Festival to commemorate Williams’s cenTENNial

New Orleans will always be thought of as a great literary city thanks to, in part, Tennessee Williams. For the past twenty-four years in late March—to coincide with Williams’s birthday— the city has honored the playwright with the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. The 2011 festivities mark the 25th anniversary of the festival as well as Tennessee’s 100th birthday.

The festival’s events, which are held at various venues around Jackson Square in the French Quarter over five days, boast the presence of notable leaders in literature, drama, music, and other arts. Events are broken down into three categories:

Masters classes – Courses designed to help aspiring writers in certain aspects of their work. The workshops are led by authors, agents and editors who know what it takes to break into the business. Tickets are $25.

Festival panels – The most popular events at the festival, these are hour-long discussions with celebrated authors, actors, musicians, artists and scholars about their lives and work. Many authors also read from their latest works and take time for autographs. Tickets are $10.

Special events – These events, which often have a limited number of seats, include the theatre performances, cooking demonstrations, and, for this year, a party commemorating Williams’s 100th birthday. Ticket prices vary.

The festival will also include: a book fair of festival authors and other local writers hosted by the Garden District Book Shop, readings of the 2011 one-act play, poetry and fiction contest winners, a Tennessee Williams Literary walking tour, as well as the annual Stella and Stanley shouting contest.

The 2011 Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival runs Wednesday, March 23 through Sunday, March 27. Leading up to the first day of the festival, Good Nola will be highlighting certain festival events.

Visit www.tennesseewilliams.net for a full list of events and detailed ticket prices.