Schedule of Festival Events
 

WED 3/26
12:00 pm
Sales:
Registration, Ticket Sales, Concessions & Souvenirs
Opens at Noon and continues through 5:00 pm in the lobby of the Bourbon Orleans (717 Orleans).
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Lobby
 
WED 3/26
7:00 PM
Special Events:
AN EVENING WITH TENNESSEE AND HIS WOMEN Festival Fundraiser
Please join us as we inaugurate our 22nd annual Festival with wine, dinner, music, and theatrical entertainment at the Palm Court Jazz Caf.Williams himself will be in attendance (as played by Jeremy Lawrence) and will chat with celebrity interviewer Rex Reed. Distinguished actresses, including Stephanie Zimbalist and Nell Nolan, will star in short performances portraying some of Williams' most legendary female characters. Also enjoy live jazz, an auction, and prize drawings. Proceeds benefit the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. Cocktail attire or come as your favorite Tennessee Williams character. Limited Seating.
Palm Court Jazz Cafe
 
THU 3/27
8:30 AM
Sales:
Registration, Ticket Sales, Concessions & Souvenirs
Opens at 8:30 am and continues through 5:00 pm in the lobby of the Bourbon Orleans (717 Orleans).
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Lobby
 
THU 3/27
9:00 AM
Master Classes:
ROSEMARY DANIELL: Thinking About Writing in a Whole New Way
Daniell, founder of the Zona Rosa writing program, leads workshops (a.k.a. "pajama parties for grown-up girls with smarts") throughout the United States and Europe. To date more than 45 Zona Rosans have become published authors, among them best-selling writers John Berendt, Cassandra King, and Eric Haney. In this session Daniell, the award-winning author of Secrets of the Zona Rosa and eight books of poetry and prose, reveals the methods of the pros and what she considers the best writing practice ever. Learn why she believes truth-telling to be the writer's most valuable asset— and why novelist Pat Conroy calls Daniell "one of the great writing teachers."
The Historic New Orleans Collection
 
THU 3/27
11:00 AM
Master Classes:
SHARED WORDS: Everything You Need to Know About Writers' Groups and Readers' Clubs
Critically acclaimed author Bev Marshall has 20 years of experience as a member of a writing group and has visited readers' clubs across the South. In this class she will offer advice on how to organize and nourish your group. If you're a writer or a reader, you will want to take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to make your group a success.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
 
THU 3/27
1:30 PM
Master Classes:
TOM SANCTON: The Art of the Memoir
This session will examine the memoir as a literary nonfiction genre that shares many of the elements of fiction writing—story, plot, dialogue, character development, atmosphere—but is based on the author's actual life experience. With particular attention to the coming-of-age memoir, novelist and memoirist Tom Sancton will discuss a number of published works that serve as models of the genre, providing a framework and practical pointers for those interested in writing their own memoir.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
 
THU 3/27
3:15 PM
Master Classes:
TIFT MERRITT: The Art and Craft of Songwriting
From Stephen Foster to Timbaland, the popular song as a form of literary expression has captured the minds, hearts, and souls of Americans. Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Tift Merritt, currently on tour with her third album, Another Country, discusses her inspirations and experiences, why Eudora Welty is her biggest influence, and how writing a song is different from writing a poem. Aspiring songwriters as well as writers in other genres will benefit from Merritt's discussion of her approach to songwriting as a means of literary expression.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
 
THU 3/27
6:30 PM
Special Events:
2008 OPENING NIGHT GALA
Special Event: $75 (includes performances and reception). Celebrate with us as we commemorate our 2008 Festival with a special evening of entertainment, conversations, and fun in the French Quarter. The festivity begins on Le Petit Theatre's mainstage as actress Stephanie Zimbalist and film critic/columnist Rex Reed read together from Williams' work. Then listen in as Broadway legend Marian Seldes and actor Tab Hunter, who starred together on Broadway in the 1964 production of The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore, share their memories of working with each other and the venerated playwright. Reception to follow.
Le Petit Theatre Mainstage
 
