SUNDAY TWFest EVENTS
9 AM – 2 PM
Festival Headquarters open to pick up VIP and LitPasses, purchase Fest merchandise, and to buy tickets. Save time by buying tickets in advance online at www.tennesseewilliams.net/tickets.
Sunday, March 24
9 AM—Special Event
THE NEW ORLEANS WRITING MARATHON
Jumpstart your writing with the New Orleans Writing Marathon! Hosted by founder Richard Louth, participants write their way across the French Quarter in cafés, pubs, bookstores, and anywhere a small group of writers can sit, write, and share their work. It’s all about writing in the moment, writing for the joy of it, and finding inspiration in one’s place. We start at the Hotel Monteleone before going out to explore the French Quarter as writers. You can end your writing marathon at whatever time best fits your schedule.
For more information, visit www.writingmarathon.com and for questions, contact the NOWM at info@writingmarathon.com.
Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Parlor, free and open to the public but please register at www.writingmarathon.com.
Sunday, March 24
10 – 11:15 AM—Literary Discussion
CREATING THE WRITER’S CITY
In a discussion sparked by his book, New Orleans: The Writer’s City, scholar T.R. Johnson shares his particular vision of a complicated literary landscape. Novelist Maurice Carlos Ruffin has envisioned a New Orleans of the future in his first book, a contemporary city in his second, and in his third, The American Daughters, he paints an unforgettable portrait of the antebellum world here. Moira Crone’s vision of the drowned city in The Not-Yet is so persuasive that architecture students have been inspired to create models of it. And poet Skye Jackson, who studied at UNO, is a leading light of the new generation of writers. Novelist George Bishop moderates.
Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom. $10 or Literary Discussion Pass or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
10 AM – Noon—Walking Tour
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS LITERARY WALKING TOUR
New Orleans, and especially the French Quarter, played a vital role in shaping Tennessee Williams. When he came here for the first time, he was Tom Williams. When he left here a couple of months later, he was known as Tennessee, having undergone a tremendous change in his personal life and his creativity. A man perpetually on the move, Tennessee considered this city his “spiritual home” and had at least eight residences in its famous neighborhoods. Visit the homes and hangouts where he lived, worked, and returned to throughout his adult life, beloved spots that helped to make Tennessee America’s greatest playwright.
Other dates include: Friday, March 22, 2 – 4 PM, Saturday, March 23, 10 AM – Noon, and Sunday, March 24, 2 – 4 PM
Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Parlor, $30 or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
11 AM – 12:15 PM—Theatre
THE NOLA PROJECT PRESENTS TENNESSEE X THREE
A Staged Reading of Three Tennessee Williams One-Acts
Auto Da Fé
This 1941 short play tells the story of a sexually repressed Eloi, a young postal worker in early 20th-century New Orleans. Eloi lives with his overbearing mother in her boarding house. He is confronted with the depravity and sin of New Orleans. This frustration ends in an attack on a female boarder in the cottage and the eventual burning of the cottage, his mother, and the female boarder.
In Our Profession
Annabel, an actress, wants to be looked at as more than just her looks and her profession, but the gentlemen pursuing her, Richard and Paul, don’t seem to want to let her.
Every Twenty Minutes
After a late party, an unnamed couple is relaxing in their upscale city apartment by sniping at each other, still dressed in black ties. He’s arguably more committed to the decanter and glass at his side than he is to anything his wife says. This is especially true when she shares a shocking statistic she just read in the paper. Though he is unimpressed by the news, her outlook on life is completely altered.
Hotel Monteleone, Vieux Carré Room, $20 or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM—Music
Drummer & Smoke Music Series:
JOHN BOUTTÉ
On Sundays as the red beans were soaking for Monday’s dinner, John Boutté was awakened by the sounds of his New Orleans neighborhood. Voices carried over the fence from the church behind his home in the Seventh Ward, the home where he grew up, where most of his Creole family still lives and sings. Past the front yard, second-line parades rolled by, matching the madness of Carnival season and the transcendent joy of the jazz funeral. This roux of influences created John Boutté, and serves him to this day. John played coronet and trumpet in marching bands and also sang in high school, then continued to hone his talent while an officer in the U.S. Army. After that he devoted himself to what has become a long and acclaimed musical career. John will be joined by Oscar Rossignoli and Nobumasa Ozaki on bass.
Palm Court Jazz Café, 1204 Decatur Street, $10 or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
11:30 – 12:45 PM—Literary Discussion
OTHERWORLDLY FICTION
The skill of world building is essential to fine fiction, inviting the reader to enter the author’s fully created world. Ariadne Blayde enters into the world of French Quarter ghost tours to give us a New Orleans we’ve only glimpsed before. Tara Lynn Masih takes us to the boundaries of nature and place, known for her skill in flash fiction, and Nick Medina explores the intersection of indigenous crime fiction/horror and the tensions between the life of reservation community and the burgeoning casino culture. David Slayton writes the sorts of books he always hoped to read, fantasies of warlocks and druids. All of these writers are skilled in the uses of imagination and atmosphere. Moderated by author Adrian Van Young.
Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom. $25 or Literary Discussion Pass or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
11:30 – 12:45—Literary Discussion
WHY THE ART OF IMPROV ENDURES
Improv scholar Randy Fertel, author of A Taste for Chaos: The Art of Literary Improvisation and Winging It: Improv’s Power and Peril in the Time of Trump, talks with literary scholar T.R. Johnson, author of New Orleans: A Writer’s City, about the ongoing relevance of improvisation in the larger culture. Seen through Fertel’s discerning eye, improv is everywhere—from the music of Louis Armstrong to the smash musical Hamilton, the rise of AI, and the off-the-cuff, unmediated remarks of Donald Trump, whom Fertel calls the Improviser-in-Chief. He uses neuroscience, bioevolution, and cultural texts to illuminate his subject. Johnson, who writes about the complex interactions between writers and place, adds his thoughts about improvisation in New Orleans literature.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal Salon. $10 or Lit Pass or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
1 – 2:15 PM—Literary Discussion
DEFINING CHARACTER: THREE UNORTHODOX BIOGRAPHIES
How does a biographer present the facts of a life and also capture the atmosphere, the impact on culture, and perhaps even some of the magic left behind by their subject? Three writers present a trio of expertly researched life stories that transcend typical biography. In Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring, author Brad Gooch chronicles the emblematic artist of 80s-era New York whose renegade art inspired radical social change. Cynthia Carr profiles Warhol superstar and transgender icon Candy Darling in a new groundbreaking biography. Nancy Schoenberger gives one of Tennessee Williams’ most complex creations, Blanche DuBois from A Streetcar Named Desire, a thorough psychological examination in a multifaceted study of the fictional figure. Moderated by David Johnson.
Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom. $10 or Literary Discussion Pass or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
1 – 2:15 PM—Literary Discussion
NEW VISTAS, GRAND OUTLOOKS: RENDERING THE LANDSCAPE IN POETRY
This panel will feature poets Carolyn Hembree, Rodney Jones, Christine Kwon, Alison Pelegrin and Gina Ferrara (moderator) discussing ways that landscapes inform their work and sharing poems from their latest collections.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal Salon. $10 or Literary Discussion Pass or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
1:00 – 2:15 PM—Music
Drummer & Smoke Music Series:
AMANDA SHAW
Energetic Louisiana fiddler Amanda Shaw blazes trails with her clever songwriting and exciting performances. With over 20 years of experience, Shaw captivates audiences of all sizes – from intimate listening rooms to national television audiences. Shaw blends authentic Cajun culture with endearing local charm, delivering shows that burst with Louisiana flavor.
Palm Court Jazz Café, 1204 Decatur Street, $10 or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
1 – 2:30 PM—Walking Tour
LGBTQ+ FRENCH QUARTER TOUR
This leisurely stroll through the French Quarter focuses on New Orleans’ enchanting past with an emphasis on the neighborhood’s queer history and its rich literary heritage. See where writers lived and wrote, and learn about the incredible contributions lesbians and gay men have made to the city over its 300-year old history. Other highlights include Jackson Square, Free People of Color, the French Market, the birth of jazz, Voodoo, and a wide diversity of architecture. The tour is guided by long-time French Quarter resident Frank Perez, a local historian and professional tour guide who has written four books about French Quarter history.
Other dates include: Thursday, March 21, 11 AM – 12:30 PM and Friday, March 22, 3:30 – 5 PM.
Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Parlor, $30 or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
1 – 3 PM—Walking Tour
HISTORY OF QUEER NIGHTLIFE IN NEW ORLEANS TOUR
A 2-hour deep dive into the joy, heartbreak, and history of the New Orleans Queer Underground from the 1850s to the present. Follow the stories of sex worker street gangs, drag queens working for the mafia, jazz artists, and the queer community of today to discover the ways the queer underbelly of New Orleans has shaped the history of the entire world. With over 900 five star reviews, calling the tour “hilarious,” “deeply researched,” and “a life changing experience,” the tour restores New Orleans to its rightful place in Queer History as one of the most dynamic cultures shaping what it even means to be queer. All tours are led by artist, community organizer, and alleged spirit medium Quinn L Bishop. Total tour walking distance is just under 2 miles.
Other dates include: Thursday – Saturday, March 21 – March 23, 1 – 3 PM
Crossing Bar, 439 Dauphine Street, $35 or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
2 – 4 PM—Walking Tour
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS LITERARY WALKING TOUR
New Orleans, and especially the French Quarter, played a vital role in shaping Tennessee Williams. When he came here for the first time, he was Tom Williams. When he left here a couple of months later, he was known as Tennessee, having undergone a tremendous change in his personal life and his creativity. A man perpetually on the move, Tennessee considered this city his “spiritual home” and had at least eight residences in its famous neighborhoods. Visit the homes and hangouts where he lived, worked, and returned to throughout his adult life, beloved spots that helped to make Tennessee America’s greatest playwright.
