotel.
Tennessee Williams Festival Details
Kick-Off Event
As a kickoff event and free gift to the community, the festival will host “Williams Under the Oaks,” with scenes from his plays, along with new original pieces inspired by Williams.
The event is in partnership with The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans and will feature New Orleans actors and performers. The festival kickoff is March 21 at 2 p.m. on the grounds of the New Orleans Jazz Museum and culminates in the popular Stella Shouting Contest at 3:30 p.m.
Tennessee Williams Festival and Saints & Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary Festival Passes
Festival passes and individual event tickets are on sale now. Prices for most individual events range from $10 to $45.
Literary Lineup Including Justin Torres and Robert Olen Butler
“We are honored to celebrate 40 years of our festival and grateful to all of the literary luminaries who have joined us through the years,” said Paul J. Willis, executive director. “We’re welcoming back some authors who have been to the festival many times, as well as fresh new voices with debut books.”
Over 100 speakers include:
- Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Olen Butler
- Acclaimed playwright Martin Sherman
- National Book Award winner Justin Torres
- Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham
- Bestselling authors Miles Harvey, Rodger Kamenetz, Thomas Mallon and Maurice Carlos Ruffin
- Multi-award winners Addie Citchens, Maureen Corrigan, Margot Douaihy, Ladee Hubbard, Skye Jackson, Mona Lisa Saloy, Marguerite Sheffer and many more
New Orleans writers make up over half of the speakers for this year.
Traditions and Events for Readers, Writers and Williams Lovers
The Tennessee Williams Festival hosts a wide range of events, including:
- Writer’s Craft Series
- Open to writers at any experience level
- 10 sessions on poetry, speculative fiction, literary fiction, perspective, opening lines, plot points, memoir and more
- Literary Discussion Series
- Three days of panels and over 80 authors discussing various literary genres, tips for writers, publishing and the writer’s life
- Several panels feature New Orleans, including the city’s long-acclaimed arts scene, the challenges of writing about the city, the life and art of George Dureau and New Orleans as a home for writers (a reprise of the festival’s very first panel)
- Six Walking Tours
- Book Fair by Octavia Books
- Two New Orleans Writing Marathons
- Readings and Conversations With Authors
- Book Signings
- Tennessee Williams Literary Programming
- Multiple panels
- Annual Tennessee Williams Scholars Conference with a full day of panel discussion
- Concludes with a staged reading of Williams’ unpublished short story, “Fin du Monde”
- The annual Tribute Reading, sponsored by the New Orleans Theatre Association, at the New Orleans Jazz Museum
- Books and Beignets book discussion featuring the 75th anniversary of Williams’ “The Rose Tattoo”
- And more
To see all events, visit tennesseewilliams.net/tickets/
Saints & Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary Festival
The Festival will also host the Saints & Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary Festival (SASFest) the same weekend, celebrating its 23rd year of book pitches, writer’s craft sessions, author readings, literary panels, book launches, awards and special events, including the Glitter with the Literati welcome reception.
Organizers share that it is the longest-running festival of its kind in the US and abroad. SASFest events take place at the Hotel Monteleone, March 27 – 29. Visit sasfest.org for more details.
The Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival is supported by the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation, The Helis Foundation and the John Burton Harter Foundation. The City of New Orleans supports the programming through a Community Arts Grant administered by Arts New Orleans.
TWNOLF is also supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