FRI 3/28
8:30 AM
Sales:
Registration, Ticket Sales, Concessions & Souvenirs
Opens at 8:30 am and continues through 5:00 pm in the lobby of the Bourbon Orleans (717 Orleans).
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Lobby
 
FRI 3/28
9:00 am
Sales:
Book Fair
Purchase books by your favorite Tennessee Williams author at the book fair conducted by the Garden District Book Shop; continues from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in the second floor foyer of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, 2nd Floor Foyer
 
FRI 3/28
9:00 AM
Master Classes:
CLAIRE COOK: Help! How Can My Book and I Get Some Attention?
Best-selling novelist Claire Cook wrote her first book in her minivan outside her daughter's swim practice, and it sold to the first publisher who asked to read it. Five years later she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the film adaptation of her second novel, Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack. Her fourth novel, Life's a Beach, was a summer pick for Good Morning America, and her fifth, Summer Blowout, will be published in June. Whether you're still scrambling for an agent, or your book is already out there but so far nobody's noticed, Cook is happy to share her secrets.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
 
FRI 3/28
10:00 am
Festival Panels:
Literary Panels, Readings (individual panels TBA)
Friday's Literary Panels and Readings will be held from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm at various locations. Bookmark the schedule and check back for more information on specific panels as details becomes available.
Various locations including the Bourbon Orleans Ballroom, The Cabildo, and Muriel's Jackson Square
 
FRI 3/28
10:00 AM
Literary Tours:
Literary Walking Tour by Heritage Tours
Homes and hangouts of the playwright in the French Quarter. Kenneth Holditch, Heritage Tours. Meet at the front entrance of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel 5 to 10 minutes before the start of the tour.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Front Entrance
 
FRI 3/28
11:00 AM
Master Classes:
DANIEL MENAKER: From the Editor's Desk
For more than 30 years, Daniel Menaker has made it his specialty to find new literary voices. At The New Yorker he published such writers as Michael Chabon, Jennifer Egan, Michael Cunningham, and Susan Minot early in their careers. At Random House he worked with Gary Shteyngart, Colum McCann, Elizabeth Strout, and Benjamin Kunkel, among others. In this class, Menaker will discuss what an editor looks for in terms of originality, energy, and insight as he reads fiction by newcomers, and discuss the "plight" of first novels and story collections in publishing today.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
 
FRI 3/28
1:30 PM
Master Classes:
LISA BANKOFF: The Truth About Agents
Do you need an agent? How do you get one? What can and can't an agent do for her clients? Lisa Bankoff will answer these questions and share her experiences as a veteran agent with 17 years at ICM. Her client list includes authors Claire Cook, Scott Gold, Ann Patchett, Nancy Horan, Douglas Brinkley, Frank Bruni, David Lipsky, Bev Marshall, Joshua Henkin, Mike Perry, and many other successful writers. Advice for selling both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts will be covered in the class.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
 
FRI 3/28
2:00 PM
Literary Tours:
Literary Walking Tour by Heritage Tours
Homes and hangouts of the playwright in the French Quarter. Kenneth Holditch, Heritage Tours. Meet at the front entrance of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel 5 to 10 minutes before the start of the tour.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Front Entrance
 
FRI 3/28
3:15 PM
Master Classes:
AL YOUNG: Just You, Just Me—Writing To Listening Readers
When we tell a story orally, we automatically adjust the tone, voice, and descriptive details for real-time listeners, literally shaping our stories in the interest of whomever happens to be sitting before us. Thus, to most, storytelling comes naturally while writing does not. But a writer isn't speaking or singing into an anonymous void. Voice, tone, theme, meaning, dramatic strategy—it all comes to life when writers stop muttering and start speaking to the listening reader. Al Young, Poet Laureate of California for 2005- 2007, will discuss bringing fresh energy to your poetry or prose through the realization that you aren't writing to an empty space but, rather, to an actual, easily imaginable audience.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
 