Other dates include: Friday, March 22, 2 – 4 PM, Saturday, March 23, 10 AM – Noon, and Sunday, March 24, 10 AM – Noon.
Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Parlor, $30 or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM—Music
Drummer & Smoke Music Series:
DOYLE COOPER JAZZ BAND
Raised in a musical family, it was always a matter of what Doyle Cooper would play, not if he would play, and he began playing trumpet at the age of 10. He was immersed in Traditional Jazz since his grandfather and mother both performed for years. From New Orleans, Doyle is dedicated to traditional jazz that has shaped the culture of his hometown. Doyle, or “Red” as he is known by most, has studied and performed with many world renowned Jazz musicians. Doyle graduated from the Jazz Studies program at NOCCA and Loyola University. He was awarded the Grand Prize in the “Seeking Satch” competition.
Palm Court Jazz Café, 1204 Decatur Street, $10 or VIP Pass.
Sunday, March 24
2:30 – 3:45 PM—Special Event
FESTIVAL CLOSING EVENT: A CELEBRATION OF WRITERS
Our 2024 closing event celebrates writers who are award-winning and accomplished, alongside some up-and-coming writers to watch. We’ll begin with a poetry reading by our new Louisiana Poet Laureate, Alison Pelegrin. Also included are readings by our writing contest winners and judges, including our Very Short Fiction Judge, Tara Lynn Masih, and a staged reading of the winning one-act play, directed by David Hoover. We’ll also feature readings from local community writing groups who support and promote emerging writers by hosting writing marathons, readings, submission happy hours, and free writing workshops.
Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom, Free and open to the public.
Sunday, March 24
2:30 PM—Theatre
THE FIRE WEEDS PRESENTS:
OUTRAGED HEARTS: THE PRETTY TRAP AND INTERIOR: PANIC
Female-driven theatre company, The Fire Weeds, presents their debut production in association with the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival. Come discover the rarely produced prototypes for American classics The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire. Co-Directed by Jaclyn Bethany and Lindsey Neville, Outraged Hearts is a powerful, immersive evening featuring two early Tennessee Williams’ one-act plays. Get ready to be captivated by Williams’ unique storytelling and unforgettable characters with an unflinching feminist gaze that promises to be a night of raw emotions and powerful performances. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the magic of Tennessee Williams.
Performance Schedule: Thursday – Friday, March 21 – 22, 7:30 PM; Saturday – Sunday, March 23 – 24, 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM; Tuesday – Friday, March 26 – 29, 7:30 PM; Saturday, March 30, 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
Big Couch New Orleans, 1045 Desire Street, $35 adults and $12 for students, or VIP Pass. Tickets at https://outragedhearts.bpt.me/
Sunday, March 24
3 PM—Theatre
THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS THEATRE COMPANY OF NEW ORLEANS PRESENTS:
KINGDOM OF EARTH BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS
TWTC opens its eighth season with the Tennessee Williams thriller, Kingdom Of Earth. A dark, stormy night with the levee soon to burst amplifies the tension of the Ravenstock estate where Lot has returned home for a showdown with his half-brother Chicken. Between these two forces of nature, Myrtle finds herself suspended on a tightrope of desire, desperation, and danger. Will she, or any of the trio, survive the night? And what is there to fight over when the water threatens to wash the world away?
Performance Schedule: Thursday – Saturday, March 21 – 23 at 7:30 PM; Sunday, March 24 at 3 PM.
The Marquette Theatre, Loyola University New Orleans, 6363 St. Charles Avenue. Tickets at www.twtheatrenola.com.
Sunday, March 24
7:30 PM—Theatre
THE FIRE WEEDS PRESENTS:
OUTRAGED HEARTS: THE PRETTY TRAP AND INTERIOR: PANIC
See above for full description.
Big Couch New Orleans, 1045 Desire Street, $35 adults and $12 for students, or VIP Pass. Tickets at https://outragedhearts.bpt.me/
Sunday, March 24
5:30 – 7:00 PM—Walking Tour
FRENCH QUARTER GHOSTS AND LEGENDS TOUR
Join acclaimed local author and storyteller Ariadne Blayde for an immersive twilight walk exploring the dark local history and lore of the historic French Quarter, considered one of the most haunted districts in America. Learn about true crime, yellow fever, pirates, ghosts, and the city’s fascinating colonial history through visits to the Quarter’s most haunted places, including the infamous LaLaurie Mansion, the historic Mississippi riverfront, New Orleans’ oldest and most haunted bar, and more. Feel free to bring a drink!
Other dates include: Thursday, March 21, 5:45 – 7:15 PM; Friday, March 22, 5:45 – 7:15 PM; Saturday, March 23, 8:30 – 10:00 PM.
622 Pirates Alley, meet outside Pirates Alley Cafe & Old Absinthe House, next to the Cathedral. $30 or VIP Pass.
