New Orleans is home to a number of festivals and with each festivals comes a series of unique to New Orleans traditions. One the greatest festival traditions we have is the annual Stella! Screaming Contest that closes the annual Tennessee Williams Literary Festival every spring. TennFest, as it’s referred to in New Orleans, is a celebration of the world-famous playwright Tennessee Williams. Williams, who made the French Quarter his home, received much of his creative inspiration from New Orleans including that for A Streetcar Named Desire, the iconic play, which was later made into a movie starring Marlon Brando (swoon!), that the Stella! Screaming Contest is based on.
This year is a particularly special year for the festival marking the 100th anniversary of Williams’ birthday. TennFest will be held March 23-27 and will feature dozens of literary panels, workshops and guest speakers including Pulitzer-prize winning author Robert Olen Butler, Filmmaker John Waters (Hairspray), Mad Men Actor and New Orleanian Bryan Batt and many more. For more information, please visit the official Tennessee Williams Festival website.
This week’s YouTube pick is from ACityOfFriends.
FREE Weekly Roundup!
Enter your email address for updates on all the best things happening in New Orleans.
Follow Along!