FRI 3/28
5:30 PM
Special Events:
A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH JOHN MARIANI
Join food expert John Mariani for wine, wit, and hors d'oeuvres. Mariani, a food columnist for Esquire, will give expert advice on selecting the perfect wine and give the scoop on the latest national restaurant trends. Here's a chance to ask an expert one of those foodie questions you've been keeping on the backburner. Limited seating.
Windsor Court Hotel
 
FRI 3/28
6:00 pm
Theatre:
BENT TO THE FLAME: A Night With Tennessee Williams Written and performed by Doug Tompos, Directed by Michael Michetti
Although Tennessee Williams never met the poet Hart Crane, his devotion to Crane and his poetry was one of the deepest of his life. In this “simultaneously witty and moving portrayal” (Theatremania), Broadway veteran Doug Tompos offers a unique glimpse into the young Tennessee Williams—the desires and demons that shaped him, and the muse who inspired yet nearly destroyed him. Winner of the “Outstanding Solo Show” award at the 2007 New York International Fringe Festival.
Muriel's Cabaret, Le Petit Theatre
 
FRI 3/28
8:00 pm
Theatre:
CAMINO REAL Directed by Sarah Michelson
From the alleys of Manhattan and the Tennessee Williams Festival in Provincetown, Massachusetts, this innovative street theater production of Camino Real makes its Southern debut onto (of all things!) the stage at this year’s Festival. A troupe of five actors (and one musician) will embody such legendary personalities as Jacques Casanova, Lord Byron, Camille and Don Quixote, as well as more than 40 other roles on this highway to revelation. Watch them walk the delicate tightrope between fate and free will. Produced by Brooklyn on Foot and directed by Sarah Michelson, this show will tickle and torture, and give new insight into Williams’ incredible imagination.
Le Petit Theatre Mainstage
 
SAT 3/29
10 AM
Festival Panels:
Literary Panels, Readings (individual panels TBA)
Saturday's Literary Panels and Readings will be held from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm at various locations. Bookmark the schedule and check back for more information on specific panels as details becomes available.
Various locations including the Bourbon Orleans Ballroom, The Cabildo, and Muriel's Jackson Square
 
SAT 3/29
8:00 am
Special Events:
BREAKFAST IN NEW ORLEANS WITH KATE CHOPIN
This latest installment of our "Breakfast Book Club" invites participants to consider a number of stories by this wonderful late-19th-century writer as she explores the local color of New Orleans of a century ago and focuses on the complexities of race and gender in the city, thus anticipating the themes of her most famous work, The Awakening. The discussion will be led by frequent Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities program facilitator Dr. Gary Richards. Participants should read the stories before the session and be prepared for discussion rather than a lecture format. The specific stories are "La Belle Zoraide," "A Lady of Bayou St. John," "Athenaise," "A Matter of Prejudice," and "Neg Creol," which are included in the collections Bayou Folk and A Night in Acadie. These collections are available both in book form from Penguin Classics (ISBN 0-14- 043681-2) and online. LIMITED SEATING, $20 (includes continental breakfast).
Muriel's Jackson Square Restaurant
 
SAT 3/29
9:00 am
Sales:
Book Fair
Purchase books by your favorite Tennessee Williams author at the book fair conducted by the Garden District Book Shop; continues from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in the second floor foyer of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, 2nd Floor Foyer
 
SAT 3/29
9:00 AM
Sales:
Registration, Ticket Sales, Concessions & Souvenirs
Opens at 9:00 am and continues through 5:00 pm in the lobby of the Bourbon Orleans (717 Orleans).
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Lobby
 
SAT 3/29
10:00 AM
Literary Tours:
Literary Walking Tour by Heritage Tours
Homes and hangouts of the playwright in the French Quarter. Kenneth Holditch, Heritage Tours. Meet at the front entrance of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel 5 to 10 minutes before the start of the tour.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Front Entrance
 
