The 39th annual Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival is set to take place from March 26 to March 30, 2025, in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, kicking off with the traditional Stella Shouting Contest on March 23 at 2pm. Events will mostly be held at the Hotel Monteleone, the official host venue.
Complementing the literary focus, the festival will host the Saints & Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary Festival, celebrating its 22nd year concurrently, from March 28 to March 30. This festival will include a variety of events such as author readings, book pitches, and special receptions.
Paul J. Willis, the executive director of the festival, expressed excitement for this year’s events, highlighting new additions such as the Pinckley Prize panels. “We are looking forward to another great weekend of literary and performance events,” he stated. The festival will feature more than 60 events, showcasing the literary contributions of over 50 local New Orleans writers and a diverse array of speakers.
Among the notable figures attending the festival is gay Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Cunningham, alongside New York Times best-selling Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn.
A focal point of the festivities will be March 29, when the festival commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Diana Pinckley Prizes for Crime Fiction. This day will feature a series of discussions and panels centred on mystery writing. Gillian Flynn is to receive the award for Distinguished Body of Work, while Shreveport author Ashley Elston will be honoured for her Debut Novel. The day will conclude with an awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m., which is open to the public.
Tracy Cunningham, the festival’s managing director, noted the integration of a noir theme in the programming with events like a 1920s-themed murder mystery, aptly set amidst the atmospheric backdrop of the French Quarter. The festival has also chosen a gothic-themed cover for its promotional materials, designed by renowned New Orleans photographer Frank Relle.
Traditions such as the Stella Shouting Contest will feature Bryan Batt as emcee, alongside Beth Bartley d’Amour and Todd d’Amour performing as Stella and Stanley, respectively. This contest, derived from the iconic “A Streetcar Named Desire,” doubles as a fundraiser for the New Orleans Family Justice Center, which addresses domestic violence issues.
In addition to literary events, the festival includes a series of panels addressing various topics related to the New Orleans experience. These sessions will delve into matters such as the influences on Tennessee Williams’ writing, the dynamics of place and memory in poetry, and the contributions of Romani culture to contemporary media. Other features include walking tours, a book fair, and a tribute to author Dorothy Allison.
The festival also dedicates a segment of its programming to Tennessee Williams, presenting numerous panels and discussions, alongside the annual Tennessee Williams Scholars Conference. A special reading celebrating Tennessee Williams in One Act—The Best 50 Years of His Short Plays will be held at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.experienceneworleans.com/tennessee-williams-literary.html – This URL supports the claim that the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival is held annually in New Orleans, celebrating the author’s work and the city’s vibrant culture. It also mentions the festival’s tradition of hosting literary panels and events.
- https://10times.com/new-orleans-literary-festival – This URL provides details about the festival’s schedule and events, including workshops, literary panels, and performances, which aligns with the article’s description of the festival’s diverse programming.
- https://www.culturenola.com/tennessee-williamsnew-orleans-literary-festival/ – This URL corroborates the festival’s dates and its celebration of Tennessee Williams’ work, as well as its inclusion of various literary and cultural events, including the Stella Shouting Contest.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This URL is mentioned as the source of the article, providing the original information about the festival’s events and participants.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative mentions specific dates in March 2025, indicating that the content is up-to-date and not recycled from older articles.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes from Paul J. Willis and Tracy Cunningham are included, but without specific online references to verify their earliest known use. However, these quotes appear to be original to this context.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from Louisiana Life, which is not as widely recognized as major news outlets like the BBC or Reuters. However, it appears to be a local publication with specific focus areas.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the festival, including dates and participants, are plausible and consistent with typical festival announcements. The inclusion of notable authors and specific events adds credibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be fresh and relevant, with plausible claims about the festival. However, the reliability of the source is somewhat uncertain due to its local nature. Quotes seem original but lack verification from external sources.
TOP EVENTS
TOP EVENTS
