Le Petit Theatre will present a staged reading of Dear Mr. Williams, a solo show written and performed by Bryan Batt on its mainstage in the French Quarter on April 15th and 16th at 7:30 pm. Presented in partnership with Wespoke Productions, the show—first seen at the 2018 Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival and subsequently at an industry-only reading at New York City Center last October—is directed by Michael Wilson.  

Batt, a native New Orleanian, says of the show: "The tumultuous journey from adolescence to adulthood is one we all must take, but it's oh-so-much more exciting and poetic with Tennessee Williams as your guide."

Le Petit artistic director, Maxwell Williams states, “Bryan Batt and Tennessee Williams both have a storied history with Le Petit. We are excited to be a part of the development of Bryan’s solo show and honored to welcome him back home to the Le Petit stage.”

Best known to nationwide audiences as Salvatore Romano on Mad Men (for which he won two SAG Awards as part of the Outstanding Ensemble), Batt is a veteran of the Broadway stage. He made his debut in the original production of Cats, replacing for Munkustrap. He later joined Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, followed by Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He played Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast and appeared in the original Broadway production of Sunset Boulevard. He was also featured in The Scarlet Pimpernel, Saturday Night Fever, and Seussical. Most recently, he appeared on Le Petit’s stage as God in David Javerbaum’s An Act of God.

In 2019, Le Petit launched its new works program, a series of readings, workshops, and productions that celebrate unique voices, new stories, and re-imaginings of canonical works in the American theatre. Through its commitment to developing new works, Le Petit seeks to represent diverse perspectives and essential communities and to share stories that are vital and relevant to New Orleans and Louisiana.

Performance dates of Dear Mr. Williams are April 15th and 16th, 2019 at 7:30 pm, at Le Petit Theatre, 616 St. Peter St. New Orleans, LA 70116. Tickets are free and seating is by general admission. Doors open a half hour before the performance. Reservations may be made by e-mailing the box office at boxoffice@LePetitTheatre.com or calling weekdays from 12 – 5 pm at (504) 522-2081 ext. 1.

Le Petit Theatre’s 2018-2019 season concludes with The Pianist of Willesden Lane opening on May 10, 2019. Set in Vienna in 1938 and London during the Blitz, The Pianist of Willesden Lane tells the story of Lisa Jura, a young Jewish pianist who is dreaming about her concert debut at the storied Musikverein concert hall. But with the issuing of new ordinances under the Nazi regime, everything for Lisa changes, except for her love of music and the pursuit of her dream. Single tickets are available by calling the box office weekdays from 12 – 5 pm at (504) 522-2081 or online anytime at www.lepetittheatre.com.

Media Contact:
Sara Tweedy, Marketing Director
504-522-2081 x 6
stweedy@lepetittheatre.com