SAT 3/29
12:00 PM
Theatre:
BENT TO THE FLAME: A Night With Tennessee Williams Written and performed by Doug Tompos, Directed by Michael Michetti
Although Tennessee Williams never met the poet Hart Crane, his devotion to Crane and his poetry was one of the deepest of his life. In this “simultaneously witty and moving portrayal” (Theatremania), Broadway veteran Doug Tompos offers a unique glimpse into the young Tennessee Williams—the desires and demons that shaped him, and the muse who inspired yet nearly destroyed him. Winner of the “Outstanding Solo Show” award at the 2007 New York International Fringe Festival.
Muriel's Cabaret, Le Petit Theatre
 
SAT 3/29
12:00 pm
Theatre:
CAMINO REAL Directed by Sarah Michelson
From the alleys of Manhattan and the Tennessee Williams Festival in Provincetown, Massachusetts, this innovative street theater production of Camino Real makes its Southern debut onto (of all things!) the stage at this year’s Festival. A troupe of five actors (and one musician) will embody such legendary personalities as Jacques Casanova, Lord Byron, Camille and Don Quixote, as well as more than 40 other roles on this highway to revelation. Watch them walk the delicate tightrope between fate and free will. Produced by Brooklyn on Foot and directed by Sarah Michelson, this show will tickle and torture, and give new insight into Williams’ incredible imagination.
Le Petit Theatre Mainstage
 
SAT 3/29
1:00 pm
Special Events:
BACK TO THE LAND WITH JOHN BESH: Farm-fresh Food in Louisiana
It's all about the taste, says acclaimed Louisiana chef John Besh, who offers his observations on the importance of locality and freshness, sustainable agriculture, and organic food during this discussion with food critic John Mariani. James Beard Award and Iron Chef runner-up Besh, who owns four local restaurants and grows herbs and vegetables himself, is part of the modern-day terroir movement, in which fine chefs cultivate their own ingredients and develop close ties to local purveyors. Hear Besh's take on the subject, and taste his locally raised Berkshire pork shoulder with grits and new spring vegetables to illustrate his points. Sponsored by Restaurant August, Besh Steak at Harrah's Casino, Lüke, and La Provence. Limited Seating.
Besh Steak, Harrah's Casino
 
SAT 3/29
2:00 pm
Theatre:
EVERYONE EXPECTS ME TO WRITE ANOTHER STREETCAR: Another Evening With The Playwright
Arranged and performed by Jeremy Lawrence. In this follow-up to his popular one-man show, Talking Tennessee, critically acclaimed actor/playwright Jeremy Lawrence explores Williams’ life during the years when “the streetcar named success” stopped running, while his writing continued. Drawing from various sources—including Tennessee’s memoirs, poetry, plays, and personal anecdotes—Lawrence examines the playwright’s Broadway exile, his nervous breakdown and subsequent stay in the psychiatric ward at Barnes Hospital, his homosexuality, and of course, Williams’ will to survive.
Le Petit Theatre Mainstage
 
SAT 3/29
2:00 PM
Literary Tours:
Literary Walking Tour by Heritage Tours
Homes and hangouts of the playwright in the French Quarter. Kenneth Holditch, Heritage Tours. Meet at the front entrance of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel 5 to 10 minutes before the start of the tour.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Front Entrance
 
SAT 3/29
4:00 pm
Theatre:
FANNIE LOU HAMER: THIS LITTLE LIGHT ... Arranged and performed by Billie Jean Young
Billie Jean Young channels the passion and humanity of Fannie Lou Hamer, a sharecropper from Mississippi who held the nation spellbound as she detailed for the 1964 Democratic National Convention the atrocities she endured fighting for her rights. It was the first time a rural black woman spoke for herself, and for the poor, at the national level. Young lives and breathes the role, reenacting the event in this one-woman performance. Transforming herself into Hamer, she cries, “I’m not fighting anymore for no equal rights. I’m fighting for human rights!”
Muriel's Cabaret, Le Petit Theatre
 
