PTW Theater Festival Presents "THE SONS OF TENNESSEE WILLIAMS,' 7/18

East Coast Film Premiere of "THE SONS OF Tennessee Williams" at How Mardi Gras Drag Paved the Way for a New Era of Gay Rights - A Benefit for the 5th Annual Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival With Special Guests:

Andrew Sullivan: Gay Rights Advocate and Senior Editor & "Daily Dish" blogger for The Atlantic

Varla Jean Merman: Award-winning Drag Performer Jeffery Roberson, native of New Orleans
Sunday, July 18, 2010 at The Crown and Anchor, Provincetown, MA

The birth of the gay rights movement is often credited to the Stonewall riot in New York City in 1969, but back in 1962 the gay men of New Orleans stood up for their rights to gather in public without the threat of arrest when they staged a flamboyant costumed ‘drag ball' for Mardi Gras. They were chased and attacked by police, but eventually won their freedoms.

By 1969, society matrons begged for ball tickets and New Orleans was the first place in America where gay and straight people came together to publicly recognize openly gay culture.

The feature documentary The Sons of Tennessee Williams, written and directed by Tim Wolff, tells the story of the ‘southern bachelor gentlemen' who created a fantastic culture of "drag balls" to defy laws restricting public assembly, same-sex dancing and cross-dressing. Interweaving archival footage of men strutting in sequins and feathers with contemporary interviews of the original founders and participants, The Sons of Tennessee Williams charts the evolution of gay politics in the Mardi Gras social clubs (krewes).

Benefit attendees will be able to talk with filmmaker Tim Wolff. Wolff says he named the film The Sons of Tennessee Williams as a twist on The Daughters of the American Revolution because he considers Williams a hero. As a well-known resident of New Orleans, Williams was an inspiration, "the most famous out American at the time, telling the story of gay men to a much larger audience." Also honoring the benefit with his presence will be the reigning King of Armeinius and former Queen Armeinius the 6th (1974), Albert Carey. Carey, one of the ‘stars' of the film, is a witness to the struggle to be openly gay in the South.

David Kaplan, co-founder and curator of the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival, chose this film for the annual Festival benefit to underscore this year's theme, UNDER THE INFLUENCE. From Sept 23 - 27, 2010, Provincetown, MA will become a stage for performances of Williams' work, complemented by the work of others that influenced him and contemporary artists he has inspired. "When a young adventurous filmmaker like Tim Wolff falls under the influence of Tennessee Williams, there's hope for the future. The Tennessee Williams Festival in Provincetown celebrates history by making history of our own: this year we present our eighth world premiere of a Williams' play and the east coast premiere of this moving, witty film."

Event Details:
Sunday July 18, 2010
6:00 pm Cocktail Social; 7:00 pm Screening
The Paramount at the Crown and Anchor, Provincetown, MA
$50 Premium Table Seating (includes 1 drink ticket and reserved table seating up front); $20 General Seating
Tickets on sale online at www.twptown.org, by phone at 866.789.TENN (8366), AND in person at The Crown and Anchor box office, 247 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA.

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