Category Archives: tennessee williams

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Walker Percy and Tennessee

The Walker Percy documentary was show at the HNOC during the Tennessee Williams Festival this year. Percy’s work represented the alienation of the modern man and especially those living in the modern South. Interestingly, he is also remembered for his championing of John Kennedy Toole’s Confederacy of Dunces, which won the Pulitzer in the early 1980s.
National Book Award winner (The Moviegoer)Walker Percy has said his concerns as a writer were with “a theory of man, man as more than organism, more than consumer — man the wayfarer, man the pilgrim, man in transit, on a journey.”
Through archival film, excerpts of Percy’s work, and interviews with family, friends and scholars, Walker Percy: A Documentary, examined Percy’s own journey.

“Not to be on to something, is to be in despair”

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Lee Kyle, roaring in for Tennessee time (TWLF tip #6)

Lee Kyle, roaring in for Tennessee time (TWLF tip #6)

A 21st century Tennessee Williams. Performer, artist, pedicab driver Lee Kyle. He will be selling his linoleum cut postcards of Tennessee and other characters at the merchandise table of the festival (lobby of the Monteleone Hotel)

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TWLF tip#5

This one will probably like a mint julep-sweet, intoxicating and drippingly Southern in taste.

1:00 PM-2:15 PM

Talking Tennessee with Piper Laurie, Bryan Batt, and Christian LeBlanc
Join these talented actors as they recount their experiences with Tennessee Williams’ words and works. They’ll discuss our namesake’s imprint on American theater, as well as his inspiration to them as actors. A highlight of the discussion will be Ms. Laurie reminiscing about her time playing the role of Laura Wingfield in the acclaimed 1965 revival of The Glass Menagerie on Broadway opposite Maureen Stapleton’s Amanda, Pat Hingle’s Gentleman Caller, and George Grizzard’s Tom. Facilitated by Foster Hirsch.

Sponsored by Hendrick’s Gin.

Location: Hotel Monteleone, Royal Ballroom
Ticket Code(s): AllAccessPass, LitPanelPass, StudentPanPass, Sr/TeachPanPass, DayPanelPassSun
Ticket Type(s): All Access Pass, Literary Panel Pass, Student Panel Pass, Teacher/Senior Citizen Literary Panel Pass, One Day Festival Panel Pass, Single Panel Ticket (only available on site)

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TWLF tip #4-


For those know-it-all locals, you might have noticed that #3 and #4 of my TWLF picks are two panels moderated by the fabulous Diana Pinckley and John Pope, respectively. The couple is the coolest literary couple in the city and although I don’t necessarily associate moderation with either of them, I know they can host the heck out of any get together. Check these panels out just because they don’t handle boring very well so will do their best to achieve the opposite effect.

10:00 AM-11:15 AM
The Right to Write: Blacklisting and Its Repercussions

The blacklist ruined dozens of careers during its heyday from the late 1940s until the early 1960s. Panelists will put blacklisting in a historic context, discuss the impact on its victims, and identify some of its lingering effects.

Panelists: Michael Bernstein, Lou Dubose, and Victor Navasky
Moderator: John Pope

Location: Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom
Ticket Code(s): AllAccessPass, LitPanelPass, StudentPanPass, Sr/TeachPanPass, DayPanelPassSat
Ticket Type(s): All Access Pass, Literary Panel Pass, Student Panel Pass, Teacher/Senior Citizen Literary Panel Pass, One Day Festival Panel Pass, Single Panel Ticket (only available on site)
Price: $10 (Single Ticket Event: only available on site), or included in All Access Pass ($500), Festival Panel Pass ($75), or Day Panel Pass ($30)

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TWLF tip #3

Bet You Can’t Read Just One: Mysteries for Fun

There are so many mystery novels, so little time. These four writers, all from very different genres, give us a privileged glimpse into their craft. Ace Atkins’ prime territory has been the South in his hard-boiled novels, though now he is also taking on Robert Parker’s Spenser franchise. Barbara Hambly has created the evocative world of the Free People of Color in her Benjamin January series. Greg Herren’s novels are exuberant portraits of gay life in New Orleans, and C.S. Harris brings her historian’s training to bear on exquisitely crafted mysteries set in Regency England.

Panelists: Ace Atkins, Barbara Hambly, C.S Harris, and Greg Herren.
Moderator: Diana Pinckley.

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TWLF tip #2

For a few dollars, you can enter for many chances to win their 2012 Festival library (worth over $2,000).
There are also some great runner-up prizes.
The Grand Prize includes:
Over 50 prize-winning books by Festival authors including signed copies by the likes of Ace Atkins, NPR’s Amy Dickinson, Zachary Lazar, John Mariani, National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward, and many others!
A subscription to Louisiana Cultural Vistas
DVDs of New Orleans Food Memories and Win Riley’s Walker Percy
CDs of American Routes with Nick Spitzer: Songs and Stories from the Road and Our New Orleans 2005: A Benefit Album

For a chance to win these prizes, buy a raffle ticket ($5) or three ($10).

During the Festival: at the Info Desk onsite at the Hotel Monteleone.

If you can’t make it to the Festival, buy your tickets ONLINE. You don’t have to be present to win but be sure to buy your raffle tickets online before the end of Sunday March 25, 2012.
Price: 3 tickets for $10 ($8 plus $2 ticketing fee). You must purchase a minimum of 3 tickets online.
Ticket code: 3RaffleTickets
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TWLF tip#1

Among the lengthy list of events that the Tennessee Williams Festival has planned for next week are a few that deserve to be highlighted. So today through Thursday (TWLF opening day) I’ll pick one that looks particularly good.
The tip for today is for one of the theater events. Tickets are half price through Tuesday (only 17.50)

Hiding in Plain Sight: Tennessee Williams’ Treasures
Some of Tennessee’s most beautiful writing is “hidden” in some of his lesser-known works as well as within his most famous plays. Now, in an evening that’s not-to-be-missed, luminaries of the page and stage gather to share some of the playwright’s unsung treasures.

Reading gems culled from full-length plays, one-acts, letters, and essays, actress Piper Laurie, playwright John Guare, actress Amanda Plummer, author Jewelle Gomez, columnist Amy Dickinson, director and actress Jodie Markell, actress Cristine McMurdo-Wallis, author Ace Atkins, and others will take a closer look at the Williams canon and bring his words to life with an evening of readings from well-known plays including Suddenly Last Summer and The Night of the Iguana, as well as remarkable monologues and scenes from plays you might not be as familiar with such as Candles to the Sun, Clothes for a Summer Hotel, Not About Nightingales, Tiger Tail, The Fat Man’s Wife, The Day on Which a Man Dies, Will Mr. Merriwether Return from Memphis? and Something Cloudy, Something Clear.

This theatrical treasure hunt offers an entertaining and surprising look at Williams’ legacy.

Hosted by Thomas Keith, and curated by Keith and Paul J. Willis.

Sponsored by the Bollinger Family Foundation.

Date: Saturday
Time: 8:00 PM-10:00 PM
Location: Hotel Monteleone, La Nouvelle Ballroom
Ticket Code(s): AllAccessPass, HidingSat8pm
Ticket Type(s): All Access Pass, Individual Special Event Ticket
Price: $35

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