SAT 3/29
8:00 pm
Theatre:
TENNESSEE'S GOT TALENT
New this year! The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival is thrilled to announce the debut of our theatrical talent competition, Tennessee’s Got Talent. In our own take on American Idol, contestants will perform duets before a panel of celebrity judges who will vote on the players’ interpretations of dramatic scenes from Tennessee Williams’ work. Enjoy the suspense and cheer for your favorite hopefuls as they vie for prizes and the chance to be crowned “Tennessee Williams Idol.” Judges: Terrence McNally, Rex Reed, Stephanie Zimbalist.
Le Petit Theatre Mainstage
 
SUN 3/30
10 AM
Festival Panels:
Literary Panels, Readings (individual panels TBA)
Sunday's Literary Panels and Readings will be held from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at various locations. Bookmark the schedule and check back for more information on specific panels as details becomes available.
Various locations including the Bourbon Orleans Ballroom, The Cabildo, and Muriel's Jackson Square
 
SUN 3/30
9:00 am
Sales:
Book Fair
Purchase books by your favorite Tennessee Williams author at the book fair conducted by the Garden District Book Shop; continues from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in the second floor foyer of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, 2nd Floor Foyer
 
SUN 3/30
9:00 AM
Sales:
Registration, Ticket Sales, Concessions & Souvenirs
Opens at 9:00 am and continues through 3:00 pm in the lobby of the Bourbon Orleans (717 Orleans).
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Lobby
 
SUN 3/30
10:00 AM
Literary Tours:
Literary Walking Tour by Heritage Tours
Homes and hangouts of the playwright in the French Quarter. Kenneth Holditch, Heritage Tours. Meet at the front entrance of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel 5 to 10 minutes before the start of the tour.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Front Entrance
 
SUN 3/30
10:00 am
Theatre:
STAGED READING OF THE 2008 FESTIVAL ONE-ACT PLAY COMPETITION WINNER
The University of New Orleans Department of Film, Theatre, and Communication Arts presents a reading of the winning entry in the 2008 Festival’s national One-Act Play competition. The Creative Writing Program at the University of New Orleans administers and coordinates competition judging. The Festival sponsors the annual competition, which includes a $1000 cash prize. Notable past winners include David Lindsay-Abair who won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2007 with The Rabbit Hole.
Muriel's Cabaret, Le Petit Theatre

 
SUN 3/30
11:00 AM
Theatre:
Weïrd by B.T Ryback Performance of 2007 One-Act Play Winner
The three Weïrd Sisters from Shakespeare’s Macbeth are on the lam in Denmark. The University of New Orleans Department of Film, Theatre, and Communication Arts presents the premiere performance of the winner of the 2007 Festival One-Act Play Competition.
Muriel's Cabaret, Le Petit Theatre
 
SUN 3/30
11:30 am
Special Events:
SONGS FOR A SUNDAY AFTERNOON: A Day of Music and Performances at the Palm Court Jazz Cafe
Acting on inspiration, overcoming writer's block, developing a chord progression, fine-tuning a melody—some skills are inherent to all writers, while others are unique to the songwriter's genre. In the following three events, songwriters and musicians will discuss the skills and passion needed to turn an idea into a song and offer musical performances for your listening pleasure. Palm Court Jazz Cafe; $25 Music Pass includes entry to all three events, or $10 per event at the door:

WRITING IN THE ROUND(March 30, 11:30 a.m.) Please come join us for a special Tennessee Williams Festival musical event celebrating the emphasis on songwriting at the Festival this year. TW/NOLF board member and songwriter Mark Fernandez will lead a songwriterin- the-round performance with artists Paul Sanchez, Sonia Tetlow, and Rich Look.

