Todd d'Amour as Stanley and Beth Bartley as Blanche at "An Evening of Desire," 2018.
Photo credit Ride Hamilton.
2:30 – 3:45 PM—Literary Discussion
LITERARY LUMINARIES OF THE VIOLET QUILL
Andrew Holleran, Felice Picano, and Edmund White discuss their
roles as the surviving members of the influential Violet Quill literary
group, which also included Christopher Cox, Robert Ferro, Michael
Grumley, and George Whitmore. This group, which met in 1980 and
1981, is responsible for some of the most important post-Stonewall
writing in America and for chronicling the AIDS pandemic, as well
as celebrating, critiquing, and advancing gay culture and liberation.
Moderated by The Reading Life host, Susan Larson
Hotel Monteleone, Royal Ballroom, $10 or Literary Discussion,
Combo, or VIP Pass
2:30 – 3:45 PM—Literary Discussion
TABOO BUSTING
How do we talk about things that were once taboo? How do we
reconcile with language that has become politically derisive? With
Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904) as its center point, this panel will
examine the canons of 20th-century narrative and how institutional
bias is viewed today. Professionally, Hearn was an internationally
recognized journalist credited with putting New Orleans on the map
as a tourist destination and introducing Japan to readers in the West.
As a man, he pursued a transgressive, outsider existence, embracing
and writing literature that crossed Reconstruction-era cultural taboos.
Moderated by Nancy Sharon Collins, panelists include Dr. Thomas
Bonner, Jr., Marion Hill, and John Whittier Treat.
Hotel Monteleone, Riverview Room, $10, Literary Discussion
Pass, Combo Pass, or VIP Pass
2:30 – 4 PM—Special Event
READINGS FROM THE NEW ORLEANS WRITING
MARATHON
Writers from any of the three writing marathons held during the
Festival are invited to share portions of the writing they produced
on the marathon, and audience members are welcome. Included is
a celebration of the New Orleans Writing Marathon’s most recent
publication of its work in Louisiana Literature, as well as a radio show
produced by KSLU of Southeastern Louisiana University. Hosted by
Richard Louth.
Hotel Monteleone, Orleans A, Free admission
4:15 – 5:30 PM—Special Event
STELLA AND STANLEY SHOUTING CONTEST
Contestants vie to rival Stanley Kowalski’s shout for
“STELLAAAAA!!!” in the unforgettable scene from A Streetcar Named
Desire. On the balcony this year as Stella and Stanley are Beth Bartley
and Todd d’Amour, who met on stage in a Tennessee Williams
production during the 2016 Festival and are now married. Sign up for
the Shout begins at 3:15 and is open to the first 25 contestants.
Sponsored by The Times Picayune | New Orleans Advocate.
Jackson Square, Free and open to the public.
MARCH 25-29, 2020
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