Tennessee Williams Literary Festival
March 24-28, 2010

The streetcar he made famous stopped running 62 years ago, but the festival named in his honor has been running continuously for nearly a quarter of a century. The 24th Annual Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival convenes again in New Orleans this March.

Named after the world-famous playwright who made New Orleans his home during one of the most creative periods in his life, this year’s festival will headline:

• Edward Albee: three-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, two-time Tony Award winner and author of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Three Tall Women, and A Delicate Balance.
• John Patrick Shanley: Oscar winner for Best Screenplay (Moonstruck) and both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play with Doubt: A Parable.
• Dave Eggers: co-author of the recent film Away We Go and adapter of Where the Wild Things Are to the big screen.
• Cokie Roberts: New Orleans native, Emmy-winning journalist, bestselling author, and political commentator for ABC News
• Michael Lewis: New Orleans native bestselling nonfiction author (Liar’s Poker, Moneyball) and financial journalist.
• Jill McCorkle: Best-selling author of Going Away Shoes.
• Winston Groom: Author of Forrest Gump.
• Jill Conner Browne: Author of the “Sweet Potato Queen” series.
• Molly Haskell: Film critic and author of Frankly, My Dear: Gone with the Wind Revisited.
• David Simon and Eric Overmyer: Co-creators of the upcoming HBO “Treme” series.
• James Carville: Renowned political strategist and presidential advisor.
• Marian Seldes: Award-winning Broadway actress.

Other notable features of the festival include literary panels with noted authors and actors, master classes with other published authors, and theatrical performances of original works submitted to the festival. There are also contests offering cash prizes up to $1,500. A number of other special events are scheduled, as well, as are various “Food Events” featuring some of the city’s top chefs, including world-renowned chef John Besh. “Drummer and Smoke,” a trio of Sunday music events, will feature well-known local musicians Tom Sancton, Lars Edegran, Jason Marsalis and other noteworthy talents.

In addition, there will be readings of scenes from Williams’ plays, discussion groups centering on Williams and his most famous works, and Opium magazine’s playful, lively “Literary Death Match,” pitting seasoned writers against each other in a competitive reading series. “Cocktails and Cinema” will feature celebrity bartenders “shaking things up” with Tennessee Williams-inspired cocktails and a prize for Tennessee’s Best-in-Show, followed by a screening of A Streetcar Named Desire.

In all, over 70 events are scheduled, featuring more than 125 writers, actors, directors, scholars, musicians, chefs, bartenders and other creative souls.
And, of course, no Tennessee Williams Festival would be complete without the “Stella!” shouting contest held in the French Quarter. Hopeful winners, usually attired in Stanley Kowalski-style sleeveless undershirts, compete to shout the most plaintive and convincing appeal to the judges on the balcony of the Pontalba Apartments on Jackson Square. This is one fun event you won’t want to miss. And, in the interests of fairness, women contestants are allowed to shout “Stanley!”
To register for the festival or for more information call 504-581-1144 or visit www.tennesseewilliams.net. Special hotel discounted rates are available and special rates are offered on various types of festival passes.