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WE WILL DREAM: New Works Festival

The WE WILL DREAM: New Works Festival is a biennial event that locates the Bayou Road corridor of New Orleans as the “national meeting place” for Black playwrights originating/working in the American South to engage with compelling, artistic, intellectual, and cultural dialogue and community exploration. The festival’s goal is to serve as a bulwark of support for the professional and artistic development of Black playwrights. The Virtual Festival offers fourteen weeks of festival highlights from the comforts of your own home. Programming runs from 19 March through Juneteenth. Virtual Fest will additionally feature special programming for Lagniappe ticket holders. By joining our Lagniappe community, you will gain exclusive access to bonus videos, interviews, and complimentary merchandise. Purchase your ticket.

event poster for the plenary with Ericka Dickerson-Despenza.
Plenary with Ericka Dickerson-Despenza
Video

Plenary with Ericka Dickerson-Despenza

We Will Dream: New Works Festival

Friday 19 May 2023
New Orleans, Louisiana

2021 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist, Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, speaks at the André Callioux Center for the We Will Dream New Works Festival.

event poster for Global Majority Intimacy Director Reception.
Global Majority Intimacy Director Reception
Video

Global Majority Intimacy Director Reception

We Will Dream: New Works Festival

Saturday 29 April 2023
New Orleans, Louisiana

Hosted by Intimacy Coordinators of Color, the Global Majority Intimacy Director Reception is a gathering of stage and screen intimacy professionals, artists, educators, directors, and producers to connect, learn and inspire.

event poster for Plenary #1 with James Ijames.
Plenary with James Ijames
Video

Plenary with James Ijames

We Will Dream: New Works Festival

Monday 20 April 2023
New Orleans, Louisiana

2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning Playwright, James Ijames, speaks at the André Callioux Center for the We Will Dream New Works Festival.

event poster for HBCU Theatre Summit.
HBCU Theatre Summit’s Keynote Speech
Video

HBCU Theatre Summit’s Keynote Speech

We Will Dream: New Works Festival

Tuesday 4 April 2023
New Orleans, Louisiana

Keynote speech delivered by actor Doug Spearman (Noah's Ark). The HBCU Theatre Summit welcomes all Black Students. It is the perfect professional development event needed for Black Theatre Students as they navigate the world of the arts.

event poster for HBCU Theatre Summit.
HBCU Theatre Summit’s Monologue Showcase
Video

HBCU Theatre Summit’s Monologue Showcase

We Will Dream: New Works Festival

Sunday 16 April 2023
New Orleans, Louisiana

Featuring monologues by HBCU college students. The HBCU Theatre Summit welcomes all Black Students. It is the perfect professional development event needed for Black Theatre Students as they navigate the world of the arts.

event poster for black film festival new orleans with we will dream virtual festival.
New Orleans Black Film Festival Awards
Video

New Orleans Black Film Festival Awards

WE WILL DREAM: New Works Festival

Sunday 19 March 2023
New Orleans, Louisiana

Hosted by Mark Caesar featuring the Glaspy Experience, the Black Film Festival of New Orleans (BFFNO) is a multi-day event designed to celebrate independent films and filmmakers. Through BFFNO, creatives have a home that advances African American cinema and cultivates local film and television in classic New Orleans style.