SPENCER BOHREN:American Roots Music (March 30, 1:00 p.m.) Spencer Bohren's music resonates with the ambiance of the rivers, roads, and bayous of the American South. He has a marvelous gift for sharing his great love for America's wealth of traditional, folk, blues, gospel, and country music with audiences all around the globe. Also woven into the fabric of a Bohren concert are his stunning original pieces, teeming with echoes of the traditional music he loves, yet written from a modern perspective. In a world filled with synthesized pop music, Bohren defines artistic integrity.

DRUMMER AND SMOKE:Bearing the
Torch (March 30, 2:30 p.m.)
Clarinetists Tom Sancton and Michael White hold a lively onstage conversation about their respective experiences as jazz "apprentices," learning the traditional New Orleans style at the feet of old masters. From two sides of the tracks—one black, one white—they were drawn to the music by a common passion, which they will share with the audience in words and live music.

Palm Court Jazz Cafe
 

SUN 3/30
1:00 pm
Theatre:
EVERYONE EXPECTS ME TO WRITE ANOTHER STREETCAR: Another Evening With The Playwright
Arranged and performed by Jeremy Lawrence. In this follow-up to his popular one-man show, Talking Tennessee, critically acclaimed actor/playwright Jeremy Lawrence explores Williams’ life during the years when “the streetcar named success” stopped running, while his writing continued. Drawing from various sources—including Tennessee’s memoirs, poetry, plays, and personal anecdotes—Lawrence examines the playwright’s Broadway exile, his nervous breakdown and subsequent stay in the psychiatric ward at Barnes Hospital, his homosexuality, and of course, Williams’ will to survive.
Le Petit Theatre Mainstage
 
SUN 3/30
1:00 pm
Special Events:
THE GULF MENAGERIE: New Orleans Classic Seafood
Visit New Orleans, and you'll go home talking about the seafood. Live here, and it's a constant topic of conversation—where to find the best for the next lunch or dinner—even as you're enjoying a meal with friends. Author Kit Wohl's newest cookbook in her New Orleans Classics series, New Orleans Classic Seafood, reveals these local treasures for the pearls they are. Wohl and some of the city's favorite chefs offer insights, tips, techniques, and friendly banter as they share their knowledge and provide tastes of the Gulf's best in the elegant setting of the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans. Crescent View Room, Ritz-Carlton, 921 Canal Street. Limited Seating. $35; includes autographed complimentary copy of New Orleans Classic Seafood by Kit Wohl.
The Ritz-Carlton
 
SUN 3/30
2:00 PM
Literary Tours:
Literary Walking Tour by Heritage Tours
Homes and hangouts of the playwright in the French Quarter. Kenneth Holditch, Heritage Tours. Meet at the front entrance of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel 5 to 10 minutes before the start of the tour.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Front Entrance
 
SUN 3/30
2:30 pm
Theatre:
IGNATIUS ON STAGE A staged reading of scenes from John Kennedy Toole’s New Orleans classic A Confederacy of Dunces
Scenes edited by W. Kenneth Holditch. Directed by Perry Martin. Presented by special arrangement with McIntosh and Otis.
Le Petit Theatre Mainstage
 
SUN 3/30
4:00 PM
Special Events:
Stella Contest Preliminaries
Get your yell on and join us for this annual Festival favorite, where both Stanley and Stella hopefuls bellow to the balconies for a shot at the grand prize. Signup begins at 4:00 pm, the shouting commences at 4:30 pm.
Outside the Upper Pontalba Apartments, Jackson Square
 
SUN 3/30
5:00 PM
Special Events:
Stella Contest Finals
This year's Stanley and Stella finalists turn up the decibels and angst in the tension-filled finals of the annual Shouting Contest.
Le Petit Theatre Mainstage
 
SUN 3/30
5:30 PM
Special Events:
Tea with Tennessee
The 22nd annual salute honoring the Festival s presiding spirit. Tea, cake, and ice cream, a round of toasting, and a hearty Happy Birthday to Tennessee a proper close to a festive weekend.
Le Petit Theatre Courtyard